"Recommendations on 15mm SYW" Topic

For someone starting out new in SYW and has decided on 15mm, what figure range would you suggest?

I do not have &YW figures anymore but the standard armies most of my old gaming group had were Old Glory and Essex.
VR
James Mattes

Personnally, 15mm Old Glory, if you're in the UK. They are available here again via Timecast. USA via Old Glory 15's. Downside is the pack composition, but the figures are good and good coverage of the participants.

UK (no images)

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USA (with images of certain packs)

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I have Old Glory, also Minifigs cavalry and some Freikorps15. Each line looks a bit different and Freikorps are smaller than OldGlory.

Mark S., are you going to add SYW to your ScaleCreep catalog?

You can see pictures of Old Glory 15mm done as imagination and western theater french on my blog.

cavenderia.blogspot.com

OG are fairly inexpensive. Mark enjoyed visiting your store a few weeks back will be ordering more first corp soon.

If money was an issue, I'd use Old Glory. If money was not an issue, I'd definately use Eureka's lovely 18mm range which has Prussians, Austrians, Russians and French.

Would any of these Blue Moon FIW figs be useable?

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It's a great range; I love all their new 15mm stuff ..

Not a SYW gamer but I have seen the new Peter Pig AWI 15mm and, if you are not too picky, the rank and file could be used for SYW.

G'day, Mark.

I'll recommend Eureka as well. There's photo's of the French (still not on general release yet, I don't know why) at link . You can see the Prussians, and Russians and Austrians at link and link respectively (as you can see, my painting skills haven't improved- look past the paint if you can). There's some gaps in the range and some inacuracies as well. For example, to get Prussian Jaeger and Freikorps I used Russian figures that were "close enough". There's also, as yet, no British. And the Austrian cavalry are just the Prussians with a few detail changes, such as adding "Austrian" heads and therefore giving them the wrong tricornes. On the plus side, though the horses are a proportionate size to the riders- they don't look like ponies (see the comparison at the bottom of the French review- Minifigs also do well for their horses).

If you remember, I bought a lot of the available 15mm (and 20mm) ranges when I was looking at getting into the period. Here's what I wrote at the time I reviewd OG's "Hanoverian" infantry on S&tY:

Essex produce the major nations, but not all the figures I'll need. Minifigs do a nice, but limited, range as well. Freikorps 15mm also do a very comprehensive range, but the figures of theirs that I've seen (a few years ago) didn't really impress me. However Gary Amos' painted generals have made me think these are worth revisiting, and I'll be getting some to have another look. So for my first foray I went to Old Glory 15's, who have a comprehensive range of SYW figures.

Of the ranges Mike and I reviewed (and a couple we decided not to review) at the time, I'd rate the figures (excluding Eureka's):

1. Minifigs

2. Freikorps

3. Essex

4. OG

You should have those reviews on the CD I sent you, when I closed the site.

Now there's be some resculpting of the different ranges since 2002, I think, so you'll need to look at what is currently available. My main reason for putting OG so low was the "scurrying" pose that I detest so much and the fact that their "Hanoverian" infantry were their British in a different bag (and yes, I bought some Poms and they were identical). If the figures have been remodelled then those observations may be redundant.

Welcome to the period, mate. I think you'll enjoy it.

Dal.

PS If you do go for the Eureka figures, use the Russian hussars for the Austrians and Prussians. I think they're better posed and more in scale and the uniform differences (no shoulder belt and the shabracque is smaller) are less of a problem for me. They come in both mirliton and busby, too. I'll eventually do the same and replace my existing regiments.

Extra Crispy,

What are you doing with my girl friend's photo at your profile? :)

As you can surmise, there are fans for every SYW manufacturer out there. Old Glory are solid for the popular European armies were large numbers are required per battalion or squadron. They offer a wide range of poses per pack and I like the Sales office's (USA) flexablity to customize an order to suit your requirements. That is definatly a plus.

If I were to collect the French and Indian War, I would certainly consider Blue Moon, not only for the two combatants, but the range of ancilliary figures, buildings and fortifications; it is simple mind boggling.

On another note, I can understand why some manufacturers would add Hannoverians to their listings as a means to expand their catalogue offering, but purchasing British figures and adding oak leaves would for the most part serve just as well.

