"Best 15mm Napoleonic figures out there..." Topic

So far I've seen that AB, Battle Honors, CGM, Warmodelling and Grenadier Productions are the best.
I was just wondering if there were any other good ones i missed. I wasnt that impressed by Old Glory.

oh and another thing…How compatible are AB and Battle Honors? I've read that they are exactly the same size and also read that they arent.

I'm confused! I'm down to take the 15mm plunge I was just looking for a 2nd and 3rd opinion.

I'm getting Perry French and British for sure though.

I have Essex Brits, French, Austrians, Portuguese and the Spanish Geurilla's and they're all great figres.

I saw Essex. But I feel that theyre too animated for my taste. I'm looking for realistic, more anatomically correct figures.

Thanks though!

How different are 15mm and 20mm figures?

5mm? No actually quite a lot. You couldn't mix the two.

Oh ok.

I may just buy A LOT of the new Grenadier Productions figures and supplement them with loads of AB divisional boxes.

or I dont know.

The bank account doesnt seem to be bearing many digits right now.

AB figures are the best by far if you want consistant quality and anatomically correct figures. I have some original Battle Honours by the same sculptor – Anthong Barton – but he did the Battle Honours in th early part of his career and whilst they are good they are smaller than the AB line which is the more complete line.

I bought some Old Glory in the early 90's to fill holes in the AB range back then that have subsequently been filled. They are ok but not a patch on AB. I hear good reports of Fantassin but I dont own any. Those who do seem to report some inconsistancy.

I believe the best test is that when photographed up close AB are often mistaken for 25/28mm figures.

So, they look as good as 25's but are cheaper and being 15mm (18mm actually) they allow you to shrink the ground scale and get more on the table – good reason top use them.

Nick

Take a look here where there are a number of ranges reviewed side by side:

link

AB are the best. Eureka USA has a sale on AB figs until the end of December, 10% off and 20% if you order over $400. USD

So, you are getting Perry French and British 28mm as well?

If I were to start in this scale, I would go with AB figures. Too bad Mr. Barton doesn't make 28mm figures as well.

As said many a time ,AB are the Best figures you can get,
Some examples:
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Hilsen,

Hands down, AB are the way to go.

Pete

Whoa! Minifigs are anatomically correct, too! Their designer, Mr. Higgs, is a stickler for proportions! There is a reason why "Thousands of gamers own millions of Minifigs!"

Minifigs often get overlooked but offer a vast range for Napoleonics in 15mm. Suggest you at least consider them, too. (If in the USA, make sure the pack you are looking at came from GFI. We are doing the latest sculpts.)

Thanks!

Tom Dye
GFI

AB seems to be a winner! Although i did check out Minifigs. They arent bad either.

and yes I am hopefully getting Perry Naps too. or first.

once more money is raked in…

does anyone have any of the Liberators! miniatures? I'm looking for feedback…

I second Tom – I am a big fan of Minifigs. I find they are easy to paint yet with a good amount of details, not too static and yet not excessively animated. And the range is excellent. Almost my entire napoleonic collection is Minifigs, and I can share some pictures I took earlier this year:

link

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I do not have comparisons with other ranges for the Napoleonic period, but I wrote some comments and took some pictures comparing different ranges for the Age of Reason period (WSS and SYW):

link

Good luck with your project!

Adik

For the early period (Revolution to 1800) I'd recommend Battle Honors supplemented with Minifigs.

Otto:

The Liberators are sculpted by Mike Broadbent and they are gorgeous.

Mark Severin
Owner, Scale Creep Miniatures
scalecreep.com

Otto, some thoughts, straight from the hip:

I judiciously mix AB and Minifigs. Minifigs certainly make the best arty and limbers out there, but for Inf and Cav AB are the best, but are more expensive. Considering the price differences though, you might want to make some of your less glamourous units from Minfigs. Minifigs are very slightly smaller than AB. My advice would be to get samples of both, and see which best matches your painting style. Minifigs are very straightforward, AB reward more care and attention. Once again, if you are pushing out hundreds of Bn's of Russians, say, it'll be quicker and cheaper with Minifigs, and maybe use AB for the Grenadier and Guard units.

Another factor is which period you want, AB French and British, for example, tend to cover the early and mid empire, whereas Minifigs French are very much 1812-1815. But Eureka have brought out a range of later French and British designed to compliment the AB range.

Both manufacturers have comprehensive websites with stacks of phots. If in UK, look at Fighting 15's for AB and Eureka, and Miniature Figurines for Minifigs. Both firms are very professional and approachable, IMHO.

Hope this helps,

Kind Regards,

Sparker

Yeah I was considering ordering a couple to sample them out before i dive headlong into a company. I do like Battle honors being well sculpted and cheap. So I'm ordering one or two figures from each and finding out.

I painted a Russian army for a friend, the bulk of the infantry was MiniFigs, the Guard and Cavalry AB, Guns and crews AB. It works well with the Guard looking big and hard and the Cavalry looking big, imposing, dashing and full of charisma, just like Cavalry should do!

Tally Ho!

Yes, thats the role of Cavalry, add an element of tone to what would otherwise be an unseemly brawl!

Yes, AB are awesome, Battlehonors awesome, Fantassin great, but some of the later Old Glory are pretty decent figures. Pricewise, they can't be beat.

Overall Best Regardless of Cost: AB followed perhaps by Fantassin & CGM.
Best Cost to Quality Ratio for those on Lower Budgets: Old Glory & Battle Honors or if you prefer the more static posed, Minifigs.

Cheers,

The Bandit