Matchlock 25mm vs 1/72 Waterloo 1815, Colonial foot

THE METAL FIGURES


Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figure comes from the “Late 19th/Early 20th Century & Boxer Rebellion” range currently offered by Minifigs under the Matchlock brand. The figures were originally sculpted and released under the Falcon Miniatures name (not to be confused with Falcon Figures).

The model is catalogued as FIN13B “Boxer Rifleman.”

The full line covers French Foreign Legion, Turks, German Southwest Africa, Russians, Japanese, Boxers and various African forces.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured to eyes): 23mm.
Height (measured to head): 25mm.

Availability and Cost:

This line was reintroduced in February 2011. It can be found on the Minifigs website, by selecting the “Matchlock” label.

http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/

Foot figures in this range are being sold for £1.10, with mounted figures retailing for £2.55

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The Waterloo 1815 figures are found in box AP-013 “Anglo-Egyptian Army.” The box contains 44 figures in 11 poses, as well as 4 mounted officers in the same pose.

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

The set is a fairly recent release, and is easily found in hobby shops and at online retailers.

Newline 20mm vs Zvezda/Italeri 1/72 Greek and Persian foot

THE METAL FIGURES


Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

Newline Design offers a very large range of figures representing conflicts in the ancient world. Its Greek line includes 22 different types, both foot and mounted, while the Persian range is only slightly smaller with 21 types.

Figures Characteristics

ANG 3 (Greek) Height (to eyes): 20mm
ANG 3 (Greek) Height (to top of head): 22mm
ANP 14 (Persian) Height (to eyes): 20mm
ANP 14 (Persian) Height (to top of head): 22mm

Availability and Cost (as at October 2012):

Foot figures are sold in packs of four, for £1.90. In addition, the firm offers army deals at significant discounts.

The Newline website is here:

http://newlinedesigns.co.uk/

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The plastic figures come from a pair of joint Italeri/Zvezda release. The Persian standard bearer comes from Zvezda box 8006 “Immortals, Persian Infantry, 4th to 5th century BC” which was also released as Italeri box 6025 “Persian Infantry, 4th to 5th century BC.” The Greek officer can be found in Zvezda box 8005 and Italeri box 6024 both of which are titled “Greek Infantry, 5th to 4th Century BC.” In addition to these boxes, Zvezda currently offers 7 other boxes covering the conflicts from the bronze age up to Alexander. Two of those sets were also co-released by Italeri.

Figure Characteristics:

8005 (Greek) Height (measured from to top of head): 24mm.
8005 (Greek) Height (measured from to eyes): 22mm.
8006 (Persian) Height (measured from to top of head): 25mm.
8006 (Persian) Height (measured from to eyes): 23mm.

Availability and Cost:

These figures are at least 10 years old, but the sets are currently available and can be found through various online and local hobby shops and distributors.

Notes on the Samples:

Liam Sullivan donated the Zvezda figures.

Italeri 1/72 vs Falcon 25mm, American War of Independence, foot

THE METAL FIGURES


Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures come from the “Falcon AWI” range currently offered by Minifigs under the Matchlock brand. The figures in this line were originally sculpted and released under the Falcon Miniatures name (not to be confused with Falcon Figures).

The two models are catalogued as:

AW12 Continental on Guard
AW41 German Officer Walking

There are currently 30 codes available in this line, all of them foot figures. They represent British and American forces, as well as German troops allied with the British. There are no cavalry or artillery units represented in the range.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured to eyes): 23mm.
Height (measured to head): 25mm.

Availability and Cost:

This line can be found on the Minifigs website, by selecting the “Matchlock” label and then looking for the “Falcon AWI" tab.

http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/

Foot figures in this range are being sold individually for £1.10.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The Italeri figures come from box 6061, "American Independence War, Indian Warriors." The box contains 48 figures in 16 poses. Italeri currently offers three other sets for the American War of Independence.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from ground to eyes): 22mm.
Height (measured from ground to top of head): 24mm.

Availability and Cost:

According to PSR, this set debuted in 2005. Italeri is currently producing it, and it can be found through various plastic model distributors, and at hobby shops.

Minifigs S Series Recasts in Production

The Minifigs S Series dates from the late 1960s, when they started to supplement and then replace the original 20mm Minifigs.


According to Vintage20Mil, the S Series is widely seen as the first “true 25mm” range (even though the firm described them as being 20mm in their initial release material). The range covered a wide range of conflicts, and featured a variety of poses that surpassed many contemporary competitors.

The period of S Series ascendency was brief. In the mid-1970s, Minifigs moved to a new style, featuring sculpts that were slightly taller and significantly bulkier than the S Series. As part of this transition, the S Series figures were pulled out of production.

But now many of those S Series lines are being made available as a recast range through John Cunningham’s operation: 20mm Nostalgia. John has already acquired the rights and is working for new moulds for all or part of the following lines: Marlburian; Jacobites; Seven Years’ War; American War of Independence; French Revolution and Egyptian Campaign; Crimean War; Franco-Prussian War. Below are some details on the two latter lines.

Franco-Prussian German (includes Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, Wurttemberg, Silesia): 10 infantry poses, 2 artillery poses, 5 cavalry poses, 1 mounted general.
Franco-Prussian French: 8 infantry poses, 2 artillery poses, 3 cavalry poses, 1 mounted general.
Crimean British: 18 infantry poses, 7 artillery poses, 5 cavalry poses.
Crimean Turkish: 5 infantry poses, 3 artillery poses, 2 cavalry poses.
Crimean French: 12 infantry poses, 3 artillery poses, 2 cavalry poses.
Crimean Sardinian: 3 infantry poses.
Crimean Russian: 12 infantry poses, 6 artillery poses, 5 cavalry poses.

The picture above shows some sample figures from the Franco-Prussian War range, with catalogue descriptions as follows:

PFP 7 Wurttemberg Line Infantry advance
PFP 10 Wurttemberg Line Gunner firing gun
PFP 11 Wurttemberg Line Gunner carrying shell
FFP 3 French Guard Grenadier a Pied advance
FPS 2 Prussian General

John is currently shipping figures for 50p, and horses for 65p. For more details and to place orders, please contact John at his email address CunnJoh(at)aol(dot)com.

Matchlock 25mm vs Esci 1/72, Colonial foot

THE METAL FIGURES


Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figure comes from the “Late 19th/Early 20th Century & Boxer Rebellion” range currently offered by Minifigs under the Matchlock brand. The figures were originally sculpted and released under the Falcon Miniatures name (not to be confused with Falcon Figures).

The model is catalogued as FIN13B “Boxer Rifleman.”

The full line covers French Foreign Legion, Turks, German Southwest Africa, Russians, Japanese, Boxers and various African forces.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured to eyes): 23mm.
Height (measured to head): 25mm.

Availability and Cost:

This line was reintroduced in February 2011. It can be found on the Minifigs website, by selecting the “Matchlock” label.

http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/

Foot figures in this range are being sold for £1.10, with mounted figures retailing for £2.55

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The British Esci figure comes from box 212 “Zulu War, British Infantry Soldiers” and was also issued in box 232 “Indian War Kiber Pass British Infantry.”

Box 212 included 50 figures in 15 poses. The set was later re-released by Italeri as box 6050, “British Infantry, Zulu Wars, 1879.” The Italeri version of the set included only 40 figures.

Box 232 added three new poses, bringing the total to 18, while keeping the number of figures steady at 50.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured to eyes): 21mm.
Height (measured to top of head): 23mm.

Availability and Cost:

Esci no longer exists, and Italeri is not currently producing these sets. However, the figures can be found fairly easily in second-hand shops and online auction sites.