About the Feldzeichen or field sign, you are not going to tell me oak leaves remained a vibrant green during the fall season? Or would you paint them orange and yellow for the months of August and September? Would you have a bare twig for the campaigns in October, November or December?

Cheers,

Doesn't matter, they are all little lead blobs :-) My policy is to get cheap ones for the rank and file and nice ones for the cavalry and officers.

The real question is which army?

I have Napoleonic Austrians in 15mm, there is a lot to be said for spraying white and adding a few blocks of colour.

I also have Louis XIV French in 15mm, and the French flags in 15mm are just far prettier than anyone else's.

Thus I suggest the white coloured, beautifully flagged French – plus with the ability to field different blue shades, reds, greys, greens, yellows etc (and thats just the infantry) it is a very colourful army overall.

Dal,
I asked Nic about the Eureka French in September and received this response, so maybe we'll see them soon.
"Dear Gene,
I sent the figures that needed amending off to Mike Broadbent last Thursday and hope to be receiving them from him soon. I'll then make production moulds and get them in the web site.
Cheers
Nic"

Editions Brokaw.

G'day.

Timur, but purchasing British figures and adding oak leaves would for the most part serve just as well.

It's not just adding some plant life, mate, they also need side bobs (I don't remember any on the figures I bought) and a pom-pom. I thought about making them with putty, but knew that would be more pain than it's worth (which is why my converted-from-Russian Freikorps don't have them).

Would you have a bare twig for the campaigns in October, November or December? Didn't they use a fir, pine or some other evergreen instead? Of course, if smart they'd be safe in winter quarters and letting the French have all the fun in the snow.

Gene, thanks for the info. I just realised it's been over six months since I spoke to Mike and longer since I spoke to Nic- work's been keeping me busy. I hope the French do well on release, as that will help sway Nic's decision about doing the British and (very hopefully) Hanoverians.

Cheers.

Dal.

Mark,
welcome to the Gentlemen's wargame period ;)

I've a mix of minifigs and Eureka Prussian and Austrian..
I may follow Dal's (hi Dal.. mate of mark M's) advice and get russians for the light troops.

I use Old Glory with Essex for cavalry in my 15-mm SYW Allied and French armies for Minden. They've both worked out pretty well.

I'm partial to Old Glory 15's. Nice figs and comprehensive range.

Mark,

Welcome! I hope this period is as enjoyable to you as it is to us. What rules? We are playing KK3 at the moment and having a blast.

OG is 99% of the figures I use. I have some Freicorp and essex but still prefer OG.

A word of caution on the Eureka lines. there was a scale issue between the Prussians and the Austrian/Russians with the Prussians being noticably larger. IDK if that has been reworked but it was what put me off that line. While individually the nations were very nice, if not expensive, one couldn't do a match up of figures without one towering over the other.

there was a link with photos out there somewhere showing the two side by side.

Let me know what OG lead you are thinking about buying and I probably have it painted up. Also let me know about getting in a game. As i said we are involved in a KK3 campaign and are playing at least once a week.

Madcam.

for those out there with more knowledge…

Those Blue Moon FIW figs look lovely. Any idea their scale to say OG?

I like their Highlanders much better than the OG ones I own.

Madcam.

A word of caution on the Eureka lines. there was a scale issue between the Prussians and the Austrian/Russians with the Prussians being noticably larger. IDK if that has been reworked but it was what put me off that line. While individually the nations were very nice, if not expensive, one couldn't do a match up of figures without one towering over the other.

there was a link with photos out there somewhere showing the two side by side.

They not really noticably larger…Here's a shot of a Austrian officer mixed into a Prussian Battalion. Austrian is on the far left. picture

and one side-by-side. picture

G'day.

Bob, how's things? Are you and Mark coming up to CanCon? Using the Russians for the lights is probably the only way to do it, as I don't think Nic's releasing any more Prussians. Though if the Poms and Hanoverians go ahead, there's the possibilty that some useable lights will appear (a hornist I can use for the jaeger would be nice). I'll have to ask Mike.

