"Spencer Smiths or Perry Miniatures for Imagination Armies" Topic

I have been vaguely considering a small imagination C18 project for me to do some "historical" wargaming with my two eldest children (they happily play very simple fantasy games already). The scope would be very small: a number of horse, foot and artillery units (units of 6 / 12 / 1 gun + crew) suitable for playing basic "Tabletop Teaser" / One Hour Wargames-type scenarios. However, I really can't make up my mind between using simple Spencer Smith / Warrior / Minifigs-type figures or using Perry AWI/Napoleonic figures. Any thoughts?

My sensible head says Perry for style, pizzazz and snap!

(Or why not try Perry ACW? It's a complete set of forces in a box. No fuss, no bother, simple, a done deal).

But my Featherstone worshipping heart keeps muttering "Spencer Smith GOOD!" In a Karloff voice…

For what it's worth, figure for figure a Spencer Smith metal is about the same price as a Perry plastic.

There's also 1/72 plastics; many more so now than just Airfix in the old days.

My imagi-nations armies are Spencer Smith along very similar lines to what you are thinking. I chose them because I wanted that "old school" style reminiscent of "Charge!".

This chap is using 1/72 plastics for Imaginations. Look good to me and a lot cheaper than Spencer Smith or Perry

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I like 1/72 figures but experimentation has shown that the children much prefer the look of the bigger figures.

This chap is using 1/72 plastics for Imaginations. Look good to me and a lot cheaper than Spencer Smith or Perry

Actually, a lot of those figures are not 1/72 plastics:

"The armies of Stollen and Zichenau include figures from the defunct range of Revell SYW plastic 1/72 figures, many 30mm by RSM95 (ex-Pax Britannica, currently marketed and sold as 25mm), and a unit of infantry from the sadly inactive 30mm Huzzah range, along with others by Spencer Smith, Holger Eriksson, Minden Miniatures, and a few from Miniature Figurines plus some staff, generals, guns, and wagons from Fife & Drum Miniatures. At some point, I hope to add a few more figures by Suren/Willie and Stadden/Tradition to the Grand Duchy of Stollen collection."
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Spencer Smith figures, without a doubt.

If they are done in the 'Old School' style they will inspire your kids even more.

Being one piece they will also take a bit of rough handling.

Let them paint their own unit too!

In "Charge!' Brigadier Young uses mainly 30mm Stadden or Tradition figures (which are slightly cheaper than most metal figures these days). It was Charles Grant in 'The Wargame' who used Spencer Smith figures for his imagi-nation armies.

Another alternative is the Prince August moulds for 40mm SYW – you could then cast your own figures with your kids as well as painting them…

Mike

In "Charge!' Brigadier Young uses mainly 30mm Stadden or Tradition figures

I did say "reminiscent of "Charge!"" I was not implying that the figures in that book were Spencer Smiths.

Tradition figures are more than twice as expensive as Spencer Smiths.

I reckon your best bet would be to ask your kids which figures they prefer. If you want to keep them interested go for the figures they like best.

I going to be doing the same thing with RSM although my armies will be traditional Brits vs French 7yw but painted old school!

I for one quite doubt that your chidren will like the "old school" look in this era of diversity in wargaming miniatures design.

That said, Perry look like a sound option, with much variation in pose and dress while looking uniformed enough.

BUT (and this is a personal advise), to deviate from the norm:

Given that your children seem young enough as to not have a particular calling for an era, and given that as you say they already play fantasy games, I would consider (I am doing it myself) making Ancient ImagiNation armies. Such armies can easily be played as fantasy ones, just adding the odd component (for example, exchanging a rider's mount for a mythical beast), and their standards and signs are not as "obvious" historically as to be found out of place when played as fantasy.

That can ve done using plastics and metals. Alongside the excellent metal minis you can find at Crusader, Gripping Beast or Aventine to name a few, Victrix makes an excellent and (very) affordable ancients plastic range. Its versatility can allow for making from pezhetairoi pikemen to Roman republican legionnaires, Carthaginian or Samnite infantry, alongside peltasts, archers, slingers and more "exotic" types like Iberian infantry or Balearic slingers. Mixing components you can make thureophoroi or thorakitai, etc.

This way you can afford larger ancient armies while keeping up with your (smaller) ImagiNation project. Also, the children will have armies they will be able to field against orcs or undead (staples of fantasy wargaming to name some) without having to buy fantasy dedicated armies.

Another vote for single-piece metal figures over multi-part plastic. The metal figs are sturdier.

Spencer Smith are classic toy soldiers with limited detail, quick to paint up.

RSM95 are more detailed, though still simple, clean figures with only minimal field equipment. RSM95 figures show distinctive uniform variations for several historical armies: British vs. French vs. Prussians, etc. RSM95 are size compatible with Spencer Smith and, last I checked, very economically priced.

Keeping with the fantasy thing, you could always go Alternative Armies Flintloque figures. For the most part single castings , a bit cartoony and easy to paint up.

alternative-armies.com

@ MajorB. I stand corrected; he gives no figures for actual numbers of the different brands, but he certainly extols the virtues of 1/72 plastics. If I was doing something for children, I would certainly be looking to start quite cheaply, until I was sure they were going to stay with it. I began gaming nearly 50 years ago with Airfix Washington's Army painted up as Russians; as a young married man, money was tight. Those Airfix figures were eventually passed to my son, who soon lost interest, preferring to play computer games. Now, as a well off (!) pensioner my armies are nearly all metal. My own preference as an adult would definitely be for metal figures, probably the lovely Minden Range, but that is a big investment in cash.

Without hesitation, I would say go with the Spencer Smiths (or a similarly old fashioned manufacturer). They are lovely figures, easy and fun to paint, and could stand up to some hard use, as has been said. They also capture the spirit of ImagiNations/Retro gaming in a way modern figure never could.

Dogged's ancients idea is a good one as well. So is that of using bigger figures, say, 40mm. They are a size that immediately appeals to children and are easy to paint. They also aren't any more expensive than most 28mm manufacturers these days. Irregular has a wide selection in their catalogue, and cover about any period you could hope for. If you want a REALLY old fashioned look, it's worth checking their Deutsche Homage line--they can be a little fiddly to assemble, but are some of the most charming figures on the market.

Keep us posted on what you decide!

Then there is always Trident's 40mm AWI range if I don't say so, blushing!

If it was going to be The 1-hour wargame rules & scenarios then I think I'd go with the Spencer Smith over the Perry. The rules are quite abstract, and I think the "old school" style figures would be a nice compliment to them, accentuating that abstract feel – and for 18th century armies that slightly "stilted" looks seems to suit the linear tactics.

Since you'll only need ~10 units per side it might be nice to make this a distinctive stand-alone project – two imaginations and a fight through of all the scenarios sounds fun.

Took Charles Grant's lead and went with Minden, Crann Tara, and RSM. Very pleased with my choice.

1/72. Cheap, attractive and nice boxes. Don't underestimate the box visual appeal

I use 1/72, mostly Zvezda.

Such as here:
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They are about 25mm tall and robust enough to be swept into a box after play. Even less detailed Spencer Smiths are fragile whilst multi part plastics tend to fall apart in my fat paws.

Lovely colourful looking figures you have there Prince Lupus, they really look the part.