Reviewing Gripping Beast Late Roman Cataphracts

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So those lovely people at Gripping Beast sent me a box of their new Late Roman Cataphract plastic 28mm figures to review. So it would be rude if I didnt do so!.
Available £22 for 12 cavalry from www.grippingbe...

[@leont66wargaming31]

Good unboxing mate. They look pretty nice. Easy to paint as well. Always a bonus

[@BootsontheTable]

Cheers Leon. Easy to paint is always a massive bonus in my book!

[@BrushQuill]

Interesting review. Saw these in Wargames Illustrated a while ago so good to see "in the (horse) flesh". Shocked there is no command but maybe we've been spoilt.

[@BootsontheTable]

true about the command - completely missed that rather obvious fact!

[@gkspain1]

Very nice review Dom, looking forward to seeing you paint these up, all the best Garry

[@BootsontheTable]

Video up this morning Garry with them all finished - I think they look pretty good as a regiment, Individually not so great but together they are nice

[@basicminiaturepainting]

Nice looking figures,not bad for the price

[@BootsontheTable]

It's true, price is good

[@paulspaintshed3511]

I really like those and if you fancy late Roman's the Gripping plastics is a great way to go to keep costs down. Cheers Dom.

[@BootsontheTable]

Definitely a cost benefit - and they look OK in a unit which is after all how they will be used

[@joramamodellbau3987]

At first the figures looked a bit simple in terms of shape, but after your painting they look really good. So, everything was done properly for the price. Have a nice weekend, Dom. Greetings, Joachim

[@BootsontheTable]

it's that balance of money vs quality - I think on balance these are good value

[@maryhinge6334]

Thanks for doing that Dom. I’ve been wondering what these are like. 👍

[@BootsontheTable]

Any time! Especially since they sent them to me!

[@jvcpaints]

Looks like good value for money on this box.

[@BootsontheTable]

yes definitely that

[@sebishichen8968]

The copper horse armour for me looks great! Looks more eastern cav, good fair video

[@BootsontheTable]

yeah for the rest i did some bronze as well and with a good wash they all look good

[@MillersMiniatures]

Good review mate. Never been to sure about gripping beasts range before but they dont seem to bad. The horses look brilliant.

[@BootsontheTable]

the effect on mass is pretty good

[@MillersMiniatures]

@@BootsontheTable I bet I've really been enjoying your videos over lockdown. Has inspired and given me the courage to upload some stuff of my own. Not with much viewing success but early days

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Honest and frank review. Good stuff mate.

[@BootsontheTable]

that's all I can do buddy

[@marctitley7020]

I think the figures look quite good, and for the price you can’t go wrong.

[@BootsontheTable]

yeah the price is definitely the winner in the equation - given a cavalryman can cost £4-5 these are 12 for £22

[@NossCalavera1670]

I agree, not great figs but for the price its not bad.

[@BootsontheTable]

Its definitely the balancing factor - good value but not the best figures but for probably half the price

[@vicsminiatures7949]

Nice review! They do look like nice figures. I'm not a fan of plastic figures. I really dislike putting them together.

[@BootsontheTable]

Yeah I agree, I didn't like putting plastics together, but the price is interesting

[@Eugen_TV]

good review!

[@BootsontheTable]

Thanks!

[@HerkusMonteSaga]

Thanks for the review. Im still not sure about them, they seem to be less well sculpted than some of their older kits like the Arabs, and definitely not as nice as the light Roman cavalry brought out around the same time.

[@BootsontheTable]

I think for a large army they are fine and in a unit look pretty effective. As a skirmish/small unit I am not so sure personally, although the price is good

[@awordabout...3061]

Do you think these chaps could be used as later Byzantine cataphracts? There's no plastics I'm aware of that could be used instead, and the metals are just out of my price range at the moment.

[@BootsontheTable]

yes James I think so - there are head options which you could use which might be more Byzantine and heavy armour of the period was pretty similar

[@lesliebeilby-tipping6854]

Great review Dom. They are plastic, so won't be buying any. Enjoy filling the joint lines.

[@BootsontheTable]

actually the mold lines werent too bad on these... the joins were nasty in places

[@peterlittle6651]

It is funny how perceptions differ greatly when it comes to modelling horses. The models as a whole look good and at that price excellent value, but that steed with both its front legs in the air looks awful and unnatural.

[@BootsontheTable]

it's true - I guess to me a horse which is breed to carry a metal bard and big man in full armour would be a big carthorse!

[@peterlittle6651]

@@BootsontheTable Well if they are Roman they rode what we call ponies and carried virtually no weight at all although not knowing enough about Cataphracts I could be putting myself in front of the firing squad. Keep up the good work Dom I a slightly older than you but we are both worldly wise and that makes a vast difference in this age of ???????

[@peterlittle6651]

I forgot to add if you are into wargaming and history you have to read to understand matters so the wargaming fraternity are generally well well read!!!!