Gringo 40's 28mm Native Americans

I picked up ten of the excellent Native Americans from Gringo 40's at Salute in April, five Apache and five Comanche.  I started my Old West collection 20 years or so ago and I add to it when I see something special, which these are.  

I'd looked at these last year when the range was just starting out.  It's now grown and being actively added to which is great news.  Gringos do a lot of really interesting figures, full of character and a bit different, so right up my street.  

I started with the four Apache warriors.  They're sturdy figures.  I haven't painted many metal 28mm in recent years and what always strikes me is how satisfying they feel in the hand.  They're all slightly different sizes, which is lifelike and gives each figure a real individuality.  

The last time I painted this much flesh was when I painted Celtos Gaels in the early 2000s.  I didn't enjoy it then and unfortunately when I painted this first batch I didn't enjoy it again.  In fact, I completely repainted the skin on all four of these only a day or so after "finishing" them as I was quite unhappy with them.  Thankfully when I worked on the Comanches, they went a lot better.  The miniature in the middle of the Apaches is a Gaan Dancer, a key figure in Apache rituals.   

Although I think they're all excellent figures, I prefer the Comanche sculpts.  They're some of the nicest figures I've painted in a long while.  The musket armed Comanche is my favourite, a superb miniature. 

After painting four of the Apache together, I tackled the remaining six figures in pairs so I could really concentrate on each figure.  The musket armed and club armed Comanche were first, then the two Comanche archers.  Finally I painted the Apache Gaan Dancer and the lance armed Comanche warrior.  I think you can see a difference in the quality between these and the four Apache warriors 

Although metal 28mms are quite expensive now (these are £1.85 each), it's odd as I thought nothing about spending considerately more on a single figure from Oathsworn or Privateer Press in the past.  And these are all characters in their own right, so what's the difference?  Which is me telling myself they're cheap 😃.  I don't think there's any doubt I'll be buying more of these in the future. 

Comments

  1. Mike Demana6 July 2025 at 00:59

    Those look great! I have quite the collection of 28mm Native Americans, but all from the Eastern Woodlands period. I have so far successfully resisted branching out from that era...ha, ha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dr Beard7 July 2025 at 19:20

      Thanks Mike. They’re great figures you wouldn’t be disappointed.

      Delete
  2. Ray Rousell6 July 2025 at 18:02

    They look great Andy, and they're not a bad price for today's figures market?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dr Beard7 July 2025 at 19:21

      Cheers Ray, no in the scheme of things they’re very reasonable. Trouble is we still remember when figures were pence! 😂

      Delete
  3. Matt Crump7 July 2025 at 08:31

    Great looking figures 👍

    ReplyDelete
  4. Scott Blair10 July 2025 at 14:41

    Fantastic work there! Very evocative and a great tribute to the beauty of these sculpts. I have a pile of these to do. Would you mind sharing your palette and technique for the skin tones? Very authentic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dr Beard10 July 2025 at 15:43

      Thank you Scott, I really appreciate your kind words.
      For the skin tone I used paints that are quite old and might not be available now. I started off with a primer of Humbrol Enamel Leather but any colour would do really as I didn't leave anything showing through. The basecoat was Citadel Foundation Tallarn Flesh. I followed this with a wash made from 50% Vallejo Game Colour Sepia shade and 50% Army Painter Flesh Wash. I tried to ensure this went on smoothly and didn't pool too much. For areas that I wanted more depth I added a second wash but still quite sparingly. Highlights were done with a mix of Army Painter Monster Brown and Citadel Tallarn Flesh. I just mixed this as I went along, with more Flesh for the top highlights. All the Army Painter colours are from the original range.
      For my first attempt at the skin tones I used Vallejo Game Colour Dwarf Skin as the basecoat and they ended up almost comic book "Red Indian" so I repainted them. I'm not sure how "accurate" they are but I'm more comfortable with how they've turned out.
      As you say they are beautiful sculpts. I hope that helps.

      Delete

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