Irregular vs Zvezda, Medieval Foot

The photo above compares three metal figures from Irregular (the lighter figures on tan bases) with four plasticfigures from Zvezda (darker and on green bases). Click on the image for a larger version.

Manufacturers’ designations:

The plastic figures come from two Zvezda boxes. The two figures on the left are from box 8001 "Russian Knights.” The other two figures can be found in box 8016 “Livonian Knights.”

The Irregular models come from two of their ranges: “Wars of the Roses” and Medieval Scots.” They are catalogued as follows (left to right in the picture):
NLM 8 Dismounted Knight (Wars of the Roses)
NLM 15 Highland Heavy Infantry (Medieval Scots)
NLM 1 Longbowman (Wars of the Roses)

Height compatibility (measured from sole of foot to eyes):
Zvezda 8001 – 20mm.
Zvezda 8016 – 21mm.
Irregular – 20mm.

Body Build compatibility (from 5 categories):
Zvezda – C (Average).
Irregular – C (Average).

Availability and Cost:

The Zvezda figures are in production and available through various plastic model distributors. Cost per box, at a typical retailer: £5.65 (GBP) at Harfields for box 8001.

Irregular’s metal figures are also currently available. They can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. The figures can be ordered individually, and come with random variations. Cost: 50p UK per figure.

(See the side panel lists for websites of the manufacturers, distributors and retailers mentioned above. To convert cost figures to your currency, use a site such as xe.com, also listed in the side panel.)

Other notes:

Some of the plastic figures were obtained from Frank Ivansic in a very helpful trade, and others were donated by Liam Sullivan. The Irregular models were generously provided by the manufacturer.

Readers, please add any comments on other considerations with regard to these two types, in particular any thoughts about the compatibility from the standpoint of historical periods.

Rafm vs Airfix, ACW foot

The photo above compares three ACW figures from Rafm Miniatures (the larger, unpainted metal ones) with an equal number of troops from Airfix (in various shades of plastic). Click on the image for a larger version.

Manufacturers’ designations:

The Airfix figures come from three boxes:
01712 “Union Infantry” (dark blue)
01713 “Confederate Infantry” (gray)
01714 “Civil War Artillery” (red-brown)

The Rafm figures are catalogued as RAF6603 “Union Infantry, Advancing.”

Height compatibility (measured from sole of foot to eyes):
Rafm – 24mm.
Airfix – 21mm.

Body Build compatibility (from 5 categories):
Rafm – C (Average)
Airfix – C (Average)

Availability and Cost:

The Airfix figures were introduced in the early 1960s and have been in and out of production ever since. They don’t seem to be in production currently, but old stock and second hand figures can be easily found.

Rafm’s metal figures are currently available. They can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. Cost from manufacturer: US$7.95 for six figures (all in the same pose).

(See the side panel lists for websites of the manufacturers, distributors and retailers mentioned above. To convert cost figures to your currency, use a site such as xe.com, also listed in the side panel.)

Readers: please post any comments with regard to these two types, in particular any thoughts about the compatibility from the standpoint of the uniform depicted.

Ral Partha vs RedBox, Medieval Asia foot, part 2

The photo above compares three metal figures from Ral Partha (two painted, and one undercoated white) with three plastic figures from RedBox. Click on the image for a larger version.

Manufacturers’ designations:

RedBox has produced three boxes for Ashigaru. The two figures on the left can be found in box 72006 “Ashigaru (Archers and Arquebusiers),” while the figure on the right comes from box 72007 “Ashigaru (Spearmen)”

The Ral Partha models come from their “Momoyama/Tokugawa Samurai” range, and are catalogued as follows (left to right in the picture):
53-751 Ronin with sword
53-768 Samurai with spear or naginata
53-752 Ronin with spear or naginata

The Ral Partha figures are currently manufactured and distributed by Iron Wind. In their catalogue, the models are identified as follows:

Again, left to right:
DH-165 Ronin with Katana
DH-179 Samurai Spearman
DH-166 Ronin Spearman

Height compatibility (measured from sole of foot to eyes):
RedBox 72006 – 19mm.
RedBox 72007 – 20mm.
Ral Partha / Iron Wind – 22mm.

