vrijdag 30 april 2010

Arcole 1796

After the 15mm figures, a movie fragment again; this time a part of the Napoleon TV serie presenting the storming of the Arcole Bridge in 1796. Not historically correct maybe (look at eg the Austrian artillery uniforms), but nice

15mm (4)

The fourth, and last, batch of usable 15mm figure for the French Revolution is here presented.

Black Hat figures
If you are interested in the Egyptian campaign, in 18mm there is a range started by Black Hat figures (http://www.blackhat.co.uk/  ) of French troops and their adversaries, the Turkish troops.

No growth of the range in the last month, but worthwhile to investigate. As they are in 18mm, they are bigger than the 15mm figures Minifigs for this period. The pictures (of the Black Hat site) represent French and Ottomans.



Two dragon productions
For those who like the Indian region to use as a model battlefield, Two Dragon productions has some figures for them. I haven't seen them but their list looks good. They could be bought via Caliver books ( but see

http://www.caliverbooks.com/  ).
 Also some early Britsh, usable for the earlier Spanish campaign are  on their list.

Freikorps
While on the Indian subject, some figures could be used from the (History of India) Freikorps list http://www.quickreactionforce.co.uk/


Some other ranges
Of course, there are figures in other ranges which could be used.
In 18mm I know of AB figures who have late revolutionary/early imperial French which could be used as 1805-1806 French troops in bicorne (but don't forget to change the head of the flagpole with an eagle in of after 1804). In the same 18mm range is Warmodelling (or old "Fantassin") who also offer Frech in bicorne which could easably could be used in earlier periods. Both AB and Warmodelling have also artillery and French limbers in bicorne.

And then there are the ranges with figures who could be used after aonther painting of suitable figures.

As an example, the Hessian troops of the AWI could be used for the Hessian detachment who fought gallantly for French. (but don't forget to change the grenadier caps into British bearskins as the grenadiers changed into these in or around 1788.

15mm Saxon figures of the 1792-1809 period (eg Minifigs) could be used for the 1793-1795 period Dutch troops.

So I hope I have shown all the available 15mm troops on this moment.
If not, please let me know.

maandag 26 april 2010

15mm (3)

So lets continue with our search for suitable figures and complete the list of available 15mm ones.

Battle honors
The Battle Honors figures were a kind of pre-AB figures but are still in the 15mm catagorie (and not in the 18mm scene AB turned into).
Now owned by "19th century figures" (who also sell Old Glory 15mm figures)  they can be found  at http://oldglory15s.com/catalog/index.php. The serie consist of Austrian and French figures which could be used in the earlier and later revolutionary years (1792-1801), British (infantry only usable for the 1800 period in Egypt as they are not in bicorn) and Russians for the 1799-1800 (Suvarov s') campaigns in Italy/Switzerland.  A good source of pictures of the range can be seen at http://fossalta.altervista.org/eventofoto.php?p=0011  which shows the very nice portrayed battle of the Trebbia by the Italian Associazione Bolognese Wargame Fossalta.
As with all ranges, the common figures are represented but no specials, limbers etc but if you want to wargame the French revolution, it's a good start with good figures.

Lancashire
The small lancashire range ( http://www.lancashiregames.com/) consists of some 5 French (infantry, cavalry and artillery packs) , Prussian and Austrian figures plus some Vendee figure-pack. What I have seen of these ranges, these are generic figures of reasonable quality. Haven't seen the Austrian and Prussian ones so cannot comment on those. It would be the only range with a 15mm Prussian grenadier in it and I think the Vendeans would be suitable to add to the Touller 15mm Vendean range.

Alain Touller
Mentioning above some figures for the Vendee, in fact there is no better range to portray these redoubtable fighters of this period as with the Alain Touller figures of France. http://www.atoufigs.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?CatID=250196  In the first picture beneath are some personalities, the second some infantry.

Alain Touller also has some other usable figures in his Turkish range.

Falcon figures UK
When speaking of some exotic figures, you have to look at Falcon figures UK  figures for the Russian-Swedish war of the late 1780 years. The Russians in Potemkin uniforms and the Swedes in the unfiorms of this period. Of course, the Russian could be used to fight against the Turks. 
You can find Falcon UK here:   http://www.falconfigures.com/
No better way to show them to you, then direct you to  http://dinofbattle.blogspot.com/  who has painted figures of the Russain and Swedes but also some other figure ranges in a later serie of photos of a French/Austrian refight.




dinsdag 13 april 2010

15mm (2)

Some photos of Magister Militum 15mm figures (old chariot)

dinsdag 6 april 2010

15mm figures (1)

As said earlier, one of the two scales I consider to wargame the French Revolution in, is 15mm (the other is 25mm of course).  So let's first look a the 15mm figures available.

A 15mm french battalion of mine, made of Essex and Lancashire (I think).

Various 15mm manufacturers are on the market. As fas as I know, the following 15mm ranges are available.

Miniature figurines:
French, British and Indian (Tippo Sahib period) . The French range is usable from 1792 up to1802. Almost all needed figures are there. The same can be said of the British range; early and later period is there. The earlier (bicorn wearing) troops could also be used for the Hanoverian corps of 1793-1795. The Indian range look reasonably complete; photos are available of this Indian range so goto http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk .

In other Minfigs ranges, usable figures can be found as in the Russian Napoleonic range (early figures for the 1799 campaign), AWI range (for German troops) and 7YW range (some Austrian could, according to Minifigs used for the French Revolution; I haven't seen them, so cannot comment). Also 1809 Saxon could be used as 1792-1795 Dutch.
The only comment I have against the French/British range is, that they almost all are in the lunge forward (wow, I almost topple over) figure pose which I don't like. But, they are the only British/Hanoverean range for the earlier years of the revolution. All in all, you have to like the Minifigs style.

Essex
Go to http://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/frames15nap.html  to see the range (with pictures af all the figures).
Only  small range of mostly infantry, other figures can be drafted in of the Napoleonic (aarly period figures), AWI and SYW ranges.
I like the infantry figure in tarleton, a dignified "Blanc" but imho not usable for the later "Blue" in tarleton. But the tarleton command with eagle is stupid.
 The mounted general command figures are good but their horses are not as good.


Magister Militum (ex chariot)

The ex-chariot range has some very good figures; the early enthousiastic figures and the "Paris mob" give revolutionary flair. The range is not complete although most french troops are there. The (only available) Prussian range give some basic troop types (although the grenadier is of the 1806 period) as does the Austrian one. In 15mm a good range with noticable gaps. Some figures are below.