"Fantassin vs AB" Topic

Now in napoleoinc 18mm they are the same size but AB has far better sculpts

How is this in 20mm WW2

Looking at pics of the fanassin they looks great, much more realistic in proportions then most 28mm figs

From what I've gather the newer range of fantassin is quite good and close to AB standards?
The fact is that the AB range is just to small for me, no US airborne, marines or japanese ect. All which fantassin has

So for those that has both, are the some ranges of fantassin I should steer clare of? That would not fit inn with the better/new sculpts?

On the whole, AB Miniatures look like men. Real men. Fantassin/Warmodelling are very good but not quite that good. possibly a bit to exaggerated in their movements but still within 'realistic' bounds.

If scope of the range is important then Warmodelling win. If I wanted a LW WW2 British or American force in 20mm – AB wins hands down for me. But it is very much a matter of personal taste at the end of the day.

Cheers
Mark

Consider the source as I'm the US dealer for the Warmodelling (nee Fantassin) range…

Most of my customers mix them with AB. The general opinion seems to be the AB are cleaner sculpts with better detail on the faces. But they are also thought to be somewhat "static" in pose. Warmodelling are more "active" in pose.

For breadth of range Warmodelling certainly cover a lot of ground, and just started releasing the guns to go with their crews as well!

Mark "Extra Crispy" Severin
Owner, Scale Creep Miniatures
ScaleCreep.com
DeepFriedHappyMice.com

Maybe I can post some comparison shots. My late war British, Germans, and Americans are made up from AB and Fantassin. They go well together in my opinion

But they are also thought to be somewhat "static" in pose. Warmodelling are more "active" in pose.

I think that's a fair enough assessment.

Cheers
Mark

I think AB figures will still look good with an average paintjob using stains and such and really superior if you go to town whereas you will have to have a strong painting style and try rather hard to get okay painted figures out of Fantassin ones. Mainly this has to do with the latter's rougher / cruder sculpting style, particularly but not only with respect to the faces.

Some of the Fantassin sets look like they are variants of the AB equivalents (e.g., the German AT gun crew) and almost meant to be used as a supplement to enlarge the limited range of poses that AB offers. If one is to use Fantassin with AB, ideally I would want to see all the Fantassin heads swapped out with AB ones or similar – but that's me.

There is also greater variation with Fantassin figs. whereas AB has a certain uniform quality that does not alter greatly. So judge with figures in hand (best) or by examining web photos carefully (second best).

Cheers, Richard

I'll try and take some pics tomorrow comparing AB and Fantassin late war Germans

A couple of problems I remember having when looking for AB figs about a year ago:

1. Finding someone reliable who sells them in the US.
2. Knowing what your buying/pics of their product.

So far, these issues have kept me away from AB. On top of this, I've been fairly pleased with Warmodelling/Fantassin as well.

Incidentally, for anyone on the fence…if you order some Warmodelling figs and decide you don't like them you can return them. Details here:

link

Regards,

Mark Severin
Scale Creep Miniatures

"There is also greater variation with Fantassin figs."

Not quite sure about this…AB do over 300 British figures..how much variation do you need?
Personally I love them both

"Knowing what your buying/pics of their product."

Go to the AB website, there's pics of most items.

Trying to match AB's pictures with their codes is very annoying. It is not as simple as code/description/picture.

They have more than enough pictures on their website to make a very sound purchase. All their figures have the same sculpting style & quality. If you like what you see in the dozens of pictures on their website, it's pretty safe to say you will like the packs you order that might not have been shown. Most packs have fairly logical descriptions.

Besides that, it sounds like you have only seen just one page of their pictures. If you go to the sub section entitled "Photo Catalogue", the pictures are all labeled with their product code.

"Trying to match AB's pictures with their codes is very annoying. It is not as simple as code/description/picture."

Its not rocket surgery.
I'm sure if you ask nicely, AB will come round your house and place your breakfast cereal in your mouth for you.

Ease up dude.

Although I have been reading the comments of others on this excellent site for a couple of years now, I thought it was time for me to throw in my 2 cents worth. I own and have painted both Fantassin and AB figures. Fantassin are easy to order and are readilly available.(I live in Canada and have ordered them online and purchased them in person at "The Toy Soldier Shop" in Michigan)`. I have ordered a few times from AB as well through the mail(it takes longer but wow, they are works of art. From a painters perspective, AB are the finest I have ever painted with Perry Napoleonic 28mm figures perhaps being their equal.
Fantassin are nice yes, but IMHO not nearly as nice a AB.
Hope this is helpfull.

I think Tony Barton set the standard that others are now striving for. (EG Fantassin CGM etc ).

Even the older brands re vamped some of their sculpts after AB hit the market – such as Essex , Minifigs & tin soldier )

Yes it would be nice if he finished off some of his ranges – but I am still more than happy to smatter fantasin or CGM figures in with my ABs .

Who is CGM?

These guys?

link

I like the Fantassin Russians, decent sculpts and some cool figures, faces don't seem to be too bad compared to the Waffen SS I have which seem to lose facial detail under their helmets.