HistoriFigs to release 25mm Scruby Boers

The images above, taken from the HistoriFigs blog, show J-51 (Boer firing) and JC-55 (Boer rider). See below for details; click on the images for larger versions.

Mike Tabor at HistoriFigs has good news for those who have noticed a gap in HistoriFig’s 25mm colonial offerings. Jack Scruby designed and released a small set of Boer figures in the mid-1960s. Mike has now been able to find or re-create masters for all these figures, and has started to produce them. The range now includes:

J-50 Boer infantryman, standing on guard
J-51 Boer infantryman, standing, firing
J-52 Boer infantryman, walking, rifle at the trail
J-53 Boer soldier, to be used as an artilleryman (no weapon in hand)
JC-54 Boer rider, firing from saddle
JC-55 Boer rider, holding rifle on thigh

The foot figures are being sold for 75 cents each, $4.50 for a bag of 6, or $7.25 for a dozen. Cavalry figures, including mounts, sell for $2.00 each, $11.75 for 6 or $21.75 for 12. All figures are in US dollars.

The HistoriFigs website is here:

http://www.historifigs.com/index.htm

HaT Napoleonic lancers vs Scruby HistoriFigs FPW

The photo above compares two metal Franco-Prussian War lancers from HistoriFigs (A,C) with a pair of plastic Napoleonic lancers from HaT (B,D). Click on the image to see a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures were originally released by Jack Scruby, and now are available from HistoriFigs as part of the 25mm Franco-Prussian war range. The pose is catalogued as “9536C, Uhlan, lance erect.” The range comprises 45 different figures, with foot and mounted figures for France, Prussia and Bavaria.

Figure Characteristics:

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

Rider Body Height (measured from foot to eyes): 23mm.
Rider Body Height (measured from foot to top of head): 25mm.

Availability and Cost:

The HistoriFigs miniatures can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. The figures can be ordered individually for $2.00 US, in a group of 6 for $11.75, or as a set of 12 for $21.75.

The HistoriFigs website is here:

http://www.historifigs.com/

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The plastic figures come from set 8011 “Napoleonic French Lancers.” The set includes 12 riders in 4 poses, and 12 horses in 2 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

Rider Body Height (measured to eyes): 23mm.
Rider Body Height (measured to top of head): 25mm

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

Availability and Cost:

Although this is one of the older sets from HaT, these boxes are currently available from and can be found at hobby shops and online retailers.

Notes on the Samples:

These figures were obtained in a trade with Will McNally.

HistoriFigs, Scruby vs Esci, Italeri 19th Century Lancers

The photo above compares two metal lancers from HistoriFigs, (A,C) with a pair of plastic troopers from Esci and Italeri (B,D). Click on the image to see a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures were originally released by Jack Scruby, and now are available from HistoriFigs as part of the 25mm Franco-Prussian war range. The pose is catalogued as “9536C, Uhlan, lance erect.” The range comprises 45 different figures, with foot and mounted figures for France, Prussia and Bavaria.

Figure Characteristics:

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

Rider Body Height (measured from foot to eyes): 23mm.
Rider Body Height (measured from foot to top of head): 25mm.

Availability and Cost:

The HistoriFigs miniatures can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. The figures can be ordered individually for $2.00 US, in a group of 6 for $11.75, or as a set of 12 for $21.75.

The HistoriFigs website is here:

http://www.historifigs.com/

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The plastic figures were originally released by Esci as set 218: "Napoleonic Wars Waterloo 1815, 'Polish Lancers' French Cavalry.” The box included 12 riders in 4 poses, and 12 horses in 3 poses.
The set has been reissued by Italeri as box 6039: "Dutch-Polish Lancers, Red Lancers, 1805-1815.”

Figure Characteristics:

Rider Height above ground (measured from ground to rider eyes): 32mm.
Rider Body Height (measured from foot, to knee, to hip, to eyes): 22mm.

Availability and Cost:

Italeri continues to produce these figures, so they are easily obtained. For instance, Hannants has the set retailing for £6.50.

HistoriFigs Scruby vs Strelets, 19th century lancers

The photo above compares two metal lancers from HistoriFigs, which were originally released by Jack Scrub, (A,C) with a pair of plastic troopers from Strelets-R (B,D). Click on the image to see a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures were originally released by Jack Scruby, and now are available from HistoriFigs as part of the 25mm Franco-Prussian war range. The pose is catalogued as “9536C, Uhlan, lance erect.” The range comprises 45 different figures, with foot and mounted figures for France, Prussia and Bavaria.

Figure Characteristics:

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

Rider Body Height (measured from foot to eyes): 23mm.
Rider Body Height (measured from foot to top of head): 25mm.

Availability and Cost:

The HistoriFigs miniatures can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. The figures can be ordered individually for $2.00 US, in a group of 6 for $11.75, or as a set of 12 for $21.75.

The HistoriFigs website is here:

http://www.historifigs.com/

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The plastic figures come from two sets of Strelets Crimean War figures. The green figure comes from Set 061, “Russian Crimean Uhlans.” The other miniature is from Set 036, “Crimean War British Lancers.” Each box contains 12 riders in different poses. The Russian set includes 12 horses in six poses, while the British set has 12 unique horse poses.

Figure Characteristics (based on Set 061):

Rider Height above ground (measured from ground to rider eyes): 31mm.
Rider Height above ground (measured from ground to top of head): 33mm.

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

Availability and Cost:

The British lancers were first released in 2005, while the Russian miniatures joined them in 2007. Both sets are still widely available.

ECW and Napoleonic comparisons "In the Grand Manner"

In my ongoing quest to aggregate as many plastic/metal comparisons here as possible, I want to point out some that reside on an excellent eye-candy blog called “In the Grand Manner.”

Napoleonic:

In January, Matt posted a comparison of Scruby’s Napoleonic cavalry with Airfix’s mounted RHA officer.

Scruby versus Airfix


He followed that up by comparing Kennington and Newline Design versions of French artillery crews:

Kennington versus Newline Designs

ECW:

Back in December, Matt posted an image comparing a Niblett ECW cavalry figure to an Airfix figure (the same RHA officer used above).

Niblett versus Airfix

Here’s hoping Matt continues to post comparisons of the different types he is using for his games.

B&B Franco-Prussian French Marines

B&B Miniatures is a British firm that offers 20mm ranges covering several interesting conflicts, including the Franco-Prussian War. Their coverage of that war is extensive, and figures are sold in packs with a variety of poses, some of which include head variants. The B&B website can be found here:

B&B Miniatures

The B&B troops do fit in well with some common plastic ranges, as far as height goes. However, the sculpting style is an exaggerated one, similar to what can be seen in many metal ranges in other scales. It does give the B&B troops character, but will cause some wargamers to resist mixing them into plastic armies. (I think it can be seen most clearly in the figure third from the left above.)

The image above compares some figures from B&B's "French Marines advancing" (FPFI-14) with a number of other sources for figures. More detailed comparisons will follow for the plastic figures included. The figures in the picture are (from left to right):

• Two figures from Airfix's French Foreign Legion (reissued by HaT)
• One of the B&B figures
• A HaT Zouave (nominally for the ACW, but useful for French forces as well)
• The officer from the B&B pack
• A Guard figure from Scruby
• A French Light Infantry figure from Strelets
• Another marine from B&B

As always, click on the picture for a larger version.