"Great Northern War Figures" Topic

I am interested in getting into The Great Northern War in 25/28 mm. Could my fellow TMPers please let me know what companies produce figures for this range and what are some of the good references available? Thank you for your help…

Foundry has an older range with most of the infantry covered for the Russians and Swedes, plus Russian cavalry. Their Marlburian range works for generic Swedish Cavalry and artillery for both sides.

Musketeer produces some nice figures as well, but again, the range is incomplete.

Old Glory and Reiver Castings may also have figures for the period. Sadly, it seems no one produces a comprehensive range for the GNW in 28mm. I'm not sure it's commercially viable.

If you search on TMP I'm sure you will find several discussions on 28mm GNW.

There are two excellent but expensive books on the Russian and Swedish armies – check with Dennis at On Military Matters. I don't recall the titles, but I'm sure he can help you. Osprey also has titles on Poltava and Peter the Great's army.

I'd be interested in hearing recent feedback on Reiver Castings. Some time ago there were a couple threads on them, where it mentioned that they were a bid big chested and their horses were awful, but that they were also reworking some of their molds.

They seem to be pretty active in adding new figs to the line, so I'm curious what's up.

IMHO the best-sculpted GNW figures currently are Zvezda's plastics, which come to almost 25mm. No karpus or pokalems though…

I agree with ageofglory about GNW ranges. When I researched the period I found out that many uniforms were mostly generic and a lot of figures from other ranges will fit Russians. I also have an advantage over many people of being able to read Russian. I found out that Russians ordered their uniforms from all over Europe and variation in cut and equipment existed even in a single unit.

Check Old Glory Marlburian range, they have generic packs that will work for Russians also. Any collarless uniforms will do. OG figures in that range are very good. For figures without tricorns use Foundry.

Also, there were many variations in grenadier hats, just do your research and choose which OG or Foundry pack will work best. There were variation in a single unit as well.

Major difference between Swedes and Russians are turnbacks – Swedes had them, Russians possibly didn't have them in the beginning. Any Marlburian figures with turnbacks will work for Swedes. I didn't check Old Glory packs suitable for Swedes, but Musketeer and Foundry make them. Judging from Viking figures I have from Musketeer they should fit with Foundry and Old Glory sizewise.

Another major manufacturer of Marlburian figures is Front Rank. They are big figures and will not mix with anything else.

The best dedicated range for the period I found is from plastic Zvezda company. They are 1/72 scale and I highly recommend them. You can supplement them with Strelets figures (for karpus wearing figures), they mix fine in the same army, not necessary in one uniformed unit. 1/72 scale are bigger than 15mm and almost as big as 25mm and also cheaper. Quality of Zvezda miniatures is better than anything I've seen in 25mm ranges. Zvezda doesn't have Russian cavalry yet, but they should have them soon or use Strelets figures.

Reiver castings look like some of other Old Glory ranges. They do not look very good in unpainted state, but look fantastic painted and based as a unit. It will take some work to fit cavalry on their horses, judging from what other said, but they have a good range, IMO. I never dealt with that range, just observing from photos in magazines and what others said.

Zvezda russian dragoons will be out normally in June…
They will be like the Sweden dragoons : really beautiful.
Sweden and Russian artillery sets are really fantastic !
As the infantry sets are.

Zvezda figures are mainly for the second half of GNW.
Strelets are for the beginning.
Strelets cavalry reiters could be used with zvezda as cuirassiers (but infortunately a little bit smaller).

Please take a look at "Plastic soldier review" site.

Reiver GNW figs are big and ugly; and I sell the stuff! use Foundry.

Another vote for Zvezda, but if you are fixed on metal then they will not light your candle.

Worth a peek though if you are not blinkered – check them out via plastic soldier review

I wish I could afford to buy Foundry! Well actually I dont, I find them a bit wooden and lifeless for the GNW. I am impressed with the Musketeer miniatures figures but as the guy is not even answering queries about the figures on his website forum I dont intend to risk investing in them. I have decided to go with Reiver as they do a pretty extensive range and the figures are animated. Does any one have any photos of these figures painted up so I can see the end result? I intend to post some photos on our new blog link when I have painted a few up.