I think the proportions are more of a situation where militia spear represent a peasant community where you have Lemmy who is nearly 4 feet 6 inches and Clem who is 3 feet 3 inches working side by side in the fields, looking a bit odd and rag-tag if you like when they stand together in a 'similar' uniform as it were.
The 'state troops' for the halflings that are coming out will offer the more regimented and orderly type halfling heights, girths, uniforms and relative proportions.
I have ever been plagued by plastic miniatures for all races that come out in units exactly the same height, width, girth and volume.
I have always looked hard and long for the 'different ' miniatures that have differences in more than just a head swap or a weapon change.
I see Halflings as a kind of semi-organised throng with an aspect of individuality about them that you are not going to expect in Men, Dwarves or Elves for example.
So the purposeful differentiation of proportions in the range, is only really achievable because of the metal casting.
If this were plastic injection moulding then everything would be too 'samey'. Squashed down into digitised uniformity for mass production, and understandably so because the cost of the set up for mass production of plastic injection moulding is something that the vast majority of the boutique or cottage industry miniature sculptors and manufacturers find well outside their fiscal capabilities.
Consequently many of the 'older brigade' (grognards
) prefer metals, not so much because of the medium itself, but because it means the potential for differentiation within the framework of an already much loved genre.
Now some folk adore having every model in a unit nigh on identical, and it works with a particular spectacularity in napoleonics for instance.
I however prefer to have virtually every model slightly different and in a more rag tag army like Goblins or Halflings, a high level of individuality throughout the army.
That is another reason I have gravitated to the Battleforge for my halflings, not only is it
very difficult to find any manufacturer anywhere who offers any kind of variety for halflings in terms of different unit availability, but also for differentiation and individuality inside those units, and the ongoing development of more and more different units coming out.
I love the way the new website allows for the purchase of individual miniatures. I don't have to buy two packs of anything to get two of the particular model I want.
I can cherry pick to my hearts desire and get exactly what I want for each unit and exactly how many I want (or that my budget and mrs will allow
)
I also like having that feeling of wonderment at what will come out next and what will it be like... I really like that feeling of hopeful expectation.
For a collector and painter of all things halfling the Battleforge is a treasure trove