The box of lead Scott delivered contained several bags for my Spanish-American War project and a few sample packs of Old Glory's 2nd Edition Napoleonics. I have a number of manufactures in the 28mm Peninsular War project but no Old Glory. Scott's positive comments about 2nd Edition figures convinced me to give them a try.
As a comparative exercise, I lined up the different unpainted manufacturers used thus far in this project. Well, all unpainted save for the primered Sash & Saber figure! I added a AWI Perry figure since I have no Perry Napoleonics and a Fire & Drum (ex-Minden) SYW Prussian.
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| 25/28mm Napoleonic Figure Comparison |
Even within manufacturers, size differences exist. Compare the size differences of the two Brigade Games' French figures on the far right. Even the Front Rank French legere looks larger than his British comrade. If one manufacturer is not consistent within its own line, how can we expect different manufacturers to exactly match? I don't think we can. Besides, soldiers come in varying heights and weights. It would be nice if the equipment size was consistent.
For stockiness, Elite takes top honors with the Front Rank French legere coming in a close second. The Old Glory Brit is so slender, he probably would not cast a shadow! Upon close inspection on the gaming table, the Front Rank legere looks noticeably larger than the Sash & Saber figures but the Front Rank Brit does not. At gaming distances these differences disappear. I suppose part of that could be an illusion due to the larger shako and massive plume. The Old Glory Brit standing alongside the Elite Frenchman makes the Brit look puny. The slender build of the Old Glory figure reminds me of the proportions of the Fife & Drum SYW Prussian.
When I opened the packets, first thing that struck me was how slender the figures are modeled. Legs and arms are especially scrawny. To me, the proportion of the arms-to-body seem slightly out of whack. That is, the arms appear too short. Otherwise, the detail of the figure is quite nice. We will see how they look on the gaming table once painted and based.
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| Old Glory 2nd Edition British |
Thanks Jonathan for putting up these miniatures Comparison posting. Brigade games, Front Rank, Bicorne and Elite minis certainly look big to me. I like the Sash & Saber and Perry miniatures better than the rest on your list, mind you, Old Glory 2nd edition are great to have in one's collection.
ReplyDeleteThanks again Jonathan!
cheers,
I like the Sash & Saber figures too. I only wish the range would have been completed. You are quite right about Elite and some of the Front Rank figures. They are monsters compared to some of the others. The OG2 will be a welcome addition to this mix of manufacturers.
DeleteI have no OG 2nd edition figures in my collection, but i have little doubt they will look fine in their own units.
ReplyDeleteI agree! At gaming length, the differences tend to disappear.
DeleteFor what it's worth, I have a bunch of Old Glory's ACW figures and I've always found them to be tall and skinny beanpoles compared to other manufacturers.
ReplyDeleteThese OG2 Brits are from the same family tree then!
DeleteGreat overview with many of the biggest producers. I really liked the slender style of the Minden SYW Prussians when they came out, but they represent a style of their own - I don't think they look good on the table next to for instance a unit of SYW Foundry or other more "classic" sculpts. In this case, I think you might be able to "get away with it", as the OG Napoleonics are somewhere in between. As you say, it shall be very interesting to see them painted up and based, they are - like Minden - very nice sculpts in their own right.
ReplyDeleteThe OG2 British are nicely sculpted but slender. They certainly have the look of being on a long campaign against their better fed brethren composed of Elite and Front Rank figures.
DeleteThe Minden figures are really well done but compared against other figures look a bit odd. Really, it is the caricaturistic nature of the other figures that make the more humanistic Minden's appear odd.
Jonathan: Nice comparison shot of different makes. BTW, I have OG 2nd E. French and your assessment is spot on. I have a comparison shot with them and Victrix & Perry plastics http://wabcorner.blogspot.com/2011/10/old-glory-2nd-edition-napoleonics.html I ended up raising them a bit on their bases with plastic card. If I had to do it over again, I would gotten their "1st Ed." as they are on the larger side. Best, Dean
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dean. I really appreciate your insight and especially welcomed the link to your OG2 review. The plasticard is a nifty trick. I may try something similar if needed.
DeleteYou are quite right about the base thickness on the OG2 figures. Almost paper thin compared to other producers. Elite Miniatures does not spare the lead on either the figure or base, do they? OG2, on the other hand, are quite miserly with their application of lead.
Glad you could use the info, Jonathan. Victrix bases are also on the thick side - and their figs are on the larger side of 28mm too. Best, Dean
DeleteGreat figure comparison, good ones like this are the most helpful thing on the interweb
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Baconfat!
DeleteA very nice comparison. Interesting to see how they all match up.
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Interesting, indeed!
DeleteMissed this first time around, a very useful comparison many thanks!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it and found the review useful.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
I like those figures and wouldn't have known about them were it not for your post. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteJim, glad you found the comparison useful. The OG2's don't quite mix well with my existing collection so I likely will not be adding more. A whole collection of the OG2 figures, by themselves, would look great on the gaming table.
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