Body Build compatibility (from 5 categories):
RedBox– C (Average)
Ral Partha / Iron Wind – are a mix of C (Average) and D (Somewhat Heavy).

Availability and Cost:

The RedBox figures were introduced fairly recently, and are available through various plastic model distributors. Price at a typical retailer: 8.00 € at CW-Toys.

As mentioned above, the metal figures are currently available from Iron Wind. They need to be ordered directly from the manufacturer: the cost is US $2.50 for an individual figure, but drops to $0.90 for quantities of 10 or more.

(See the side panel lists for websites of the manufacturers, distributors and retailers mentioned above. To convert cost figures to your currency, use a site such as xe.com, also listed in the side panel, with the retailers.)

Other notes:
The RedBox figures were provided by Eric Yin in a very helpful trade.

Readers, please add any comments on other considerations with regard to these two types, in particular any thoughts about the compatibility from the standpoint of historical periods.

Airfix / HaT vs Outland, Napoleonic Infantry

The photo above compares three Russian figures from Outland Games (unpainted metal) with three plastic Prussians from Airfix/HaT (blue and gray). Click on the image for a larger version.

Manufacturers’ designations:

The plastic figures come from the last Airfix box of Napoleonic figures to be released: 01756 “Prussian Infantry 1815.” The figures were re-released by HaT as set 7006 “Waterloo Prussian Landwehr.”

The Outland models come from their Napoleonic range. They are catalogued as follows (left to right in the picture):

R-25. 1804 Russian Grenadier Advancing, Bushy Plume
R-14. 1812 Russian Foot Artillery with Rammer, in Kivier
R-13. 1812 Russian Foot Artillery with Ball, in Kivier

Height compatibility (measured from sole of foot to eyes):
Airfix/HaT – 20mm.
Outland – 19mm.

Body Build compatibility (from 5 categories):
Airfix/HaT – C (Average).
Outland – B (Slender) mainly due to their spindly legs.

Availability and Cost:

The Airfix/HaT figures are in production and available through various plastic model distributors. Cost per box, at a typical retailer: £3.95 (GBP) at Hannants (for the HaT version).

Outland’s metal figures are also currently available. They must be ordered from GFI – the distributor. The figures can be ordered individually, at a cost of 65 cents (US) each.

(See the side panel lists for websites of the manufacturers, distributors and retailers mentioned above. To convert cost figures to your currency, use a site such as xe.com, also listed in the side panel, with the retailers.)

Other notes:

The Airfix samples were donated by Mike Epting and Liam Sullivan. The Outland models were generously provided by the manufacturer.

Readers, please add any comments on other considerations with regard to these two types, in particular any thoughts about the compatibility from the standpoint of historical periods.

Irregular vs Zvezda / Italeri, Medieval Foot

The photo above compares three metal figures from Irregular (the lighter figures on tan bases) with three plastic figures from Zvezda/Italeri (darker and on green bases). Click on the image for a larger version.

Manufacturers’ designations:

The plastic figures come from Zvezda box 8002 "Christian Knights” which was also released by Italeri as box 6009 “The Knights.”

The Irregular models come from two of their ranges: “Wars of the Roses” and Medieval Scots.” They are catalogued as follows (left to right in the picture):
NLM 8 Dismounted Knight (Wars of the Roses)
NLM 15 Highland Heavy Infantry (Medieval Scots)
NLM 1 Longbowman (Wars of the Roses)

Height compatibility (measured from sole of foot to eyes):
Zvezda/Italeri – 22mm.
Irregular – 20mm.

Body Build compatibility (from 5 categories):
Zvezda/Italeri – C (Average).
Irregular – C (Average).

Availability and Cost:

The Zvezda/Italeri figures are in production and available through various plastic model distributors. The websites for the two companies are listed in the side panel.

Cost per box, at a typical retailer: $12.50 (US) at Michigan Toy Soldiers (for the Italeri version). See the link to their website in the side panel.

Irregular’s metal figures are also currently available. They can be ordered directly from the manufacturer: see the website listed in the side panel.

The figures can be ordered individually, and come with random variations. Cost: 50p UK per figure.

(To convert cost figures to your currency, use a site such as xe.com, also listed in the side panel, with the retailers.)

