Hinchliffe 25mm vs Esci & Italeri 1/72 Colonial Foot

The photo above compares three metal figures from Hinchliffe (A,C,E) with a pair of plastic warriors 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 Hinchliffe, and now are available from Hind Figures, who purchased the line in 2008, and are maintaining the brand.

These figures are included in Hinchliffe’s 25mm British Colonial range, and are cataloged as:

A: BC27, Officer at Rourke’s Drift
C: BC4, British Infantry Officer Advancing
E: BC30, Zulu Stabbing

The full range includes over 50 foot figures and 16 mounted figures, as well as guns and other equipment.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from ground to eyes): 24mm.
Height (measured from ground to top of head): 27mm.

Availability and Cost:

These figures can be ordered directly from Hind. The cost is 89 p (UK) for an individual figure.

The Hinchliffe page on the Hind website is here:

http://www.hinchliffe.co.uk/home.htm

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The lighter Esci figure on the left comes from box 212 “Zulu War, British Infantry Soldiers” and was also issued in box 232 “Indian War Kiber Pass British Infantry.” The darker figure on the right was released in box 213 “Zulu War, Zulu Warriors.”

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.

Box 213 was released by Italeri as set 6051, titled “Zulu Warriors, Zulu Wars, 1879.” Both versions included 48 figures in 12 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

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