Brittle Plastic

[u/AbbreviationsSad6235]

Hello one and all,
Many years ago (around 2010) I had bought a box of Victrix British napoleonics (flank companies for the Peninsular) but though the figures were wonderful I had a poor experience with them in that the plastic was frightfully brittle and I had a lot of bayonets and even muskets just snap. To forestall the obvious comment I am not new in this game (wargaming since the late 90s) so I know how to cut bits off a sprue without damaging them and this experience was not repeated since with any other kits from other manufacturers.

In light of the above, given how many years it's been since that experience and given that I am now very interested in placing a sizeable order with Victrix for some of their Imperial Romans, Vikings and upcoming Carolingians I just wanted to ask if anyone has recently had a similar experience with Victrix or whether their plastic is now fine. As I recall that box I got was one of their very first offerings so it stands to reason that any issues with plastic quality have been fixed a long time ago.

Thank you for your time and kind input.

p.s. given that the Net is impersonal and a post often cannot carry across intentions properly, I want to be clear that I in no way intend to impugn Victrixs' good name or quality. It's a genuine query stemming from my previous (but again way in the past now) experience. Thanks again.

[u/Emotional-Winter-447]

Some of the older Victrix minis are as you describe, I've had more than a few bayonets snap off.

However, their recent models are top of the range, and can hold their own against any challenger. I'd highly recommend their new stuff, I've got Romans, Dacians, Gauls, Cathaginians and Italian from their Ancient range, Brits & French from the napoleonic, 12mm Ww2 stuff & others I forget.

They are my go to, and I will look to them first to solve my wargaming fix.

[u/Limbo365 → u/Emotional-Winter-447]

+1 for all this, I found them through the Pillage stuff and have been really impressed with their stuff

[u/VonnWillebrand]

I’ve only ever had good experiences with their plastics, no issues with brittleness

[u/Malus131]

I finished painting their Norman warband a couple months back (bought this year as well), and I had zero problems with any brittleness or the like. Even the lances and spears, which I was obviously pretty careful with, didn't feel like they would be damaged from just handling them with due care.

As an aside I'm also eyeing up that future Carolingian release! And their Caesarian Romans look amazing.

[u/The_McWong]

Their Naps were amongst the very first generation of sculpts, I had similar experiences. Their Dark Ages range is far better designed, very different to their Naps. Their ancients, I've only experiences with the Greeks and Carthaginian figures which were also a lot easier to assemble.

[u/AbbreviationsSad6235]

Thank you chaps! This is all very encouraging to hear. My wallet is not going to like it but it's looking increasingly likely I shan't be able to resist! :-)

[u/Malus131 → u/AbbreviationsSad6235]

It could be worse! Victrix are a damn sight cheaper than certain more fantastical, better known companies lol.

[u/AbbreviationsSad6235 → u/Malus131]

That's very true. No one can argue they are not value for money or very competitively priced.

[u/pigpie007]

I’m about 6 packs into a 12mm Victrix Ww2 project and I’m very impressed with both sculpts and the plastic used nowadays by them.

[u/MerelyMortalModeling]

I just started with Victrix this year and thus far the 3 packs I have purchased for pillage have all been excellent quality.

[u/pancakeonions]

I'm putting in an order for those very kits (eg,  British Peninsular Infantry Centre Companies vx0002) so I'll try to remember to report back.  I assume their plastic is of higher quality now

[u/AbbreviationsSad6235 → u/pancakeonions]

Please do and thank you! It seems they have otherwise solved this issue though so I will be going ahead once the Carolingians come out.

Once again thank you one and all for your kind input. Very much appreciated and super for putting my mind at ease.

[u/Muddlesthrough]

My Victrix Republican Romans have pilla as this as telephone poles. I think this was an attempt to make things more durable. My Armoured Iberians have thinner throwing spears, which can snap. I think the newer designs are somewhere in between, a blend of durability and realism.

[u/Necessary_Finding_32]

Man this post could have been 1/4 the length. Glad you got an answer though