Madcam and TT, it was the Russian infantry that were noticeably smaller (the French fall between the Russians and others). If I can find the side-by-side photo of the four nations I'll put it up on my site. However it's not really noticeable on the table when you look at Russian units beside the Austrians or Prussians. I'll see if I can find a couple of photo's to put on my site later today. But time is becoming scarce- I have to set up an ftp programme for this new computer first and finish the Gruzinskiy Hussars and Saxe-Gotha Dragoons (Austrian version- how many units, spread across all the armies, were named Saxe-Gotha?) for next week's game (priority 1).

Cheers.

Dal.

PS- TT, that's a nice looking IR von Winterfield, mate.

Blue Moon may work for lights with Eureka. While the FIW British Grenadiers are a little smaller than the Eureka Pussian Grenadiersthe GNW Russian "Dismounted Dragoons with Command in tricorns" match up very well size-wise with Eureka's Prussian Musketeers although a much earlier uniform (in my imagi-nation that doesn't matter).
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They also have, although I don't own them and can't verify size, "French Dismounted Dragoons in Bonnets with Command" in the Malburian range
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Also FIW "British Line Skirmishing" and "French Line Skirmishing" which may work. Civilians and Militia too.

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I'll wait for the Eureka French to come out and see how I like the fit or may follow your lead with the Eureka Russians.

Gene, they're quite nice figures. I may grab a couple of packets of skirmishers, and perhaps the dismounted dragoons, to see how they look in the flesh. Small size discrepancies don't worry me, as it's usually not too visible when figures are in different units, and I like the idea of mixing in some different makers' figures.

I'd like to use Freikorps, but they are really too small.

Dal.

Gents, I've put up the side-by-side photo's and a couple of games showing the different figures on the table at link . I really haven't noticed the difference in size when the figures are on the table, but it may be a factor for some.

Cheers,

Dal.

Dal,

I'm still yet to find a really good set of rules that "feels" right – the way the history reads.

I'm set for napoleonics – the Too Fat Lardies with their La Feu Sacre III have that period covered for me.

What are you currently using for your SYW rules?

Nick

G'day, Nick.

I've for a game that's bloody good fun and looks good (at least to me), rather than a "simulation", mate. I'm using Charles Grant's rules from The War Game, modified for 15/18mm figures (ie all measurements converted to cm and reduced by ~1/3). They're very basic and use anachronisms such as cannister cones and shot sticks- and I love them. I haven't had this much fun when wargaming for a long time.

More detailed and "accurate/realistic" rules are out there, of course. Sam Mustafa's Might and Reason sammustafa.com/mr.html do a good job of capturing the period feel at an operational level (1 base = 1 BN or so- I haven't looked at my set for a while) while at a more tactical level Koenig Krieg koenigkrieg.com are good and I really liked Tabletop Miniatures' Rules for 18th Century Warfare (I think that was the title)- particularly the pre-game manoeuvre phase. Sadly now out of print, I believe.

I'm sure other members will have some suggestions as well- the 18th C seemed to be going through a renaissance (pardon the pun) recently and there were a few new sets put out. But for me, the Grant rules bring back the fun that had leeched from the hobby when, among other things, wrestling with the rules seemed to become more important than enjoying the game.

Cheers.

Dal.

Thanks Dal, yes, I like Might & Reason for brigade level but at battalion level find that Koenig Kreig just doesn't quite cut if for me. Some of the mechanisms are a bit clunky but they're probably the best of the battalion level sets out there. Reckon I may have to modify La Feu Sacre III to get what I want.

Merry Christmas mate,

Nick

I've played both Age of Reason and Koenigs Krieg. However, all my figures and armies are now based for Koenigs Krieg.

Hi

For Grand Tacticsl scale then Might & Reason are hard to better but a very good couple of sets are Piquet Cartouche & Piquet Field Of Battle (unless you prefer set phases and total control over all moves etc)

For an 'old school' style set Blackpowder are fine

For big games King of the Battlefield are interesting and fastplaying

Their is a set from Gen de Brigade stable 'Der Kongkriegst' (or something like that) if you like more detail

Age of Reason are ok but the charging phase is rather complex

Minden Rose is another decent set (combat/shooting bit like old WRG set)
BAR also get decent rep

Lots of choices not sure if that's a good or bad thing :-)

Cheers