You makes ya choice and ya pays your money,...
That's why I've gone with a mix. I can't afford a "total AB" force, so mix in the WM figs.

At last I am in a position to compare AB miniatures vs WM.

As discussed above I ordered a 'Lasalle Pack' of Rifles on 25 October. Unfortunately I had not done my research, nor had I receive the helpful message from Bigfulsey regarding Stonewall Miniatures and so had used the automated purchase on the Spanish website which meant I was also paying way too much for postage.

After I chased the site around 15th November I was apologised to, being told they had been busy with shows and they would get them to me straight away. I then received the minis on Tuesday (23rd November).

Ok 4 weeks is not a speedy service but in effect it is my own fault as some more digging would have revealed alternative distributors such as Stonewall and also Battle Models Ltd, a UK distributor. That'll teach me to be so impetuous.

Last night was my first chance to do a bit of cleaning up. Whilst the flash may not have been as bad as I had feared, there was still some time consuming work to be done to clean up the base, and then depending on the figure, certain messy bits. Whilst you only spend a few mins on each 15mm figure, when your unit is 48 figs big this can really add up. I have found with AB that one session will give me time to clean up a whole unit, and more often than not, still them to a base. Last night I got a third of the way through the unit, and it was a bit of a slog.

Size wise they match with the AB.

Detail wise. Well WM are not bad, but def not up to the standard of AB. When I showed my mate Ade on Tuesday night I put one of the WM and one of the AB side by side, straight out of the bag. He could instantly see the difference and reckons the flash / gubbins is due to WM not cleaning their molds enough. He initially thought that he would prefer to pay the extra (but see below).

Cost wise Stonewall are doing WM minis for £3.05 for 8, Fighting 15s are doing AB minis for £6 for 8. So there is a considerable difference. However it depends on how much value I give to my time for cleaning them up.

Being where I am now, probably having close to two thirds of my force collected, I will probably lean more towards AB than WM. I think if I was loooking at collecting a whole force, then the half price cost of WM would definitely have a strong influence. In fact Ade has since been looking at Battle Models catalog. If one guesses you need 400minis to have a force, £300 vs £150 is large.

Just a shame that Fighting 15s had to go and put their prices up so drastically a few months ago. Gutted!

RS

Are there any 15/18mm manufacturers that make War of 1812 Americans that are compatible in scale with AB?

No, not really.

Currently, I only know of three figure manufactures that make 15mm figures for the American War of 1812/Anglo-American conflict.
- Minifigs
- Old Glory 15s
- Falcon Figures

My entire American War of 1812 miniature collection is Minifigs_USA. I had some Old Glory and Falcon Figures as well, but sold/gave those away and focused on using Minifigs_USA only. Also, they offer a good line of figures. I would like to make a few tips though:
1) For regulars/militia, I tend to prefer the March/Attack pose as I don't care for the "New" advance pose - they lean way to far forward in most cases. The M/A pose is also very easy to base and looks nice since it would be the most common pose.
2) For those types that don't have the M/A pose, like the Marines, British Rifles, American Rifles. etc. I tend pick the advancing pose over the firing pose.
3) Backpacks: They don't make backpacks for the Americans. But what is stopping you from either converting some backpacks or making them yourself? Depending on which pattern backpacks you want to attach to your figures - if you want backpacks at all - you can ask for backpacks. But specify which backpacks you want. To make the popular "Lherbette" knapsack, you will have to convert a backpack by removing the rolled coat.
4) Don't be afraid of figure conversions.

...this seems to be a forgotten stepchild of the Napoleonic era.

Yes.

I have a question that may be best posed on this thread: Are there any 15/18mm manufacturers that make War of 1812 Americans that are compatible in scale with AB? I've been digging, but this seems to be a forgotten stepchild of the Napoleonic era. Once my buddies and I get our current projects wrapped up, we are hoping to try Lasalle for the War of 1812...

Thanks,
GMB

Barry from http://www.timeline-miniatures.co.uk is doing a range of Napoleonic figures compatible with AB figures.

I'm glad to hear that more and more figure manufactures are working together. I hope that this is a trend that spreads like a wildfire.

I know that Barry from http://www.timeline-miniatures.co.uk is doing a range of Napoleonic figures compatible with AB figures. He will be posting some pictures of the dollies on his blog http://isaanmini.wordpress.com/. These will be in production in the New Year.

Hi Don C.
The Bavarians are a 75% / 25% AB to WM mix, (maybe not in the photos though).
I have a large quantity of WM mixed into my 1814 French and my Russians are about a 50/50 mix.
Thanks for the kind words on the painting, but the credit belongs to a old Army mate of mine who did the excellent paint work.
Check out more of his work here:
http://gunnerswargamming.blogspot.com/

Peoples Republic
I think they are nice figs.
I'd recommend them as a good option to add variety and they are also very affordable (in comparison to AB's). Are they as nice as ABs?
No, but NO other 15/18mm figure is, IMHO.
Are they compatable, YES, (again, IMHO).
Your Call!

