"best 15mm Franco-Prussian War figures?" Topic

I would like both skirmishing and marching options, at least. If they must be "assaulting" I like them to look assaulting.

As to the cavalry…I like dynamic cavalry!

I was looking at the old Glory 15mm, and they seemed pretty average and not very cheap.

Anyone have some thoughts?

I painted several thousand OG15s and Rank and File figures for my FPW project. Rank and File are also sold by OG15s. I found the figures to range from adequate to good, although the amount of flash was frustrating. I can't compare them with the products of other makers.

You need to be aware that the OG15s tend to have a mixture of poses, while the Rank and File don't.

I would have thought that they are pretty much the cheapest figures around, particularly when you buy in bulk. I haven't checked the prices recently, but, when I was buying, the 40% discount on orders of more than $400 USD got the cost of a bag (of, say, 50 infantry) down to $12 USD US. I also found that buying in bulk helped to offset the postage costs.

I agree with Andy's points, and I'd add that the OG figures look most impressive en masse at standard tabletop viewing distances; the mix of pose variants within a pack makes for a convincing-looking 'in action' unit. Up close you see some of the imperfections: although there's plenty of detail, and it's generally well-defined, some of the sculpting lacks precision, such as the Prussian pickelhaube – which varies in shape, but overall is more reminiscent of the British helmet of the same period.

Essex are good

Old frontier range is my favirite. Solid figures with decent details

Everybody to their own taste but , in my opinion , the Freicorps 15 figures are way ahead of the others mentioned and their range is the most complete .

Old Glory
Freikorps 15
Essex

I used Old Glory for all my FPW figures. I like the figures, they have everything you need and the cost is attractive.

I rather like the Freikorps figures too, but if you're looking for multipose action sculpts, they might not be to your liking. I like their cavalry as they are single piece.

I don't like some of the giant kneeling Essex figures – they're nearly as tall on their knees as their standing brethren. Some of the other Essex poses are somewhat odd too. I don't know why, but some of their "charging poses" seem more like a heavy metal musician in full guitar hero pose to me.

Outpost Wargaming make 15mm FPW figures as well. They're a bit thin compared to Essex and a bit taller than the more true 15mm Freikorps, but they're not bad. Like Freikorps, their single posed and somewhat conservatively posed.

Irregular make 15mm FPW troops, and it's not their worst range. They have a particular charm to them, often have multiple poses and paint up nicely. You can also order individual figures which is useful. I'd avoid their guns though.

Again, as others have pointed out, this is entirely subjective. I've always been quite startled how even awful figures look quite impressive once the whole army is painted up!

All my French are Essex. As ever with this brand, the precision of sculpting, and the casting, are top notch. Where they're let down is in the often unnatural, frankly bizarre poses, and there usually aren't enough options to avoid the worst of them. For instance, with the available franc-tireur poses it just isn't impossible to create a convincing impression of skirmishers in action; you end up with units that look more like performance art collectives.

For me it was Essex and Irregular.

I know you are after 15mm but have a look at the Pendraken 10mm stuff. I think they are great. link

Mine are from Outpost who have quite a nice range

Correction: '… isn't possible…'.

Aussie, Henry,
Thanks for thoughts. I was thinking some of the sculpts look a little rough, and that there would be some pronounced mold lines on them. Speaking personally, I struggle as it is with OG 25mm mold lines and flash, altho I'll do the cleanup it's the part that reminds me the most of drudgery.

BUT, I am looking for figures for a performance art collective game, so….

All OG figures I've bought, from either company, have required an above average amount of preparation work, but when weighed against the price I'm paying it doesn't seem quite so onerous.

If you've done your best and there's still a bit of a mould line visible, with 15mm figures it 'disappears' at standard viewing distances due to their small size and the mass effect… unless you deliberately spotlight it by using a dip, that is.

yeah, I tend to use the Miracle Dip as it really protects figures. I have 25mm Old Glory medievals that are running into 20 years with nearly no additional upkeep and work.

I must say that proper basing helps a lot. I have moved to thicker, larger bases with more protective area, and that is definitely helping to preserve my figures.

Hey, does anyone know what figures these are – Lancashire maybe?

link

The lack of pose variation and the proportions suggest either Rank and File or the old Pioneer range.

Careful looking makes them out to be Rank and File – certainly the marching poses, but most likely all of them.