"Best 15mm ACW Figures? Manufacturers and Retailers" Topic

Greetings. I am interested in getting started in wargaming ACW in 15mm. I'm new to this period of gaming and would like some advice on what companies make the best ranges of figures. Also, would you buy direct from the manufacturer or do you have an awesome web retailer that you would recommend?

Hello and welcome to the period. Excellent choice. ACW has always been one of my favourite periods.

I would strongly suggest Blue Moon's ACW range. Hugely extensive with very nicely sculpted models that have lots of variation. I am currently replacing/supplementing my OG Rebs with Blue Moon. Moreover, if you join the Old Glory Army which has an annual fee (OG 25s not 15s) you get a 40% discount on all their items. So, a package of 30 figures for 9.00 US.

Peter Pig and Essex also do very nice ranges although they are closer to true 15s and are incompatible with BM, at least in the same unit.

IIRC, Battle Honours also did a range for the ACW and were very nicely sculpted models. However, that was some time ago and I'm not sure whether the molds are still up to snuff.

Anyway, no shortage of excellent figures for this period.

i use:
old glory(first series and newer sculpts)
battle honours
stone mountain
musket miniatures
blue moon
on thier own bases, in thier own reg.'s, they look good. blue moon are a bit tall, but on the table, they don't look out of place…

Here is my review web site which compares various makes side-by-side. I need to add my line (Scale Creep Miniatures), Blue Moon and Xan to the page.

Scale Creep are larger and mix well with AB and Blue Moon.
Xan are also larger, in the "17-18mm" category along with mine, AB, Blue Moon, etc.

link

I will add another and often forgotten range ; warrior miniatures 15mm acw line is very good ..

I'm partial to AB figures, available from Eureka Miniatures in the United States. They are, perhaps, a little limited in the variety of sculpts, compared to some other lines, but what there is, is of superb quality. The photos below have all of the AB Confederate infantry poses, arranged in three regiments for Regimental Fire and Fury

I've also bought and painted a few Blue Moon figures, and they're great. They're maybe a little gaunt than the AB figures, which isn't a bad thing, when you're talking ACW. The poses are perhaps a little more animated than AB. I've mixed AB and Blue Moon figures in a cavalry unit, and they look fine.

As far as retailers go, I've had nothing but great service from Eureka and Scale Creep, though I don't know much about Scale Creep's ACW figures.

Scale Creep's figures are excellent. Only negative are that the bayonets are a tad bit fragile but have heard other lines are the same way. Should mix fine with AB, Old Glory and Blue Moon.

Anyone get Battle Honors figures from Old Glory 15s lately? I've been concerned if the moulds are going bad, leaving bad mould lines and flash. I love the BH figures. I find the Blue Moon ACW a bit goofy looking.

email me at cavcrazy@hotmail.com, I have some 15mm ACW minis that are in need of a good home and I'm sure they will help get you started.
I have various manufacturers, most of it is unpainted, but I do have enough painted to start gaming.

I put together my 15mm Civil War collection more than two decades ago. The main figure line I used was Old Glory 15s. I supplemented them with Battle Honours, Peter Pig and some Minifig (mainly wheeled vehicles) I still like all those figures very much and have no regrets. In recent years Blue Moon has come out with a very nice line of 15mm/18mm figures, and I have added some of those to my existing collection (the field hospital for example). I would definitely give Blue Moon a serious look if I was starting over. You can see my collection in diorama form at link

Viking Forge has a new line coming out which is vastly superior to anything out there in 15 mm, including AB. It is not pictured on their website yet. Email them and ask them specifically. The figures are available.

I just wrapped up my ACW project (been working on it since I started miiniature gaming 25/26 years ago). I have Minifig, Old Glory, TTG, Frontier, Stone Mountain and Musket. I like them all, and they work well together, as long as they are in their own units. TTG are a little weird with giant heads.

Man, that is a beautiful collection of figures you have there, War in 15mm.

I'm going to have to put in another vote for 15mm Blue Moon. Amazing figures with an amazing prices if you have the Old Glory army card.
~Joe

Thank you Tim.

Wow, thanks for all of the comments and advice. The TMP community is really awesome. Good to know that there are so many quality choices out there. I still have a lot of research to do!

Thanks to Extra Crispy for his great website. Lots of terrific advice and tips on painting, collecting and the hobby in general.

"Viking Forge has a new line coming out which is vastly superior to anything out there in 15 mm, including AB. It is not pictured on their website yet. Email them and ask them specifically. The figures are available."

@Bernhard Rauch – do you mean this company? thevikingforge.net

Because their Ancients and 15th Century figures look nice enough – but nothing that special. Are the ACW figures by another sculptor? Perhaps you could show some pictures of them? I'd be interested to see them.

The Viking Forge range of American Civil War figures were sculpted by Paul Barnshaw for Thistle & Rose Miniatures. We purchased the range from them two years ago and have been pressing molds ever since.

There are 32 different packs of artillery, infantry and cavalry. Each infantry pack has at least four different poses and often as many as ten. They are closer to 18mm than actual 15mm.

I regret that I do not have a single photo at the present time, but will work on it. Eventually all of the packs will be listed on the website with photos.

I want to get them up on my website ASAP but my real job has intervened. For the time being you can buy them by sending me an e-mail and I will send you a list of the 32 packs.

Email sent! :-)

I got the listing from them and will order some just out of curiosity. If they are as good as Blue Moon or better, I'll be ordering more. I don't really need anymore 15's, but I can't resist quality and different figures!

The Viking Forge 15mm ACW range is now listed on our website. We will add photos as soon as possible.

thevikingforge.net

Blue moon gets my vote as well as AB ACW. Variety by Blue Moon is untouched. Viking Forge ACW? Based on the Ancient range pictures I personally would pass as they look too much like old minifigs. However if a new line with new sculptor then please post pictures, if great line then pics will boost sales.

thevikingforge.net

Elite Wargames and Models
Have started making the Ex Jacobite ACW figures

link