Cheers
http://trailape.blogspot.com/

.

so what are compatiable with AB ?
because the above web sites make Fantisism look compatible
Because Im thinking of doing a 15mm army but would like variety in making the decision of what I take.
Cheers

Trailape, nice paint job - thanks for posting your fine work. I too have painted up a lot of AB Bavarians. I notice in the photos that you have very, very few WM/Fantassins in the mix (an even smaller percentage than mine). Of the few I do see, the Fantassin figure (tagged below) with the arms crossed over the musket has had the chest painted entirely black. That's a great solution for covering up a rotten sculpting job! Maybe I can salvage a few of my throw-aways after all by doing the same.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Bmn3TGIYP2o/S2LdpXN9vcI/AAAAAAAAA1M/ZQn-Iy6VlsA/s1600-h/BavBDE1.jpg

Nick, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Unfortunately, it was postings like yours that led me to waste close to a hundred bucks buying an order of Fantassins (sight unseen), thinking that they would mix in well with my AB's. Live and learn.

My Austrians are almost all WM too, with a few AB mixed in, and they look fine.

Hi
I would disagree with Don C's post (about 85%).
I agree that FANTASSIN / WM are not to the same high standard as ABs, but they still do mix well. I certainly didn't send any of my FANTASSIN figs to the tip,..
Check out these pictures and decide for yourself:
Here's an example of a BAVARIAN unit of AB and FANTASSIN all mixed together:
http://trailape.blogspot.com/2010/01/more-18mm-bavarians.html
Cheers
http://trailape.blogspot.com

I would agree with Evan's post 100%.

I ordered a quantity of Warmodelling (Fantassin) Austrians to blend in with my existing AB Austrian battalions that I'm currently assembling. I don't want to say this was a total mistake, but do strongly disagree with those who contend that the miniatures from these two manufactures mix well.

Fantassin do offer a wonderfully full range, but unfortunately, these figures are just not sculpted well. The body proportions are not balanced (heads too large or legs too long, for example), and other details like straps, hat/helmet details, packs, and muskets are poorly done. Size is also not consistent -- some are tiny and dwarf-like, and others are giants! As was mentioned above, there are excessive amounts of flash that needs to be filed and trimmed down on some of these miniatures.

Most disturbing to me, however, were numerous broken bayonets and flag poles contained in the packages (these were the original bags sealed in Spain -- not the packing job of the UK distributor).

I've attempted to incorporate a few of the tolerably sculpted WM's into my AB battalions, but most have been consigned to the junk pile.

"Evan you should try measuring your own figures with calipers.lol"

I know how to use a ruler & calipers, it surprises me how many can't...

Evan you should try measuring your own figures with calipers.lol

I've tried both AB and WM Russian figures and although they matched size wise (the WM were slightly bigger) the quality is not the same with the detail on the WM figures being somewhat indistinct. The WM casting can be quite rough and the metal used is incredibly hard which makes cleaning up difficult. WM makes the backpacks really narrow for some reason.

Hi

If you want WM figures and you live in the UK why not try Stonewall Miniatures. They stock most of the WM 15mm Napoleonics.

Nick

I was going to make a new thread but instead I found this one that needs a bit of love after 9 months....

I am recent convert to Napoleonics after seeing a nice shiny blue book earlier this year and gradually slipping slowly into the life. I was originally a Warhammer kid nearly 30 years ago although haven't played in years preferring FOW and Warmahordes with the odd side project such as Trafalgar. Now I find myself geeking at nafziger!

After buying the Lasalle rules I eventually picked up my first packs of Magister Militum from a show and made my first unit. Visits to this forum and other guidance suggested AB was the line to go with, and in the last couple of months I have been buying up units from Fighting 15s in the UK, funded by selling all my old GW minis on ebay.

Scale wise the MM minis are 'lots of napoleons' when placed against the 'real man' size of AB. Shall probably use the MM as my cacadores (lol) until I can replace.

I have yet to play a game of Lasalle. I want to have some pretty minis on view to entice the other gamers at my club to come join the fun, so will try and get the majority of a division of proper tin soldiers on the field, although hopefully.... the next couple of weeks.

Imagine my horror this week when I went to the Fighting 15s website and saw that they have decided to increase their costs by 25%. OUCH! Kinda put a spanner in the works of my grand plans. I agree AB just need a little file and a bend of the gun and they are good to go. But at nearly £1 a mini I might as well be playing 25mm. In fact I've got some really old Prince August casts which would probably have been the way to go!

