Kryomek/Colonial Marine Figs ? (long-ish reply)

> Hello:
Can
> anyone indentify these minis? I want to try to find some more!

They are Nexus marines from the Kryomek line. Over here Simtac makes them. The
weapon VERY much like a pulse rifle is a Gauss rifle. Simtac have several
variants on the Nexus marine line: the old figs were not very colonial marine,
they had (generaly) fatigues and a mix of advanced
M16-like combat rifles and Gauss rifles.  The second major variant of
marines had a full torso covering armour, but bare arms!. They were almost
exclusively equiped with gauss rifles.

Teh firat release of Nexus marines were generally poorly sculpted, i bought a
load but only to inmmediately cut off thier small arms (those nice Gauss
rifles and hand flamers), i think i only have one figure which has not been
chopped up by now (advancing with a combat rifle across his body). I bought
some of the second release sight unseen, and to be honest I wish I hadn't. The
first thing I don't like is that all the figures are
approaching GW-esque proportions so they no longer fit with the older
figs (and frankly, look ridiculous along side the already small vehicle
range), the second thing I really dislike is the appauling range of poses that
these figures are cast in. Rarely, outside of GW, have I seen so many 2D poses
and obvious concessions to the casters, out of about 18 figs I got only ONE
was actually firing a rifle, plus an additional fig who was firing a handgun,
the rest were in a motely assortment of standing looking dumb with gun in the
air, or plainly silly poses. I think Kryomek aimed these
at the GW/Heartbreaker market, unfortunately fro tehm both of these
comapnies make much nicer figs than these marines.

Personally, I feel the best figs to represent colonial marines are either the
Denizen (Stone Mountain) marines or the old Grenadier Future Warrior
troopers (now re-released by Nemo Miniatures of Italy).  The Denizen
figs may be the best bet for use with the Leading Edge aliens as they are true
25mm, thier armour and equipment is dead on for colonial marines, however,
thier small arms and SAWs are not, they are close but not quite on. Look for
thier female SAW trooper and see if you can match her to a character in the
movie!

The other alternative is the Greandier figs. they are slightly bigger than
true 25mm but nowhere near GW/heartbreaker 28mm size, I think they are
near to the old Citadel size large 25mm. My subjective opinion is that the
Grenadier figs are superior to the Denizen ones. The Grandier figs are very
well cast and come in a good variety of 'action' and 'standing' poses,
however, they manage not to fall into the trap of becomming 2D like so many
other companies figs. The armour and equipment of the FWs, while not exactly
lie the film is close enough. One of my biggest gripes about little soldiers
is the lack of belt order kit, do troops in the future not need water and
ammunition?, in this respect the FWs again come up trumps, while not laden
down with belt order they have a realistic and sensible amount of kit. The
small srms of the FWs, liek the Denizen figs is not exactly like the movie
weapons, however, the FW SAW is the best smart gun I have ever seen on a fig
(ask Tom Barclay or Jon Davies who used my figs at the ECGZG con, see what
they think). The other advantage of the FWs is the range of support weapons.
The 'Colonial Marine Technical Manual' list RPGs and PIGs among the support
weapons of the CMC, the FW range has a
RPG/GMS
fig and a laser armed fig which is readily converted to a PIG gunner. I could
go on more about these figs but its probably best not to, can you tell thet
they are my favourite line of figures? As an aside, if these things matter,
the whoile line was sculpted my Mark Copplestone, who IMO makes beatiful figs
whoever he works for (he is currently making the Foundry's range of 'Wild
West' figs I think).

If you would like more info on either the Kryomek, Denizen or Grenadier figs
then drop me a line.

Stuart.

P.S. A quick plug, I have a few pics (mostly b+w) of the Grenadier figs
up on a web page if anyone is interested in seeing them: