Garrison discontinuing 25mm Assyrians, English Civil War and American Civil War

Rob Young at Garrison is letting his customers know that he will probably be ending the production of 25mm Assyrians in his Ancient range, as well as all 25mm English Civil War and American Civil War figures. These figures have not been selling strongly, and keeping them in production distracts his attention from those that are in demand.

The Assyrian offerings include 12 foot and 5 mounted poses. In the ACW range, there are 4 guns, over 35 foot poses, including artillery crews, and a couple of mounted figures. For ECW fans, the range includes 20 foot poses and 9 mounted.

Garrison’s website can be found here:

http://www.garrisonminiatures.com/index.asp

The picture above is taken from the Garrison catalogue, and shows CCW2 “Confederate infantry advancing at high porte.” The figure comes from the threatened 25mm ACW line, and retails for £.80. It can also be purchased in a group of 10 for £7.50.

Zvezda 1/72 vs SHQ Kennington 20mm, Napoleonic mounted

The photo above compares two metal figures from Kennington and SHQ (A,C) with a pair of plastic warriors from Zvezda (B,D). Click on the image to see a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures are sold by both SHQ and Kennington, and are catalogued as BRC 2 “Napoleonic British Heavy Dragoons, Command.” The Napoleonic range from these two firms is quite extensive, and includes all the major participants.

Figure Characteristics:

Rider Height above ground (measured to rider eyes): 33mm.
Rider Height above ground (measured to top of head): 35mm.

Availability and Cost:

The metal figures can be purchased directly from the two manufacturers. The cavalry featured here sell for €5.50 at MBM Models (Kennington) or £4.50 through SHQ. For that price, you get 3 horses with 3 riders (2 officers and one trumpeter).

Kennington figures are available on the MBM website:

http://www.mbmmodels.com/1-72/kenf20mm/ken20f.htm

The SHQ site is here:

http://www.shqminiatures.co.uk/

Notes on the Samples:

The metal figures were generously provided by Peter Edwards from SHQ.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The Zvezda figures are from box 8026 “"Russian Cuirassiers, 1812-1814." The box contains 16 riders in 8 poses, as well as 16 horses in 4 poses. At the time of writing, Zvezda offers more than a dozen different Napoleonic sets. With one exception, there Napoleonic figures are devoted to French or Russian subjects.

Figure Characteristics:

Rider Height above ground (measured to eyes): 32mm.
Rider Height above ground (measured to top of head): 34mm.

Availability and Cost:

The Zvezda box is currently available and can be found through various online and local hobby shops and distributors.

Notes on the Samples:

The sample figures were obtained in a trade with Will McNally.

1/72 Newline Goths vs 1/72 Atlantic Romans

The photo above compares two plastic figures from Atlantic (A,C) with a pair of metal warriors from Newline Designs (B,D). Click on the image to see a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The Newline Designs figures come from one of their special 1/72nd scale range, and so are larger than the more numerous 20mm figures offered. These particular samples are cataloged as item 2G04, “Gothic Archers.” They are part of the “Dark Ages” line which also Franks, Huns and late period Romans.

Figures Characteristics:

Height (from sole of foot to eyes): 21mm
Height (from sole of foot to top of head): 23mm

Availability and Cost:

Newline Design figures are currently in production, and can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. Foot figures are sold in packs of four, for £2.00. In addition, the firm offers packs of 24 figures for £9.50.

The Newline website is here:

http://newlinedesigns.co.uk/

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The plastic figures come from two of Atlantic’s boxes:

A. Set 1515 “The Romans: The Roman Legion”
C. Set 1517 “The Romans: Gladiators and Christians”

Atlantic issued most of their sets in different sized packages. Set 1515 came in a large 92 piece box with 15 poses, while the large box for set 1517 included 64 pieces. Poses for the later set included a lion, and tiger as well as various gladiators, officials, audience members and victims (the latter on multiple figure stands).

Figure Characteristics:

1517 Height (measured to eyes): 21mm.
1515 Height (measured to eyes): 22mm
1517 Height (measured to top of head): 23mm.
1515 Height (measured to top of head): 24mm

Availability and Cost:

Atlantic is long out of production, and no other maker has reissued either of these sets.

Notes on the Samples:

The Atlantic figures were generously donated by Liam Sullivan.

Musket Miniatures 25mm vs Airfix 1/72, American War of Independence, foot

The photo above compares three metal figures from Musket Miniatures (A,C,E) with a pair of plastic soldiers from Airfix (B,D). Click on the image to see a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures come from Musket Miniatures’ 25mm American Revolution range. They are from code AWR 1720 “Hessian Grenadiers Command” which comes with 4 figures in 4 different poses.

Musket’s American Revolution range is very large, and contains roughly 90 different codes, not including the larger unit packs.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 22mm.
Height (measured from sole of foot to top of head): 25mm.

Availability and Cost:

Figures from Musket Miniatures can be found on the company’s website:

http://www.musketminiatures.com/

Foot figures are sold in several ways. Command packs include 4 figures for $3.75 US, while the rank and file can be purchased in groups of 6 for $5.50. Finally, a regiment of 20 figures, including command, costs $17.50.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The first Airfix figure (B) is from A01740 “British Grenadiers.” The second (D) comes from box A01739 “Washington’s Army.”

The British box includes 38 foot figures in 8 poses, as well as two mounted officers. The American box has 39 foot figures in 13 poses, in addition to one mounted officer.

Figure Characteristics:

A01739 (American) Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 19mm
A01740 (British) Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 20mm
A01739 (American) Height (measured from sole of foot to top of head): 21mm
A01740 (British) Height (measured from sole of foot to top of head): 22mm

Availability and Cost:

Neither of these sets is currently in production, but unopened boxes can still be found.

Metal Manufacturer Website Changes

Carrying on from the previous post on metal manufacturer and dedicated distributor websites - the following three firms have updated their websites to new addresses:

Lancashire Games
http://www.lancashiregames.com/
25mm ranges: (these are actually 28mm figures)
Ancient
Medieval
Renaissance (new in 2011)
Napoleonic
20mm range
World War Two

Sergeants Mess Miniatures
http://www.sgts-mess.com/
20mm ranges:
ACW
World War Two (including civilians)
British Navy, 1919-45
Note: They no longer carry the TQD range.

Britannia Miniatures
http://www.britannia-miniatures.com/catalog/
Following the untimely death of Dave Howitt earlier this year, production of the range has been taken over by Andrew Grubb, the owner of Grubby Tanks.
20mm ranges:
World War Two
Cold War
World War One
Vietnam
Afghanistan (1979 onwards)
25mm ranges:
Ancients and Dark Ages
American West
Crimea
Colonial

Missing in action? Six manufacturer websites no longer active

I recently conducted a check of all the websites that I have listed for active metal manufacturers (and dedicated distributors). I was disappointed to find that several websites could not be accessed. They are listed below. Please contact me if you can provide further information, especially if you know of a new site replacing the one listed.

Amazon Miniatures
http://www.amazonminiatures.com/
25mm Ancient Range

Aude Historica (Italian site remains up, but English version is down)
http://www.audehistorica.com/
20mm ranges: First World War, Italian Unification

CW Toys
http://www.cw-toys.de/
In addition to a small range of their own figures, CW Toys distributes a number of metal ranges by other manufactures, some of which are exclusive to CW. UPDATE: As of August 5, this site was back in business, which is great news. Thanks to Tom P. for pointing that out.

GFI Distributors
http://www.minifigs.com/catalog/
Sole distributor for Outland, and US distributor for Minifigs. The story behind this hiatus can be found on TMP.

NapoleoN
http://www.napoleon.com.es/
Sells the former Les Higgins Napoleonics.

Wargames Supply Dump / WSD
http://www.wargamessupplydump.co.uk/
20mm range: World War Two