"Best Ironclad Models?" Topic

Who makes the best ACW naval models for wargaming, in any scale?

Langton 1:1200 hands down…. they are the right scale to do large actions, fairly priced, have a large range and are well detailed.

Just my 2 cents!

1:600 Thoroughbred is my favorite Followed closely by Bay Area Yards.

'nother vote for Thoroughbred.

Third vote for Thoroughbred 1/600.

I like Thoroughbred both in 1:200 and 1:600 scale.

Thoroughbred 1/600. Not a difficult choice. Would love Bay more if I could get more of them.

Far and above 1/600 Thoroughbred. I cast all five of my votes to them.

Bay Area 1/600 gets a vote for anything that Thoroughbred doesn't make.

There is a new kid on the block Spithead. 1/1200 resin. Great models. link Although you cannot beat 1/1200 by either Langton or Thoroughbred.

The 1/600s mentioned are beautiful and work well for smaller engagements which would describe most of the ACW battles.

Langton and Thoroughbred.

Thoroughbred 1/600, by FAR! IMHO… Your milage may vary (but I honestly don't know how it could…)

Definitely 1/600 Thoroughbred.

Thoroughbred.

1/1200 – Langton
1/600 – Thoroughbred

Honourable mentions to Bay Area Yards, Spithead and Peter Pig (the remodelled and recent releases are rather nice)

Navwar 1/1200 – cheap and so good for someone trying out the period or on a budget

Worth noting for 1/1200 gamers that the Spithead range is likely to contain many types you won't see from other manufacturers so they are well worth checking out

Thoroughbred.

Thoroughbred

28mm — DarkOps
link

28mm — Sarissa
link

Thoroughbred models are some of the best castings in any scale, any period.

Rick

Thoroughbred.

I like Thoroughbreeds – which to be fair the only ones I own

I picked up some Navwar ships a little while back, and I reckon with a half decent paint job, and some rigging, they will look just terrific. But Langtons are always quality.

I'll repeat what Dave said, only I'll correct his English spelling errors (no U in honor, no double L in remodeled):
1/1200 – Langton
1/600 – Thoroughbred

Honorable mentions to Bay Area Yards, Spithead and Peter Pig (the remodeled and recent releases are rather nice)

The best is Thoroughbred.

I do, 1:150 with 15mm figures ;) Ok..not the best but a fun scale.

So which ones are the best 1:150 Ironclads then?

Don't think anyone would be mad enough to make them commercially. We make them from paper/card models rescaled or designed from scratch and by converting plastic kits.

1:150? Do you mean 10mm? If so Jim Brokaw has some really good models. Old Glory used to carry them, but I think you need to get them directly from Jim, now. He is a member of this forum and a great guy. I have more than a dozen of his ships that I do east coast convention games with now and then. He has showed up at my games and gave out models as winner's prizes.

As far as the question, I think 1:600 is the sweet spot for gaming miniatures. Big enough to model in some detail on the ships, but small enough to do a pretty big battle near to scale on a table. However, the 10mm are definitely more of a presence and attraction at a convention. Unlike WW1 or WW2 battles, the ship scale to board distance problem isn't bad as most civil war engagements were at very close range, anyhow. Plus, they open up the possibility of a combined action with a land battle. For example, I have used them as eye candy for battery Wagner.

Another vote for Jim Brokaw And I have many of his models. By the way EJ's models are super well done up models and I have enjoyed playing several of his games.