"Do Front Rank, Perry and Foundry Russians mix?" Topic

Hi all,

I'm looking at starting some Russian Napoleonics. I like the Front Rank reinforcement packs, particularly the great coat packs, so I was wondering how well they mix with the Foundry or Perry figures.

Can anyone comment?

Thanks.

As the saying goes, they can share a table but not a unit. The style of sculpting is different with the Front Rank being a bit chunkier than Perrys, and Perrys being a bit taller than Foundry. All three are excellent figures but I would be very careful about mixing going with the first caveat.

Having said that, I have put individual Front Rank figures in a Perry unit (especially specialists such as NCOs) but to make them fit in, I have given them Perry heads. Wierdly, that works in massed ranks.

I agree Artillaryman. But I think that Foundry and Perry can mix a bit. The foundry figures were sculpted by the Perrys I believe.

That's right. However, when you line them up the difference in height is noticeable. Mind you, people are different heights. If you want, maybe the idea would be to buy a few of each and see how they mix. Given that they can share a table, they will not go to waste as you can build units of each.

Trevsky,

I am building a Russian force right now. I have figures from all three manufacturers. Front Rank are much larger in proportion than Perry and Foundry. Personally, my taste is to not mix them in the same unit. I think you can get away with Perry and Foundry in the same unit.

If you are going for a look and feel of pose variety, I think Perry does a good job of molding different poses within each Code. Foundry is more uniform in that there are limited poses. Front Rank gets around that by letting you buy single miniatures so you can vary poses.

I recommend experimenting and seeing what you like.

Thanks all for the comments.

The reason I'm keen on Front Rank is that I rather like the new-ish reinforcement packs, especially this one in great coats. I wanted an 1813 force for Leipzig, which is in October.

I was thinking I could mix in some of the Foundry command figures or other musketeers in great coats to add variety. Plus maybe the Perry Dragoons in great coats and winter artillery.

Maybe I need to rethink and go for a more summer look with Perry or Winter with Foundry.

PS I found this link.
link

The Perry figs seem to be a bit different in style and the Foundry oines have quite a variety in height. Perhaps buying a few packs as samples is the only way to be sure.

In my small gaming group out of the eight of us only two are of similar shape and height so I deliberately mix different sized figures in my units and yes the taller and chunkier ones stand out as they do in real life.

That's a totally valid approach David. Perhaps I should stop worrying and embrace the difference. :)

The problem with the "people vary in height" argument is that muskets do not vary in length, cross straps in width, plumes in height, etc. Some manufacturers' figures blend well with others' in units, while some combinations will look odd in the same unit. The OP's question is a valid one.

I have used Front Rank (my personal favorite), Foundry, Perry, and even Old Glory on the same table and same army and no one has ever noticed. About the only comment, and not a criticism, is that it's obvious which are OG because they're more animated. I haven't mixed them in the same unit.

I've had no problem mixing front rank in with perry figs within the same unit.

I think I need to get some and try them out. Cheers to everyone for their thoughts.

If you mix Perry and Foundry, who are both made by the Perry Twins, but often have a different height, it is a good trick to base the smaller miniature a little bit higher. Just use some plasticard underneath. No ones looking at the feet, so your eye gets the impression the models habe the same height.

I have always mixed my 28 and 15mm figs…. Like the way they look as people are of different heights and size :) Just finished a Russian Division with primarily Old Glory figs mixed with Perry and Front Rank. On a side note they just played and won their first battle last weekend vs French/Italians. AAR w/ photos on 28mm Black Powder FB site.

I agree with Eumelus. The question of mixing goes far beyond the size of the figure. And then there are stylistic differences in sculpting. Personally, I am not sure why Front Rank figures can't be used exclusively. The reinforcement packs are lovely figures.

When you think about it, a line of identcal height figures is a bit strange. In real life the practical approach is to size the unit, with the tallest at the ends and short in the centre. This doesn't just look good, but paractical on the march.

Perhaps a grenadier's or voltegeur's plume or two at either end with the plasticard trick might do the trick?