Wednesday 14 September 2011

Hasslefree Scooby Gang

Here is a set of figures that I've been dying to review for ages now - Hasslefree Miniatures' version of Scooby Doo and the Scooby Gang - Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy. I've held off reviewing them until I got a decent figure of Scooby. Fortunately, Kevin White, HF's resident sculptor, sculpted an excellent version of Scooby earlier this year. I've only just got round to buying him but he got painted in double quick time.
At the far left of my two photos above is HFN005 Barney, whom we all know as Fred Jones, the handsome leader of the Scooby Gang. For copyright reasons, none of this range are called by the names we normally associate with them. It's no big deal as they are instantly recognisable. Kev has sculpted Fred musing over a problem as he strokes his jaw.Fred's interests include martial arts, wrestling, weight lifting and an obsession with traps. He is hopeless at foreign languages. He likes flirting with attractive women but seems oblivious to Daphne's attraction to him.
Next up is the hot totty of the group, HFN003 Felicity, aka Daphne Blake. Daphne hails from a wealthy family and is noted for her fashion sense and uncanny ability to fall into danger, hence her nickname, "Danger Prone Daphne." Whenever the group has to split up, Daphne always accompanies Fred, sometimes with Velma and sometimes without. Kev's sculpt just oozes sex appeal.
In the centre of my photos is the brains of the group, HFN002 Louise, or rather, Velma Dinkley. Velma has a great love for science and obscure subjects that help solve whatever mystery she's working on. She is extremely near-sighted and frequently loses her glasses at the worst possible moment. Velma is supposed to be a "plain Jane" but am I the only one to think that when Linda Cardellini portrayed her in the two live action movies, she was hotter than Daphne? Kev has sculpted Velma holding a large reference book, a typical pose for her.
The fourth and final human of the group is HFN004 Wolsey, whose real name in the TV series and films is Norville Rogers, whom we all know as "Shaggy." Shaggy is the owner of Scooby Doo and is renowned for his cowardice and love of eating. Once again, Kevin's sculpt, showing Shaggy in a typical slacker pose, scratching his head, whilst looking bemused is perfect.
Finally, we come to the hero of the show, Scooby Doo himself. HF have named him HFL405 Hamlet, after another Great Dane (groan!). When I first saw the figure of Scooby/Hamlet I thought it was too big. But looking at pictures of Scooby and other Great Dane dogs, he's not at all. They really are a tall breed of dogs. Scooby is as big a coward as Shaggy, despite his impressive size. he loves all the food that shaggy likes, but is especially fond of "Scooby Snacks," a biscuit-like dog treat. 
These are a great range of figures and are exceptionally well sculpted by Kevin. You could use them as generic students using the names provided by Hasslefree, but who'd want to? They what they are - Scooby Doo and friends. The four humans cost £3.50 each and Hamlet/Scooby costs £4.00.
For those wondering how they'd fare in a zombie apocalypse I present this stunning piece of artwork I found on the Internet. Velma has stepped up to the mark as a zombie killer. Scooby has "manned up" and now rips zombies to pieces. But alas, it's R.I.P. Shaggy, Fred and Daphne.

32 comments:

  1. Very very cool!

    I have been wanting these figures for a long time so now I am envious

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  2. They're a great set but I thought they're too well known as characters but maybe for a game of scooby snacks with them being chased by zombies.

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  3. @Shelldrake. I've had to wait a long time for the Scooby figure but the wait was worth it in the end.

    @Fran. I hear what you're saying. They should be fun for a one-off game but how long would they survive in say, an ATZ campaign?

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  4. Brilliant stuff dude :) They look grrrreat together!

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  5. What an excellent post! Beautiful sculpts with a great paintjob. (as usual) I love the "Velma and Scoobie, Zombie hunters" pic. I think this set would also work great for games of Ganesha Games "Kooky Teenage Monster Hunters" supplement for Fear and Faith.

    Now all you need is a Mystery Machine.

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  6. They are a lovely set of figures and I didn't recognise them for what they truly were amongst the other Hasslefree figures! Now if Scooby had been there...

    I can't think of an immediates use for them, but for fun and novelty value, they couldn't be beat. Perhaps Hasslefree's Kevin White can re-sculp them armed, and with a vicious looking Scooby !
    You'll now need the mystrey van to go with them though. So, here's a link for a cardcraft one:
    http://members.tripod.com/~into_the_shadows/models/index.html
    Hope that works,you may have to scale the pdf to fit in with other models, I haven't tried it myself.

