"15/18mm Xan Miniatures French Line + Blue Moon Comparison" Topic

Hi,
After seeing Rafa's excellent painting of the new Xan Miniatures 15/18mm French Line figures on TMP TMP link

I was tempted to buy some. I've posted a first impressions review along with my thoughts on some Blue Moon British and French Line infantry packs. I've also posted some size comparisons for the Xan and Blue Moon figures with other common makes of 15mm French Line infantry.

link

Malc

Malc,
Thanks for the comparison. It will be interesting how well their cavalry is done as AB horses are the best in any scale out there.
John

John,
If I was looking for some rankers to fill out my armies I'd highly recommend these. If you have some spare AB command figures that need supplementing with some basic troops these would be ideal. And cheap too. I was very pleased with them.

The French Blue Moon figures were better than I expected too. But not so impressed by their British Line.

Malc

Those Xan figures do look nice! Now I need to see how much a Corps for Empire would be!
:)

Ironic how the Battle Honors French look similar in size to the AB. The Bavarian sample BH figures War Web sent me are much smaller than the AB Bavarians. So much I cannot use them unless I build up the base but the bodies still look slightly smaller.

ARe the Xan figs made from the same metals as the Fantassin?

Malc great review. I agree, I wish AB would go back to minor states and offer something other than the marching poses. I'd love to see a Pole, Bavarian, Wurttemberger, etc. all in an advancing pose to vary up the look.

The major nations do not need anything before they could add to the minor states.

Lovely looking figures and appreciably cheaper than AB:).

Does Rafa use a rotation system for his painting?

AB is not only the top notch in sculpting and consistency, he also knows his stuff – where a lot of other excellent sculptors fail.
I also believe that a sculptor is at its best when he wants to sculpt the figures due to his interest.
I especially like his latest production Austrian Revolutionary Army, which is great.

One has to see if the Xan sculptor is into the period and if he is matching the immagination and creativity of AB.

@FredLoan – Fred, I think the problem with AB v BH is that Anthony Barton's figures suffered from "scale creep" as time went on. The AB figures in greatcoat tower over the BH equivalents. CGM's French in greatcoats work really well with AB.

As to the metal Xan is using v Fantassin I'm not sure. I haven't bought Fantassin figures since before they changed their name to Warmodelling – which is some time ago now. One of the reasons I stopped buying them was that the metal they were made from was so hard I struggled to clean off the flash. So it certainly isn't the same alloy as Fantassin back then. It is harder and seemingly more brittle than the alloy that AB or OG use (which are at the very soft end of the scale I'd say). I'd say it was about as hard as CGM.

It may be that I was being clumsy – and let's remember this is Xan's first time out (I presume) making figures (mine was invoice number 13) so he is still in the learning stage of what works and what doesn't.

Once you include the samples Xan included and the extra voltigeurs I bought then I had 1 metal failure in 25 figures – so even with the current metal not too bad. But it's an area with room for improvement I'd say.

Xan says in the other thread that he is planning to concentrate on the Peninsula – so there are a few minor states to come.

Von Winterfeldt – years ago I received a big box of AB /BH / OG figures which included the AB / BH revolutionary war Austrians. Perhaps I'm mixing up AB and the old BH websites – but I recall that AB made some revolutionary war Austrians available on special order only. When I saw the new AB figures at Salute they looked, to me, very similar to the old figures – so similar I thought "why bother"?

link to Xan?

Go to the TMP link above. It is in the first post.

1968billsfan – on my blog, if you click on the Xan Miniatures heading (just above the picture of Rafa's fine paintwork) that should take you to Xan Miniatures – or..clck here:

xanminiatures.com/en

Just be aware that this is a work in progress from what I can see. Evidently next up is French Legere!

A little bird told me that Xan is a former sculptor for WarModelling.
Anyway, Im pretty sure this isnt his "first time out".

The figures look lovely, I look forward to getting my hands on them myself:)

Thanks for the comparison shots and reviews Littlearmies!
Rafa has painted some 15mm Naps for me the last year, and they are truly works of art, particularly a Napoleons headquarters vignette he did for me about 6 months ago.

TMP link

Dr Jeckyll, thanks for the info. I suspect however there is a big difference between sculpting for someone else and setting up your own business. Xan seems more than happy to accept sensible suggestions so I hope his business does well.

I think at this time of economic crisis in the Euro zone we should all do our best to help the Spanish economy out of a hole – and what better (other than a holiday walking the Peninsular War battlefields) than buying some fine toys that will give years of pleasure?