Other notes:

The plastic figures were obtained from Frank Ivansic in a very helpful trade. The Irregular models were generously provided by the manufacturer.

Readers: please add any comments on other considerations with regard to these two types, in particular any thoughts about the compatibility from the standpoint of historical periods.

Feedback and Response

On August 20, I asked readers to provide feedback on the Plastic Pelisse. Between comments on the blog, and posts on a thread at TMP, I heard from about a dozen of you. Some simply passed on their encouragement, which was very nice in itself. Others did provide thoughtful suggestions for improvements. I want to walk through those suggestions now, and let you know how I intend to respond.

Suggestions about topics covered:

Alex K and jmodule both asked for more World War Two comparisons. An anonymous poster was also interested in more 1870-1945 postings.

On TMP, Chortle said: “I would like to see Cavalry & artillery developed at the same pace as the infantry. Throwing in the odd artillery caisson or ambulance is also good for people looking for bits to complete their armies.”

I am sympathetic to these requests, and will do the best to address them. However, while I have a fairly extensive collection of plastic samples, my comparisons are limited by the number of metal samples on hand. I have had a couple of manufacturers send me samples, but most of the ones found on the site were purchased. Since getting this feedback, I have written to some of the best-known 20mm WW2 manufacturers, but have not received any reply.

So unless I can find someone willing to trade me some metal figures to expand the samples, I can only move forward at the rate that I am willing to spend to support this blog.

The same thing applies to artillery, but I do have a number of mounted metal samples that I have not used in comparisons. I will try to increase the mounted component in the near future. That will also allow me to follow up on a suggestion by Marc the plastic fan, to use horse swaps as another way of illustrating comparisons.

Suggestions about the information in the comparisons:

An anonymous reader suggested that I include an URL for the manufacturers or main distributors of the figures reviewed. In a similar vein, Marc the plastics fan said: “It would be really helpful if it was clearly indicated what ranges are still available and from whom.” EY suggested that I list the number of poses which come in sets of metal figures (those that are not sold individually.)

Actually, I used to have a practice of introducing a metal range with an initial post which included all this information; then I would start posting the actual comparisons. I have lately skipped the initial post, which means this information is being overlooked. Starting in the last couple of posts though, I have included information on availability, and referred to websites (which are actually listed in the sidebar section of the blog). I will also take up EY’s suggestion in future comparisons.

Suggestions on other content:

Katzbalger suggested: “it might be nice to have one shot of figs from several plastic and metal ranges placed next to each other.” He notes that I have done this for some of the colonial ranges. Again, this is an older practice that I had discarded. The main reason that I did abandon it, was that the pictures never remained comprehensive (as soon as I posted a picture with 5 ranges illustrated, I obtained samples from a 6th). However I will resurrect this kind of post.

EY pointed out: “a comparison shot of the five different types of body build that you use in your reviews would be useful.” I agree with him, and will put one together shortly.

Again, thanks to all who commented. Please feel free to carry on the conversation, and provide more feedback, at any time.

Rafm vs Italeri, ACW Infantry

The photo above compares three ACW figures from Rafm Miniatures (the larger, unpainted metal ones) with an equal number of plastic troops from Italeri (the smaller, silver coloured figures). Click on the image for a larger version.

Manufacturers’ designations:

The Italeri troops come from box 6012 "Union Infantry with Zouaves."

The Rafm figures are catalogued as RAF6603 “Union Infantry, Advancing.”

Height compatibility (measured from sole of foot to eyes):
Rafm – 24mm.
Italeri – 22mm.

Body Build compatibility (from 5 categories):
Rafm – C (Average)
Italeri – C (Average)

Availability and Cost:

The Italeri figures are in production and available through various plastic model distributors. The company website is listed in the side panel.

Cost per box, at a typical retailer: £3.75 at ModelsForSale.com.

Rafm’s metal figures are also currently available. They can be ordered directly from the manufacturer: see the website listed in the side panel.

Cost from manufacturer: US$7.95 for six figures.

(To convert cost figures to your currency, use a site such as xe.com)

Other notes:

Readers: please post any comments with regard to these two types, in particular any thoughts about their compatibility from the standpoint of the uniform depicted.