Reviews at Mainly 28's...
The site is growing in popularity and usefulness for newcomers to 28mm as well as old hands, and has a number of unique features allowing visitors to compare products from a variety of manufacturers with each other in the best way possible- with pictures. The overriding consensus is that the site is a useful starting point when looking at what figures, vehicles and terrain to use. Then there are the reviews of storage facilities, rules and general gaming paraphernalia. As a final bonus, I even offer some free rules.
The down-side is that running this site isn't cheap! Just the cost of acquiring new samples can be pretty staggering, especially when you consider exactly how much variety and how many manufacturers there are out there. I've already spent a small fortune (a lot more than I let my wife know) on getting the samples already here for the site. Some of my costs have been off-set by payments received for work I've done for wargames companies, while other companies have graciously donated samples. Unfortuntately I can't (no matter how much I'd like to) get much more at the moment. I still have my standard spending, which I try to tailor to items not already represented, or to new products. Above all else, though, I'm a wargamer, so my purchases must fit in with my personal collection in order to allow me to expand my own forces, armies and interests.
Manufacturers and Distributors
Would you like your product or service reviewed on these pages? I currently get several hundred (but steadily growing number) visitors per week, so it can be a good way to get your product in front of a lot of gamers - free! Of course, you have to have the confidence that you have a good product!
Think of it this way - if folks see your stuff here and associate your name with it, where will they go when they want to buy it?
If you are interested, please drop me an e-mail at
with what your product/service is. Why the e-mail first? Simple. This way, I will know that there is something coming, and I can keep an eye on the mailbox. I'd hate for you to send me your product and have to wait a long time for the review to get published (this is not, after all, simply a way to get free stuff without having to do anything in return). It's also a way of ensuring that the item or items do arrive (if they haven't arrived after a reasonable time, we can try to track the parcel).
I guarantee your product will get reviewed within a few days; usually the initial review will be up within a two or three days. In the case where assembly is required, it may (obviously) take a little longer, so please be patient.
Any manufacturer submitting products for review will get full credit and link (obviously). I will also happily add your banner ad in exchange for samples (please e-mail me for details).
Wargamers
You can also help make this site even better. I will always need more samples to add. I'm looking for as many diverse ranges from manufacturers as possible- the more items I add here, the better informed wargamers as a whole can be, and the easier it also becomes to add that specific figure that your favourite manufacturer doesn't make to your army. If you have any figures, vehicles or terrain (or, indeed anything wargames-related) you can spare, maybe extras from that pack that are more than the units you are planning to field, - preferably in the same condition as it was delivered, so that the review can reflect what you can expect when ordering items - please email me. I'll make it easy for you to send them to me. Everyone who contributes will be duly noted on this website.
If you have any spare items, please drop me an e-mail at with what you can donate. Why the e-mail first? Simple. This way, I will know that there is something coming, and I can keep an eye on the mailbox. I'd hate for you to send me something and have to wait a long time for the review to get published. It's also a way of ensuring that the item or items do arrive (if they haven't arrived after a reasonable time, we can try to track the parcel).
Where Should I Send Stuff?
I will provide the address details in the answering e-mail.
What Happens To The Stuff When I'm Done With It?
I live in a small house, so being a pack rat is simply not an option. If it's stuff I can use in my personal periods of interest I'll keep it. Otherwise, I will find it a good home. I may donate it to other gamers. In some cases I sell figures through e-Bay - the revenue helps offset the costs of hosting and running this web site. In some cases I give the product away to anyone willing to pay the postage or collect it. Finally, you may see it wind up on Bartertown or some other similar web site.
If your item is particularly valuable, we can arrange for it to be returned, provided you pay the postage, or we can meet at a show we both attend, or even somewhere near where I work in Central London.
I will also at times be happy to return the item after I have finished the review and assembled and painted it, particularly if this would allow me more new samples of different parts of your range. While I'm no Dallimore or Perry, I have painted items displayed by several manufacturers (Harlequin/Icon/Black Tree, Newline and Amazon Miniatures being just three of them), so I'm not exactly a slouch. The time taken to finish such a project may, of course, vary quite greatly, depending on my available references and interest in that specific period.
Anything Else I Should Know?
Yes. When I write a review, I try to make a good case for my opinion. So if I like or don't like something I give reasons why. I also try to lay out my preferences up front, such as these for figure reviews. That way the reader knows in advance any prejudices I might have. I also call out that I have worked closely with some wargames companies in the past, so my reviews may show a slight bias. This allows people to determine on their own if I can be trusted (though, in many cases, the pictures speak for themselves).
When the web site is updated I promote it on the internet at The Miniatures Page, several forums, on various Yahoo groups that are relevant to the subject, and elsewhere. If you have suggestions on where to promote a review of your product, just let me know.
Olaf Meys,
le Comte du Flandre at The Miniatures Page,
Immelmann on a few other forums.