"Battle Honors ACW & AB ACW" Topic

I know these ranges were done by the same sculptor, but are they in fact the same ranges under different names?

I recently bought a lot if nicely painted minis that I thought were BH, but when I look at the photos of the AB range, many of the sculpts seem identical.

Thanks.

They are the same range. You can find some people who swear they are different, but I have held them both, and they are the same sculpts.

They are the same sculpts, but they are different sizes as well. Battle Honors are 15mm. AB is larger and closer to 18mm. AB is also crisper and cleaner. You can really tell the difference if you put the same sculpt next to one another.

Thanks gentlemen.

You will recognize many of the same sculpts, but there is a BIG difference in the quality of the castings. AB figures are cast by Eureka in Australia, and I second what Cleburne said… these are some of the cleanest, crisp figures in the hobby. They are one of my preferred suppliers.
I do not know who casts the Battle Honors figures now, but you will get poor detail in the castings, ill-formed rifles & sabres, weak easily bent ankles on the figures, etc. I won't paint them.
AB are more pricey, but you get what you pay for!

Interesting. Is the difference due to the age of the moulds?

See for yourself:

link

Age of the molds? Probably. The original BH packs, basically the firing, marching, and skirmishing poses, are all fairly robust. I've never had problems with broken muskets or legs. They do have lots of flash, but once cleaned look good to me, and they paint up OK. Plus, and this is just my opinion, BH/AB gets it right as far as having the rebels wear shell jackets, and the Union have distinct sack coats.

If I need a spare figure, I'll throw an AB figure into a regiment of BHs, and it looks fine. Just one slightly taller dude that naturally blends into the rest of the line, especially with similar poses.

BH and AB are my preferred line for generic infantry.

I have a Union army, all BH. The marching figures in overcoats have rifles/bayonets that break easily, as do all flagstaffs. The pack called 8th Wisconsin is my favorite. They are in firing line poses and don't have fixed bayonets. Nothing breaks (except flag staffs). I have replaced most flag staffs with brass rod by now. The bag includes one figure with "Old Abe" the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin.

I'd stick with firing line poses.

Battle Honours, AB and Polly Oliver are designed by Anthony Barton (Tony Barton).

The BH must have been designed over 25 years ago and the AB and Polly Oliver over 20 years ago.