Colonial in 15mm???

sukhe_bator · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:10 am Post subject: Colonial in 15mm???

I feel like something of a heretic with all those fab 25/28mm figures and sites out there, but am I the only one bucking the trend who is collecting Colonial figures in 15mm atm? I've had a look on the internet and there seems to be little out there gracing the tables.
I don't deny 25mm is THE scale for skirmish warfare and I'd love the sculpts of some extremely talented makers out there to grace my shelves (preferably already painted), BUT I'm reaching that certain age where something has got to give - and it would be the rafters of my house and the screams of my bank manager if I started in 25mm!
I think everyone knows my views on the potential of 15mm for more epic scale scenery and sweeping cavalry actions - its also a cheaper alternative to massing larger numbers of native troops etc., but you do lose out on characterisation of the sculpts, particularly leaders etc.
I'm looking for some Afghans (both cavalry and infantry) to use
a) as opponents for my Sikhs and Marathas
b) as generic Central Asian Muslim tribesmen
I can get away with a lot in 15mm which I couldn't in 25mm in terms of equipment etc. over time, but I can see only 2 viable companies producing them - Minifigs and Gallia, neither of whom have illustrated catalogues.
I had some Mike's Models and Gallia stuff donkey's years ago which in retrospect I should never have dispensed with, including one of my first scratchbuilt scenery projects - an Afghan village, complete with Chitral-esque watchtower, but my finances were in such a state back then... Mike's Models Afghans and British had a certain charm about them and the Gallia horses looked like they'd been force fed on cushions for a month. I know Minifigs well enough to take a punt but can't find examples or pictures of neither out there.
Please tell me I'm not the only one out there....!!
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Theo · Bad Influence Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 5055

hello ya disgustingly talented Mongol! ;)

Black Hat has some 18mm Brits in their Martian Empires range which could be used for the Colonial era. I think the sculpts in this range are generally wonderful although for your purposes there aren't many minis you can use. Here is a link to some that I think could be utilized.
http://www.blackhat.co.uk/online_shop/index.php?cPath=107_110_155&osCsid=a8fe013d9c1089d016034d66d718e61d

A mate from Germany recommended the Stone Mountain range (those are 15mm) to me as well but I am not quite sure. They do have pics though so I suppose you can get an idea about them.
http://www.historicalminiatures.com/lbn.html

oh and there's always good ole' Essex I suppose.
http://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/frames15col.html

Count Belisarius · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:00 am Post subject:

I think there is a PDF of an old Minifigs catalog in the Old School Wargaming Yahoo groups files. Not sure if it has pics of the Colonial stuff but might be worth a look?

Andy
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doug · Staff Sarge Joined: 08 Apr 2007 Posts: 290

Freikorps do afghan foot and horse in their history of india range - much nicer figures than gallia i would say. There might be something you could use in the Dixon IM range..? Lovely figures anyway.

sukhe_bator · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:27 am Post subject:

Thanks guys
I've already got some Freikorps from collecting my Marathas, but some of the Stone Mountain Pathans look promising...
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Barry s · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:04 pm Post subject:

Not sure If this helps but I've found this site useful in the past:
http://www.paleotechnic.com/victorian/15mm_minis.shtml

Barry: A fellow 15mm Colonial gamer Smile

Ronan the Librarian · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:09 pm Post subject:

SB - If you check out the US Minifigs site, they usually have pics of the most popular ranges (eg Naps, ECW); but unfortunately not Colonials (I assume this is the Victorian era you are referring to).

http://www.minifigs.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=41_3_147

There does not appear to be anything on the site as regards pics of the figures. However, if you send Mr Tom Dye a nice email, he is actually very good at posting pics to potential customers.
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sukhe_bator · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks Ronan,
Nic pic of a Mtn gun and Sikh crew - very tempting to get into it a bit more. I see a small Indian army relief force in the making. I've sent an email requesting pics.
Still find it strange there's not more 15mm NWF gamers out there though (hiding behind their sangars no doubt) apart from Barry that is who has popped his head over the parapet - thanks for that site Barry btw!
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Timmo · General Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Posts: 3403

What about Old Gory?

I must admit when I began the Sudan project I really wished I could have found a range of 15/18mm I liked but nothing really floated my boat in the way the Perry stuff did.

Glynis_&_Gary · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:58 pm Post subject:

Peter Pig have a nice range of 15mm Sudan figures that might have some useful pieces, also a very interesting set of rules- Patrols in the Sudan

Etranger · General Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 4091 Location: e-space

There must be some figures in that PP range that are suitable. I'm tempted to do something similar myself.

Have these chaps got anything suitable?
http://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/ They look to be nice figures in the photos & they seem keen to develop new ranges.

Another thought is that there are several ranges of 'contemporary' Afghan Mudjahadeen figures which might contain candidates for conversion.
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sukhe_bator · Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:21 am Post subject:

Good thinking Etranger

In 15mm I'm tempted to go the whole hog and do a little Interventionist/Punitive expedition from British India to expand on the Back of Beyond-esque scenarios I can do

A smallish force led by a couple of British 'Hofficers' commanding
Sikh/Panjabi Regulars
Corps of Guides
Screw gun
Heliograph

That sort of thing...
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Timbonz · Private Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 17

I've done 15mm Colonial (Mikes Models' British and Zulus) for years and have looked extensively at the ranges available. None of the available 15mm ranges are particularly good in my own personal opinion.

Gallia/Warrior are not great figures. They are remarkably brittle and several I have broke when I tried minor conversions such as bending arms etc.
Minfigs are not great either. It's a matter of opinion if you like the Minifigs style (I don't particularly) and they are a bit dated.
Essex are generally good in 15mm but their colonial ranges aren't their best. Some Zulus I have are rather flat, oddly posed and hold firearms that are much too small. The British are ok but are rather unimaginatively posed and the range is fairly minimal (only a single pose of most troop types)
There used to be a lot more in the way of 15mm ranges but several such as Mikes Models and Peter Laing have since disappeared. Peter Pig are a possibility that I haven't seen.

Etranger · General Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 4091 Location: e-space

My thoughts too Sukhe. Unfortunately I've already started some BoB NW Frontier shenanigans in 28mm so that would be 2 lots of terrain to make ..........

Still 15mm Sudan looks a possibility.
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Timmo · General Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Posts: 3403

ET

Which figures would you use? I looked and OG seems to be the most comprehensive range. Everybody else seems to have gaps with something significant missing.

Eg Minifigs â€“ very limited Mahdist poses and no British bog standard infantry for 82 -85. Peter Pig â€“ no Highlanders I believe. etc

I did think about the Amercian Indian wars for my colonial expedition using Minifigs and Freicorps and it would be great fun using the Lardy rules with some different cards. I can really see the massive advantage of 15mm for this kind of game, not least as it creates enough space for out and back patrols. Also the painting is so, so much easier. Still like ET I'm now committed to 28mm.

Barry s · Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:48 am Post subject:

Etranger · General Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 4091 Location: e-space

Timmo - probably PP for the most part. Martin Goddards recent ranges are first rate IMHO & he's now done Highlanders. I'd fill in the gaps with OG & Minifgs as necessary & for some variety but there may still be some holes.

I try to keep the terrain reasonably multi scale where practical so it's only a matter of changing buildings really. It's time (& currently money) that prevents any real progress.
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"If technology annoys you, I highly recommend shooting it to death. It's very cleansing......"