"TAG Sells 1809 Austrian range to Alban Miniatures" Topic

The subtle hint provided by Alban advertising the "new" Austrian range for the last month has now been confirmed. The Assault Group has ditched its Napoleonics range and Alban has added them to their rather excellent British and French by the same sculptor. A positive step? Or a bit of a concern that an established outfit like TAG couldn't make a go of the range?

Probably just means that they want to concentrate on ranges they are better known for.

If you are going to do period like Naps, either folk will want you to do all the permutations and opponents or you have to be filling a particular niche. The former is a big undertaking, the latter doesn't seem sensible in this instance. There are plenty of folk who make Napoleonic Austrians. For those wanting Revolutionary Wars Austrians, there's a growing and really excellent range from Eureka, who already make the opposition. TAG's Napoleonic range, if it can be really be called that seems a better fit with Alban. Same sculptor, same period.

I would v much like to buy some of their Austrian cavalry but not the horses. This is only because I have a box full of horses which need to be used and without this option, I will continue to buy from the likes of Front Rank. I hope the new owners will allow this option.

I imagine their decision might have been influenced by the fact that the same sculptor is working on yet more Austrians for another company (Radetzky Miniatures IIRC?). It seems unlikely that TAG's Austrian sales were going to increase.

A Twiningham, Radetzky Miniatures is the TAG range; Ansell started it because he was buying the TAG range.

Now I am confused. Are Radetzky and Alban the same company then? I thought it was odd for the same sculptor to be working on competing lines, but it does seem to happen from time to time.

It is a merger that makes sense, putting all of the Ansell sculpts under one roof, so to speak. Radetzky = Alban as I recall.

- Are Radetzky and Alban the same company then? –

From what I understand, same owner, yes.

Like DaF says, it makes sense. The TAG range was suffering from lack of compatible opposition and general incompatibility with other ranges.

"The TAG range was suffering from lack of compatible opposition and general incompatibility with other ranges."

And stagnating with no additions to the range.

It looks like a win/win situation now with TAG concentrating on their very nice Renaissance releases and Radetzky finally being able to bring out more Austrians (and Saxons?).

I'm sure once the Alban/Radetzky folks have finished the transaction with TAG they will post more on TMP.

Give them time.

Now it all makes sense. Thanks for shedding some light DAF and AdC. Once I fill out the ranks of the 1797 troops I'll have to revisit 1809 it seems.

<<"The TAG range was suffering from lack of compatible opposition and general incompatibility with other ranges."

And stagnating with no additions to the range.>>

And of course, the brittleness/vulnerability in transit of the figures, as a previous thread on here exposed. The reviewer suffered numerous breakages in almost every pack in a big order.

I've not heard that Alban customers have suffered the same problems, so perhaps it's more a material/casting issue? Either way, they need to address it.

[Edited to include these links:

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Aye, I also suffered from the "brittleness/vulnerability" issue when I ordered some. 8 figures, 8 broken bayonnets.

I hope it gets fixed. While not my style of figures, I welcome any comprehensive Austrian range.

I'm the reviewer Supercilius Maximus linked to. TAG did contact me and replaced the figures. The second time they included an extra foam insert in the blister pack, and all the figures arrived without any breakage. I haven't handled the figures roughly enough to know if they're inherently fragile, or if the packaging was entirely to blame for the breakage.

"I've not heard that Alban customers have suffered the same problems, so perhaps it's more a material/casting issue?"

I've placed several orders for Alban Miniatures over the last year or so. I've not had any problems at all with breakage. That's an outstanding record for any manufacturer.
In all fainess to TAG, I did have the same "brittleness" issue but they promptly replaced the damaged items.

Well that's good news if the issue has been resolved.

I've bought about 150 Alban figs in several orders so far and have not had any problems with breakages, other than one plume and that was my fault.

I was worried about brittleness at first as the figures make an alarming crackiling sound and 'feel' brittle as you straighten out bent muskets and bayonets, but none have actually broken.

I like this range and will be buying Austrians as they are available.