Skirmish With The Border Reivers From Timeline Miniatures
January 7, 2016 by brennon
If you're interested in fighting out some scuffles between the English and the Scottish during the 17th Century then see what you make of these Border Reivers in 28mm scale from Timeline Miniatures.
Interestingly the 'Reivers' weren't just Scottish but English too and they were known to raid North and South of the border looking to pick on villages and towns where there would be little to no repercussions.
This has all the makings of a perfect skirmish game where you take a band of warriors and vagabonds across the border in search of riches amongst the houses of minor nobles and more. I really love the rag tag mentality of these warbands with their cobbled together kit.
It would be good if Timeline looked at making mounted versions of these Reivers too as the stalwart mounts they round over harsh terrain were certainly a key part of their imagery.
What do you think?
"Interestingly the 'Reivers' weren't just Scottish but English too and they were known to raid North and South of the border..."
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These figures are the Border Reivers that the late Jim Bowen sculpted some years back under the Graven Images line by Monolith until the rights were sold to Hoka Hey miniatures.
I reckoned they would be from a previous company so avoided the word ‘new’ 😉
Glad to know there were some original cavalry pieces – would love to make a warband that matched up nicely.
Have tweaked the date too – thanks @torros
To add
There were Cavalry in the original range by the looks of it still being sold by Hoka Hey so hopefully Timeline will be selling them as well
Oh and Ben their 17th century not 13th/14th
Sorry I meant 16th
Just for a note Border Reivers eventually came to an end when James VI of Scotland became James I of England effectively removing the border between the countries
Thanks @torros I wondered who was producing them. They reminded me of figures by (IMS) Vendel miniatures, which were sold to a US company (can’t recall who). I have a couple of the clan sets which DO include mounted figures, as well as a set of the border constables. (I forget their proper name now).
Trouble is, I could never find a skirmish rule set I liked 🙁
I think the Vendel range went to Sgt Major miniatures in the States
Nice to see them back on the market!
I’ve got a few and they ooze character 😎
I don’t think they really went away. They were just being sold by a slightly obscure company
Was doing a bit of a trawl online and I think Timeline and Hoka Hey are owned by the same person
I reckon something like SAGA or Lion Rampant could be tweaked to suit the period
the reivers were border families fighting to control more land/ stock some were on both sides of the border fighting grudges in the families.
they still have celebration’s in border towns in Scotland for that time.
some of the Scottish army units may even have started as raiding parties from this time?
I have to admit I saw these a while back when they first came out and Steve and I were going to have a go at it. By the time steve had sorted himself around to it they had seemed to disappeared great to see them pop up again. Are these a slightly larger than the normal 28mm. I shall be getting some of these for Victoria and me to scrap over a couple of pigs, sheep and table silver.
I would say they were normal 28mm given how long ago they were sculpted
Would be good Mercenaries for Mordheim 🙂
Hello there folks, Please to meet you all. My names Alan (owner of Hoka Hey Wargaming). Yes I own the Border Reivers and I’ve just added a new Border Reiver Foot Family BR05 The Graham’s !!. ( More to follow shortly folks… Dogs, Sheep, New horses !!.etc ).Check website http://www.hokaheywargaming.co.uk link to face book on website too. I am updating site as quickly as I can so thanks for bearing with me. Nigel at Timeline is kindly advertising my range now and any orders will come to me. I am also manufacturing/ selling for Timeline under agreement with Nigel as… Read more »
Nice to see you here
Will you be updating any of the 28mm Elizabethan line you got from Pendraken?
Hi there Torros,
Pleasure to meet you too.
Yes hopefully. Let me know if you have any ideas.
I hope to get the rest of the Graven Images ranges updated too.
Steve Mussared has loads of figures never been released.
The Prehistoric Europe range has around 122 figures and chariots ideal for a kick starter ?
keep you posted. Best regards Alan.