Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: Essexmark on 31 July 2025, 07:16:25 PM
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Hello all. I've developed a bit of an interest in late 19th century wargaming. I've got some 6mm and 10mm samples on the way and have bought several rule books and reference books, initially for FPW. However as I delved into that war I've also become interested in the APW and Risorgimento. So a couple of questions please. Would 1870 Prussians work OK for APW as well, and likewise would the Austrians for APW work for Risorgimento as well? Many thanks. Mark
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What I can tell you is I use the same Prussian army for AP and FP wars.
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What I can tell you is technically the Prussian changed helmets desings between the Six weeks war and the Franco-Prussian war. Have a google of the 1860 pattern and 1867 pattern picklehaubes. There was more bronze trimming on the earlier patter, however even at larger scales I think this is splitting hairs, so at 6mm or 10mm this does not matter. Other than that the uniforms the same.
Austrians in the six weeks war would 100% match the Third War of Italian independence. I don't know about the earlier period as well and unsure if there were any great change so I believe you'd get away with it for the Second War of Italian independence as well in the 1850s. (You can even have them fight the French here). The only thing I think that would be majorily different is artillery, the Austrians purchased Krupp guns in the 1860s.
It's a fascinating period both polictically and millitarily, I hope you enjoy it. I think horrifcally underappricated how much the Italian and German unifcation changed the face of Europe, not just politically but also socially and culturally. My aim is eventually have figures for the Danes, Austrians, Prussians, Italians, French and minor German nations at some point.
Best wishes,
Samuel
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Hi Mark,
Austrians wore white tunics in 1848 and 1859 but grey greatcoats over them in 1864 and 1866.
So it depends how fussy you are. My Austrians wear white for 1848, 1859, 1864 and 1866.
The French change a bit between 1859 and 1870 too, trading in shakos for kepis, some other changes.
But so long as your French have blue coats and red trousers, they will look OK for the Crimea, 1859, 1867 and 1870.
In 6mm or 10mm, a Pickelhaube is a Pickelhaube. Your Prussians will do for 1864, 1866, 1870.
Chris
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Thanks guys. Really helpful answers. Mark
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I'd agree that you can mix and match, especially at the scale you are using. My collection is 15mm, there wasn't the selection of 10mm available when I put this together. I have French, Italians, Prussians, Bavarians and Austrians who all happily fight each other (occaisionally swapping sides) all the way from 1859 to 1870.
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Oh yeah, Italians and Bavarians too. Who doesn't want cornflower blue on their wargames table? So what if the Bavarians change hats between 1866 and 1870?
And the Italians can also fight Russians in the Crimea, as can the French.
And once you've got Russians, they can join in when you split your Austrian army in half for the Hungarian War of Independence. (OK, so the Hungarian half needs some different uniforms.)
And depending what headgear your Russians are wearing, they can fight Turks in the Crimean War and again in 1877 ...
... and so the spiral continues!