So last night I took a punt and ordered a unit from Warmodelling. Price was good although once I added the postage E10 from Spain to UK, it'll probably end up the same.

Hopefully they will be the same scale as the AB or otherwise my force will probably start looking quite commical. Will let you know how they look.

If they are out of scale, I wondered what the general consensus would be for the next manufacturer to try - preferably that look like they share the same planet as the AB folk?

Cheers

RS

Hi

Woops, very sorry, I was thinking of the limbers.

regards

Stephen

AB, or I should say Eureka Miniatures since they now produce the 18mm Napoleonics under license, make both the British foot and horse artillery crews:
AB-BA04 = Foot Artillery, crew, loading
AB-BA05 = Foot Artillery, crew, firing
AB-BA06 = Foot Artillery, crew, moving gun
AB-BA07 = RHA, Crew, loading
AB-BA08 = RHA, Crew, firing

Hi

I don't think that AB make RA crew, only RHA. From memory the figures they were supplying for RA were, in fact, RHA. Willing to be corrected!

regards

Stephen

When you say "foot crew" you mean foot artillery crew? If the figures are foot artillery crew, that is, they wear the shakos, then you have foot artillery figures. If the head dress of the figures are the Tarleton helmet, then you have Royal Horse Artillery figures.

I bought two AB LaSalle RHA batteries at Cold Wars. They both contain foot crew. Is this an error. The batteries are for a light infantry brigade and a light cavalry brigade.

Hi,

The Magister Militum range is the old Chariot one. Nice - but somewhat little. Closer to true 15s and rather thin.

John

Mark,

Thanks for the update on the scale creep being reigned in; good to know. To be frank, I liked that they were getting bigger as the closer they get to 20mm, the better I like AB's pricing! LOL They are definitely the top of the line for 15/18mm Napoleonics but for regular line and reserve infantry, I will probably stick to more affordable lines for now. But for cavalry, command and special units, I would probably go AB. As stated earlier, AB doesn't have every nation available. It is good to have choices and ones that are of such good quality from Battle Honours, CGM, and Warmodeling. I like some of the Old Glory stuff too but some of it is animated in a weird way to my eyes. Regarding Battle Honours, yes a bit smaller than AB but I haven't found them too fragile yet. Before I forget, Minifigs are a great line but won't mix well with the other lines mentioned.

Has anyone seen the Magister Millitum line? I would bet they don't mix with the larger figures but their 10/12mm lines are really great.

Chris Tebo

Also in reference to Chris' comments about AB scale creep:

I think this was definitely true about some of the figures released a few years ago (French Guard Lancers for one) but since then I think the size has been `reigned in'. I have the latest Young Guard and Russian Overcoat figures and they both are back to normal size!

-Mark

I agree with John that WM figures require a bit more clean-up but having said that they do produce some unique figures (French Peninsular German Allies/Dutch/Italians & Spanish militias etc) that fit in well along side AB.

Campaign Game Miniatures are also very nice and I have mixed in AB officers with CGM infantry for my Peninsular British. There is nothing wrong with the CGM officers - I just wanted to use figures in bicornes - CGM's are wearing shakos.

Despite their common ancestry BH figures are generally a lot smaller than AB thus they are smaller than WM, CGM and Old Glory as well. I find them a bit on the fragile side - weapons are thinner etc.

-Mark

It is all about the style. AB, BH and WM have a similar style (although I am not a fan of the Alsatian show dog back end on the horses. They all look like they are about to collapse.) Shame, as they are fine looking riders!

The WM figurs I have purchased required a LOT of work to clean up. The one thing I will always love about AB is the lack of work required before undercoating. This alone makes the extra cover charge worth the admission as it were.

You might also want to look at Dermott Quigley's work over at:

http://www.campaign-game-miniatures.com/

Super sweet - and will soon have all you will ever need for the Peninsula and 1815.

John

Thanks John - been using that site to compare lines. In the end, for me it just depends on each individual figure. I really like a few in some lines and other castings in another line. I'll probably just pick one main line and fill in with others. Leaning towards Battle Honors and filling in with AB and Warmodelling.

You might also look at Deepfriedhappymice:

http://www.deepfriedhappymice.com/html/nap_15_brit_inf_sbs.html

Mixing ranges is a personal thing. I personally will mix different battalions in a brigade - but never different manufacturers in a battalion. Just me. Others think it gives the effect of different sized and shaped people.

As always - you pays your money and you takes your chances....

John

I believe so as I saw a side-by-side comparison picture here:

http://www.vexillia.ltd.uk/campaign/images/compatibility.jpg

But, I have heard a rumor that the latest AB has the scale creep issue and may be slightly taller for their newest figures.

Chris