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Post by featherstonefan54 on Jan 2, 2016 18:21:54 GMT
Hi all
I have a copy of the rules on order and and am looking to have another try at this period. I made up French and Prussian armies from Front Rank figures years ago, but just couldn't find a set of rules I really enjoyed and so foolishly sold the lot to fund other projects.
Keith's book seems to be just what I am looking for. I started wargaming about 50 years ago on the late Don Featherstone's rules and have always favoured playability and fun over mind numbing complexity in the pursuit of so called "realism". However, each to his own!
Thing is, I'm not sure about which Minis to start with. I fancy doing Austrian/ Russian but have an open mind at present.
Any advice on the best figures/ ranges to look at?
Cheers
Keith
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Post by Keith on Jan 2, 2016 21:52:14 GMT
No question here Keith. RSM95s are inexpensive (even if you have to order them from the US) and are nice, elegant sculpts. They were originally sculpted back in the 80s, but the moulds appear to be still in good order - I have no complaints about the ones I have. The range is pretty complete as well. If you prefer more modern figures, then it has to be Minden Miniatures, currently also sold in the US by the well known wargamer Alte Fritz. These go very well with the RSMs, and a mix of the 2 ranges would provide a terrific army whichever nation or nations you go for. The guys who sell the RSMs can also supply some painted units, or paint figures for you at a very reasonable cost. For my taste, the other well known 28mm ranges suffer from the rather chunky, over-developed modern look, which makes figures both expensive and more intensive to paint with their exaggerated detail. link - RSM 95slink - Fife and Drum/Minden MiniaturesI would add I have had the pleasure of dealing with Richard Masse at RSM for many years - service is friendly and efficient. I think you can also expect considerate and generally excellent service from Alte Fritz (Jim Purky). Very much a wargamer. |
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Post by leman on Jan 3, 2016 11:12:11 GMT
Those figures really are very impressive, and I can see what you mean about the more natural sculpting.
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Post by Snowcat on Jan 3, 2016 11:38:12 GMT
I can recommend Jim Purky, having licensed quite a few of his Minden/Fife & Drum horses. He's a great individual to deal with. Hmm, just noticed, someone who posts 50+ times on this forum is 'God'. Haven't seen that before!  Cheers |
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Post by leman on Jan 3, 2016 11:45:15 GMT
Took me a bit by surprise as well. Have played a few games now, and painting furiously because I would like to have a go at the Lobositz scenario, and also the bathtubbed Kolin scenario for Might and Reason (should be easy to work out the battlefield dimensions for HoW). Otherwise, no idea how I will live up to this, other than before too long I will just be a member of a pantheon.
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Post by featherstonefan54 on Jan 3, 2016 12:02:55 GMT
Thanks Keith and others.
The info is very much appreciated. I'll check out both sites.
Cheers
Keith
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Post by Mark Dudley on Jan 4, 2016 16:18:29 GMT
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Post by featherstonefan54 on Jan 4, 2016 17:24:25 GMT
Thanks Mark.
On looking at the Alte Fritz blog it seems to suggest it is possible to buy Minden minis from Crann Tara, but they don't list the full range.
Have you bought from them?
Also the Fife and drum website seems a bit out of date in that they refer to Russians being ready for sale by March 15. Again, have you been able to buy any?
Cheers
Keith
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Post by Mark Dudley on Jan 4, 2016 19:19:55 GMT
Thanks Mark. On looking at the Alte Fritz blog it seems to suggest it is possible to buy Minden minis from Crann Tara, but they don't list the full range. Have you bought from them? Also the Fife and drum website seems a bit out of date in that they refer to Russians being ready for sale by March 15. Again, have you been able to buy any? Cheers Keith Hi Keith
Crann Tara, Minden and Fife and Drum are all compatible with each other as they share the same designer and caster.
Crann Tara stock some of the Minden Range but are limited to the codes they can stock (at the moment).
I can recommend both Graham (Crann Tara) and Jim (Minden/Fife and Drum) and I have bought figures from both.
Buying from the US does however increase costs for Customs and Post Office handling charges.
As for the Minden Russians I think the availability has gone back in the schedule and the latest I heard was September 16.
Mark
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Post by colin on Jan 4, 2016 22:42:30 GMT
I agree they're all great ranges and I have lots. Cran Tara stock Minden Hanoverians as well as their own stuff and the Savoia range which are absolutely superb. Service is great from both Graham and Jim but as noted above you risk getting hammered by HMRC for customs duty on imports from the US.
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Post by leman on Jan 5, 2016 11:21:11 GMT
I took a look at the Crann Tara site, and they seem to stock the US figures that are pertinent to the 1740s period, such as Maurice and his uhlans.
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Post by cerlach on Jan 30, 2016 7:50:52 GMT
Gents, As I'm a relative newcomer to the forum I'm slowly catching up on threads. As I'm also the owner of Crann Tara then thanks for the mentions. In terms of Minden Miniatures I'm afraid I'm at Jim's call here, he determines what I can stock so at the moment it's Hanoverians, equipment, civilians and the British regular highlanders ( not listed yet) As mentioned I'm particularly focussing on the War of the Austrian succession - I expect to see the '45 rebellion completed this year and at the same time see quite a few more British and French for the European campaign. My other sculptor is pressing on with the armies of Savoy and there's a small range of Spanish starting to appear so watch this space ( lots of ideas - so little time ) Graham - Crann Tara Miniatures |
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Post by leman on Jan 30, 2016 9:04:15 GMT
Keith, are there likely to be any downloads of WAS lists, similar to the one produced for Cumberland's Army of Observation?
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Post by featherstonefan54 on Jan 30, 2016 10:16:15 GMT
Folks
I have been doing plenty of research on 28mm figs thanks to your recommendations and there are certainly some great ranges out there.
I have not had a chance to get down to my club so far this year, but it appears HoW has gone down a storm with the members who have the most extensive SYW armies....... in 15mm!
They favour the original "Old Glory" sold by Timecast but there is a more recent range from Old Glory themselves Andy Copestake called Blue Moon.
I have seen the Blue Moon range on their site, but there are no images on the Timecast site.
Any opinions on these or other 15mm ranges, compatibility etc?
Advice and opinions welcome .
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Post by leman on Jan 30, 2016 12:37:57 GMT
I have some Blue Moon ACW figures. They are a little cleaner than the original Old Glory but about the same as the current Old Glory. However, they are taller and slimmer and I would rate them as 18mm rather than 15mm. I only bought some of the esoteric sets (sutler's wagon, surgeon and ambulance) and would not buy combat figures from Blue Moon as they would look very out of place with my mass of originals. I suspect the SYW Blue Moon would be similar in comparison. However, the 10mm SYW Grand Scale are perfectly compatible with Pendraken 10mm. Neither mix well with Irregular 10mm.
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