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  7. Greay figures and a great paintjob. They look like they are straight out of the cartoon.
    I like the fan art too, as Velma makes sense as the sole (human) survivor. Just hope she doesn't lose those glasses.

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  8. @Avicenna. Many thanks for the compliment.

    @Luckyjoe. You'd think Ganesha Games had them in mind when they came up with the title "Kooky Teenage Monster Hunters." as for the Mystery Machine, well...

    @Joe. Thanks, mate - downloaded already! The Mystery Machine looks a bit on the small size and the colouring is very basic. Yeah, I may have to fiddle with the printer settings to get it scaled up.

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  9. Those are awesome figures that had completely skipped me by. Not as awesome as that picture though. I always knew V was the real survivor on the team.

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  10. @Adam. Hmm, Velma is always losing her glasses, so I can't see that changing. Still, she's nicely tooled up now and I love the huge wooden stake atop the Misery Machine.

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  11. lol, they look great, if it wasent for you peskey kids

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  12. Ok, you are cruel...

    Think about me that now MUST have this set, and I need more miniature to paint as I need another hole in my head...

    Sigh...

    Beautiful paintjob, I dare to say that this are better than other mini you painted... is an impression?

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  13. Fantastic paintjob on a fantastics set. That pic would make an excellent miniature to have it would be awesome!

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  14. I would've got away with it if it wasn't for them meddling kids!! Great painting!!!

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  15. @Shintokamikaze. Yep, those peskey kids are always meddling where they shouldn't!

    @Zerloon. Mea culpa!

    If you think these are my best painted minis then thank you and wow!

    @Brummie. If Kev (or anyone else) was to sculpt Vlema as she appears in the fan art, I'd definitely want to buy her.

    @Ray. If it's any consolation I never thought it was you. I was sure it was Fran! LOL!

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  16. good review i have been looking at those figures also and have been tempted to buy them. but that pic of velma and scooby just rocks.

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  17. I was on the fence about getting the Scooby gang, but seeing them painted up in glorious full color has sold me! I don't have a problem using them since my games tend to be a little goofy anyway. Excellent work as usual Bryan!

    Now if I could only find a Scrappy-Doo figure...

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  18. @Mikestarfighter. And we have another fan of post apocalypse Velma and Scooby. I certainly agree with you.

    @ConfusedDad. There just had to be someone to mention Crappy-Doo! Are you mad?

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  19. Very nice paint job Vampifan, some of your best work I think, I noted that you seem to know a lot about Scooby doo lol! good stuff mate.

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  20. @The Extraordinarii. I grew up watching Scooby Doo cartoons as a teenager and later as the old geezer I am now. I've always loved the shows, so it's not surprising I know a good deal about them. Plus, Wikipedia helped out!

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  21. Damn good paintjob on these! Are there Scoobysnacks?

    I think the artwork could well be right, about what would happen in the case of the gang in a zombie outbreak!!!

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  22. @Johnny. There should ALWAYS be Scooby Snacks, my friend! Yes, I think the artist has got it right about Velma surviving a zombie apocalypse.

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  23. ZOINKS!!! you did a great job on those.

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  24. Excellent job and thank you for the facts on the Scooby gang - i used to love this show when i was a little boy...

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  25. Linda Cardellini...
    say, no, more!

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  26. "Raggy!" Great scuplpts and you've really captured the colours superbly Bryan!

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  27. I had to dig out my way-back machine in order to tell you... Armor Cast has a Mystery Machine miniature now.

    http://armorcast.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1510

    I thought it was a pretty good deal, unless of course you were planning to make a cardstock version!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for letting me know about this but I've already seen it and ordered it. It really is such a cool model. The idea of making a card model had crossed my mind but I'm glad I didn't go ahead with it.

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    2. I ordered it as well. They ran a full set of the models, with some different dog, so I had to purchase the correct one from someplace else...

      I'm really looking forward to seeing your Mystery Machine treatment! Do you have any plans for how you'll use them yet?

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    3. I don't have any plans for using them in my ATZ campaign. Kev at Hasslefree has just started making armed versions of the Scooby Gang, and has just done an awesome sculpt of Daphne/Felicity armed with a mini-gun. I think I'll wait until he reimagines all of the gang before using them.

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