Hi
I've made comment on another thread so please excuse if you've seen these comments there.
I'm considering purchasing some of Xan's miniatures as they look rather nice and would fill out some of my many LASALLE battalions of AB MINIATURES.
However I find the website / web store to be a bit of a dogs breakfast.
I can't see anywhere anything that explains how many miniatures are in a Battalion pack, and what the composition of the battalion packs might be.
Am I missing something?
I wish Xan all the best with is enterprise.
Cheers

Trailape the packs you want are the ones that cost €12.88 EUR – pack A has all of the elites in shako and pack B has grenadiers in bearskins. At the moment I think Xan is still getting his act together vis-a-vis the website and pack contents.

In my pack of 36 figures I received 1 officer, 1 drummer, 1 eagle bearer, 19 marching centre company soldiers, 4 marching grenadiers in bearskin, 4 marching elites in shako, and 4 elites in shakoes skirmishing. This was labelled as a Lasalle battalion when i purchased it – being unfamiliar with Lasalle (other than it had a 1:20 ratio) I assumed at the time this would work equally well for GdeB.

I rather suspect that, at this stage, if you asked for a special mix then, within reason, you could get them. I asked for all figures to be in covered shako – and that is what I got (plus some samples of their uncovered shako brethren). His website is pants right now but his actual customer service was very good in practice.

Malc if I am correct Lasalle units are either small or large 32 or 48 figs per infantry unit for 15/18mm. Cav is the same, small or large at 12 or 18 figs per unit. I think artillery is 1 model for every two guns.

@FredLoan – then I guess my 36 figures Lasalle unit was the 32 figure battalion + 4 figure skirmish screen. In General de Brigade it is 36 figures in the battalion + 6 skirmishers. So I'm a tad short! Well I would be if I didn't have several kilos of unpaid lead already.

Being a bit a LASALLE fan myself I can confirm what Fredlaon has posted. Artillery is either 3, 4 or 5 gun units.

Hi all:
Yes, I'm the old sculptor of miniatures Fantassin.
I was forced to leave, I spent some time sabbatical.
The next figures, will the french ligth infantry .
You can ask for packages to your liking if I Indicate to the order.
More, More Thanks for all.
Xan

I forgot.
A. Barton is the best miniatures sculptor of all times
Xan

trailape,

I hope to have my first army ready by August to start playign Lasalle. for now it is painting, commissioning, and rule reading

If Xan 'left' Warmodelling/Fantassin then that would explain why they have been very very quiet on the new release front.

On the bright side I will look forward with interest to seeing what Xan releases, especially as according to the thread above he will be concentrating on the Peninsular campaign.

Steve

@Xan

Good luck your sculpting skill is excellent, don't forget to sculpt hausse cols / gorgets for your French infantry officers.

I've been resting, studying and practicing. Xan Miniatures, has nothing to do with warmodelling, I was the sculptor, but now, in my business, just me: J.A.G.Bautista: Xan

Xan is my name in gallego. Juan: Xan: John

Sorry My English is google traslator.

Best regards.
Xan

Fine figures Xan,
Do you plan having a distributer in the UK?
Cheers
Paul

Sorry My English is google traslator.

That's about what my Spanish is, so no worries.

And I think I just found my source for Napoleon's armies in Spain (or at least the Ligne regiments)

I forgot.
A. Barton is the best miniatures sculptor of all times
Xan

A true Spanish gentleman!

Lovely sculpts by the way – I am very fussy about bayonets, perhaps because to me they symbolise the era, and these are very fine!

UK distributors I have not yet, but if you wait a bit, as my catalog bigger, or if you ask with other fans, from 120 euros, the shipping is free.
Best regards:
Xan

I would be interested in being a us distributor

O.K. Tjmmmy, send me a e-mail
info@xanminiatures.com or thebersaglieri@hotmail.com
Best regards
Xan

I took a look at Xan Miniatures website and you will find that there is now a full description of what is included within each pack.

link

…after one month, I continous waiting for my order from XAN MINIATURES. Usually from Eureka and Warmodelling I get my miniatures in a couple of weeks. Next time I am not sure to get more figures.

well it is a new line and he may have more orders than expected. Lets give the new person a break.

One-man shop with exceptionally nice minis (and probably not his full-time job, either)?

You shouldn't be surprised if your order is a bit slow. Unfortunately for Xan, he doesn't speak English, either, so he'd have a horrible time letting you know that your order is late/shipped/whatever.