"French Equivalent of Britains" Topic
7 Posts
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Daribuck  | 03 Nov 2025 2:12 p.m. PST |
I have a fairly decent selection of Britains that I have acquired over the years. One thing I dislike is the pro British bias of the collection… The regiments of the world seem to only be English! Is there an alternative? Like a French manufacturer who makes Napoleonic figures? I must admit, I don't even know where to start looking! Thanks
Daniel |
| DisasterWargamer | 03 Nov 2025 3:41 p.m. PST |
Try CGB Mignot cbgmignot.com They had a really nice and wide selection of Napoleonics – though they have a wide range of sports and other figures |
 enfant perdus | 03 Nov 2025 4:11 p.m. PST |
Even at the height of Empire, Britains did make quite a few non-British/Imperial sets. Of course they were the minority (although still numbering well over 100 types) and tended to be what wargamers think of as incomplete ranges, e.g., Uruguayan cavalry and infantry, but no artillery. From 1946-66 these had a diminishing popularity (many weren't even resumed post-war). When Britains started making metal figures again in the 1970s, they concentrated almost exclusively on British types. They still lean heavily that way with their traditional glossies, but their matte figures cover a large range of nations and periods. So the questions are: 1. Are you looking for traditional style, glossy 54mm? 2. What nations and periods interest you? 3. Do you prefer the "old school" look, i.e., pre-War Britains, Mignot, Lucotte, etc.? Or are you looking for the newer style? Some examples of "old school"; lucotte-france.com/en wmhocker.com/index.php
"newer style"
regaltoysoldiers.com imperialproductions.co.nz Just for tasters. There are literally scores of makers, if you count active and defunct. |
| 79thPA | 03 Nov 2025 4:37 p.m. PST |
There are several types of Britains. Do you know what you have? Have you looked at a Britains catalogue? |
| Daribuck | 03 Nov 2025 6:25 p.m. PST |
Great answers. Thanks all. Yes, I know what I have, (I think!) but again, the Britains catalog us weighted towards a certain Island between th North Sea and the North Atlantic. |
| Martin Rapier | 03 Nov 2025 11:38 p.m. PST |
"Yes, I know what I have, (I think!) but again, the Britains catalog us weighted towards a certain Island between th North Sea and the North Atlantic." The clue might be in the name of the company…. |
| arthur1815 | 04 Nov 2025 8:38 a.m. PST |
It is hardly surprising that a British toy soldier company should concentrate upon figures that would appeal to the home market! Just as Hornby makes models of British, rather than continental or American trains. I suspect French and German toy soldier makers acted similarly, yet no one seems to complain about that. The company was named after William Britain, not the country. |
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