"Easy 15mm Napoleonics to Paint for Newbies" Topic

The nephews were over for the Holidays and they saw part of my 15mm Napoleonic collection. They never showed much interest in it before, but this time we played a quick game of Shako and they are hooked. They even started to paint a few figures before they left. For further background, they are both out of college.

I would like to cultivate their interest. I am looking for suggestions for easy to paint 15mm Napoleonic figures. I am looking for figures that have raised details, but not overly detailed. I don't want their first figures to have every strap and accoutrement hanging from the uniform.

I have read thru extra crispy's Deep Fried Happy Mice 15mm Napoleonic figure reviews and the only figures that look like they fit the bill are Warrior's, but they are no longer available.

My collection is a mix of AB, Old Glory, Blue Moon, and Minifigs. I think ABs have too much detail for newbies, and I don't know why, but I have always found OG difficult to paint. Minifigs would be my first choice, but I wish they had raised belts for ease of painting.

I am leaning towards Blue Moon but I am interested in what other TMPers have to say.

Thank you to everyone who replies!

My first thought was for Minifigs

I struggled with mini figs and the strap lines that are not raised. I had a very easy time with Old Glory when I discovered the magic of a black wash.

I agree Warrior 15mm figures would be ideal. There is a chance they might start trading again – I emailed them earlier this year and they responded that they were hoping to restart early in 2025 but what confidence to place on that I have no idea.
Another option would be Essex if their style suits their tastes, their style of figure will respond well to washes if you want speed.

Minifigs is my suggestion as well, before a AB cavalry Regiment did Minifig 2 cavalry Regiment. The details are quite easy on them.

Perhaps start them out on some larger scale to try things out and then shift to 15s

Minifigs is my suggestion

I agree, minifigs is a good choice. Another option is plastic 1/72 figures.

If plastics are an option, I'm surprised no-one has suggested Epic?

If you like the sculpting style, Alternative Armies may work. My first 15mm (albeit Byzantine) was of these.

link

Following on from some of the discussion TMP link

I wouldn't be recommending any old skool ranges to a new Napoleonics gamer, as they are 'legacy' ranges. How long before legacy ranges go the same way as Heritage Napoleonettes and Naismith, either due to dwindling sales or owner's demise? No matter how good they are, there are no new sculpts being added to the ranges. Great for those of us with aging collections, but possibly not so great for younger gamers. (Minifigs also fit this category, but Minifigs seem to have a life of their own, I can't see them going out of production any time soon, if ever.)

Epic fit the bill almost to a tee. They do require a slightly different mindset to painting them, but if your nephews haven't really any experience of painting individual figures they may adapt quicker to the painting style than us long beards. (I struggled at first painting them, but once I had had a mindshift to 'pretend they are flats' life became much simpler.) Plus there are plenty of how to paint Epic tutorials on YouTube to help when uncle Fox isn't there to advise

I found Old glory easy to paint but you dont paint them like 'normal' figures. Put the paint on thicker and just block and wash them. Also, since they usually have several poses you need to put all the same poses together and really assembly line paint them for quickest results. The three foot rule is your friend when it comes to OG figures. Shoot for 80% as good as what you can do for quality of paint job. On the figures that have a lot of 'stuff' hanging on them you may want to try the Denver method of painting, i.e. paint the coat last.

I'd choose the uniform and not the company first. Prussian reserve regiments were all grey in many cases, or just about anyone in greatcoats and shako covers would be easy to paint.

Maybe 1/72 plastic. Cheaper.
What is most available in your area?

Late war Prussians or Brunswickers – any manufacturer :~)

Cheers,
John