"Surprise! 15mm Hinchliffe Napoleonic Russians" Topic

I recently purchased a set of unpainted 15mm Napoleonic Russians, labelled as Minifigs just to have on hand if I ever wanted to expand my DBN armies to include Russians. Much to my surprise I knew immediately what I had were not Minifigs. On closer examination they turned out to be Hinchliffe. I didn't even know Hinchliffe made 15s, but apparently they did in the early 1980s. The figures appear to be quite nice and are a good size, being 15mm from the soles of the boot to the top of the head. The style appears to be reminiscent of Hinton Hunt or Der Kriegspielers. Does anyone have any of these and know what figures would be a good match stylistically. I have a core infantry and cavalry army, but would need some additional cavalry and artillery to make a complete force.

David

We're these not Heritage produced under licence?

Not sure how to tell. They have the Hinchliffe mark and are labelled 1980 with the figure code. Anyone have a Heritage catalogue with pictures?

The basing is different than these, but they could have been cast with a different base.

auction

I thought Hinchliffe were 12mm and Heritage were 25mm.
But I could be wrong.

Too late to edit.
…and Heritage were 15mm.

Hinchliffe did do the short lived System 12, which was an interesting attempt at a whole game system including scenery and movement bases. It was ahead of its time but the figures suffered from weak ankles and the whole thing didn't last long. I think making and selling the Heritage 15s came later – as it was under licence for the UK I would expect them to be marked Hinchliffe.

Checking on my Vintage Wargaming blog System 12 was1976 – original listing here:

link

I was always a 20mm man and have never had an interest in 15s, but I will check to see if there is any mention of the Heritage figures in the old Hinchliffe catalogues I have.

Hinchliffe did a very limited 15 mm scale, like French infantry in great coats.

The above mentioned Russians are most likley Heritage produced under liscence.

I have some original packs of Heritage figures from the late 1970's. The pack is badged 'HERITAGE MODELS INC. 15mm DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A.' and on the reverse states they are manufactured and distributed under license in the UK by Hinchcliffe Models Ltd, Station Street, Meltham, Huddersfield, England. The pack of 12 French fusiliers I am looking at has a model code 15/65 priced at 0.56 GBP.

Thanks to all for solving a mystery for me. Hinchliffe basing may be different than the Heritage (small oval textured bases), but I suspect the figures are the same as Heritage), which also answers my question about how to match them stylistically.

Thanks to all!
David

The system 12 bases were textured, and designed to fit into movement trays

These are definitely 15s, but the similarity of basing styles would make sense.

Hinchliffe made a range of French, British and Russian 15 mm Napoleonics in the 1980s, all sculpted by Peter Gilder himself. Some of the Russian poses are very similar to his 25mm figures.

I still have a lot of the Russian infantry. They were the best of the range in my opinion- he got better at 15mm with more practice, unfortunately the French line infantry were first up and therefore not very good. The best match is with Battle Honours, Minifigs and Old Glory.

Daz

Hinchliffe – usually oval bases (In case memory isn't failing me) , Heritage – rectangular (I had then one complete Prussian corps – one complete French corps, also reserve cavalry and artillery etc in 1 : 40 scale to real strenght, figures – mostly Heritage, but also some Hinchliffe and Minifigs.

Thanks Daz!

Hinchcliffe did market the Heritage 15mm range but they also did a reasonable sized range of 15mm from their own designer the late Peter Gilder. These were very much in the same quite animated style as his more famous 25mm range.

He did a pretty full range of Britsh and French and I think most of the major Russian types too- I randomly have a couple of Russian Colonels. Not sure about other nations. Cavalry was just troopers and officers IIRC.

Apart from the sculpting style mentioned above- the bases were oval with a ground texture, rather than the smooth rectangles of Heritage.

Thanks seneffe,

That appears to be what I have. Colonels, cuirasiers, jagers, grenadiers and musketeers, all on the textured oval bases.

My Prussian Guard regiments and a few others artillery mostly are 15mm Heritage, love those little guys

photocrinch,
You're most welcome. I think they may be quite collectable. I've also just realised that in the early 1980s I pressed some the Hinchcliffe Grenadiers a Cheval into service as the Regt Royal-Pologne in an early SYW army. They fought in a LOT of battles. Happy days.