"A question for Mike Blake" Topic

Hi Mike – what is your opinion of the Supreme Napoleonic figures – are they directly comparable to the Italeri range (ignoring the paint job)?

Thanks

Sorry I'm not Mike Blake but I have seen these figures. They are I believe direct copies of Italeri figures in two slightly different scales. The British are 1:30th and I feel look rather crude as a result. They paint up quite nicely but I won't be buying any more unless I find out they are being made under license. Besides Italeri may do 1:32 again…

That was my concern – were they made under license or re-copied. If they are different sizes then that suggests copies. Thanks.

I know Mike has seen a lot of these figures, so interested in his opinion of any of teh range.

Hi Marc

Whilts I understand your concern about these figures, I don't know the details of any 'deals' between original makers and the new ones and don't want to get involved, but IMHO Italeri & King & Country are big enough to take care of any copyright issues – the production plant of the makers in China (where K&C are located anyway )is visited by the UK importers so they are not hiding anything.

FWIW different sizes doesn't necessarily mean 'copies' in the way you imply. The K&C originals are metal, the Supreme figures are plastic; two very different production methods. Reduction in size is quite likely in the change whether they new plastic castings are 'legal' or not.

In this case as to the figures sizes, however, those that come from the '1/32nd' Italeri Early French (both the direct copy infantry and the newly converted cavalry) and the British Light Dragoons are the same size as the Italeri originals. That said, the orginal Italeri figures are chunky and nearer 1/30th than 1/32nd anyway. The men are in a much softer plastic though, (which makes them easier to convert) whilst the horses (all from the British LDs) are hard plastic. They all, IMHO, paint up really well, and the 'new' bicorne cavalry are really useful. Swords are floppy and over thick though and need replacing

The British infantry are AFAIAA 1/72nd Italeri British Napoleonic infantry up-scaled to 1/30th and are less successful IMHO – the change in scale has not done the original figures any favours. Italeri have never done, and as far as I am aware never will, do these in 1/32nd. FWIW the Armies In Plastic British are IMHO much better proportioned and sculpted.

The Russian Napoleonic (there is also WWII from Italeri originals and are 1/32nd like the originals))artillery (gun and crew) and infantry are from K&C 1/30th metal originals. They are superb figures, not surprising given their origins! Even the crude copy of the gun (hollow underneath) paints up beautifully.

The out of production Italeri cavalry sets (Hussars and French Dragoons anyway) may be put back into production, at least for a while. Steve Weston (plastictoysoldiers.co.uk) has persuaded them to do this, dates u/k, but check his website for updates.

Tiger Figures (www.diecastmilitarymodels.co.uk) are also in discussion with the makers of the Supreme figures and is planning to do some French Cuirassiers and other Napoleonic cavalry in 2014. Tiger do the Supreme figures in different 'packages' BTW, more suited to wargamers raising armies. They list them on eBay under Tiger-Hobbies-Limited. Well worth a look.

I made my Bicorne hatted cavalry into Chasseurs a Cheval (elite company) with new heads – they look quite reasonable and as I said the British painted up well,apart from the drummer who has a tiny upsidedown drum and huge drumsticks !

Thanks Mike – I have ordered some. I am relaxed about how big copies arrange deals amongst themselves, it was just sizing I was interested in.

All the best – will you be doing more articles for the Toy Soldier magazine – liked the Italians.

Well, they arrived. Very good pricing, terrible paint jobs () and they look fine. Recommended. I have only gone for the French as I do not need Brits, and will use the cavalry as mounted colonels and form a unit of chasseurs. The saddle cloths will need some thought, but nothing too terrible.

Recommended

If you want pointed shabraques, Italeri Mamalukes are good (and still seem to be around). Just need some of the oriental trim removed.

As to the painting on the Supreme figures- for the price they shouldn't have any, so I really don't get it when people moan about it – it is irrelevant – like you say Marc, look beyond it at the figures!

You may not need Brits, I didn't either… I made them into Russian & Austrian Dragoons, Uhlans and Cuirassiers – they are already in overalls!

There will be more articles in TSC in the future, not necessarily Napoleonic though, though I do have a lot more conversions which could be covered.

Totally agree on the pricing – and Tiger sell them in more user friendly ratios – so I just bought a load of marching figures for way less than the load of boxes of Italeri i would have needed.

Had not thought about the Brit cavalry – good idea. I shall get some for storage while I ponder.