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Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: Marthas Dad on August 01, 2022, 11:14:37 AM
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I am looking to start a 28mm ACW project after being enthused by a few games of Picketts Charge in 15mm.
One of my gaming pals has already painted some Perrys but i like the look of the Redoubt range.
Any thoughts on them?
I am also looking for a project focus and am trying to find a battle that is a good place to start.
Maybe a division or 2 a side with some characteristics that have some variety.
Thanks in advance.
Paul
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There are so many ranges to choose from so I understand your question :)
I have Old Glory, Redoubt, Foundry, Perry, Crusader, Dixon, 1st Corps and bits from other ranges. Redoubt are definately one of the better ranges. While the separate head system is great, I find the faces less detailed than others. If I would do it all over again I think I would stay with Perry. Their huge range with natural poses, good details, plastic options and relatively low prices make them my top choice. One relatively new range that I have no personal experience from is Steve Barber. They look quite interesting.
Mixing miniatures from different ranges is definately a possibility, as you can see from my list above,but beware that some of the Redoubt ACW minis are for some reason bigger than others, for example their Iron Brigade pack
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I am building 25/28mm ACW forces to use with F&F Regimental and Carnage & Glory 2.
I am using mainly Foundry, Perry and Crusader miniatures with odd figures from Dixon as they all fit size wise.
There is an advantage with Crusader as NorthStar offer Unit Deals at reduced prices.
The only plastics I am using are the Perry plastic limbers, cheapest way to get them.
Cheers,
Graham W
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Can't speak to minis (my ACW boys are 15mm).
But for a battle, I would look at the Battle of Mill Springs (Kentucky, in January 1862). About a division on each side, with infantry, artillery, and cavalry. Here's the Wikipedia link, which has a good order of battle for each side: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mill_Springs
I've gamed it several times, both as the original ACW fight, and as a AWI fight (the Battle of Spring's Mill). Great battles each time...
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Have you looked at Steve Barber miniatures? he does a great range of figures.
https://www.stevebarbermodels.com/store/American-Civil-War-c36555053
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It depends on the sculpting style you like. Personally, I prefer Perry's because the figures have a more realistic anatomy and clear details. They have a large selection that is constantly being expanded. The only downside is that the casting can be quite rough around the edges, especially on the older releases. But then again, who else has released the 3rd New Jersey cavalry "the Butterflies".
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I'm a 15-18mm collector, but if I were to do 28mm, I'd do primarily Perrys'. Especially the plastics for easy conversions, but I'd use any figures that strike my fancy regardless of manufacturer. Especially for commanders.
The Warlord epics are looking really nice, but there looks to be a bit too small to match my Old Glory, Blue Moon, AB and Scale Creep.
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If you are set on 28 mm, then move forward. But give 15 mm a consideration. There is plenty of choice out there in the scale and you can either get a much bigger battle on the table or put a "28 mm" game on a much smaller table. Also, the cost is considerably less than 28 mm - though you are likely to end up with more figures based on pack sizes which might impact total painting time to get your figures fully on the table. Just a thought.
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Thanks to all.
I am going for 28mm as its my scale of choice for painting and the burden will be shared.
We already have access to 2 15mm collections and having learnt from my Quatre Bras project this is much simpler but exciting.
The Mill Spring suggestion looks a good starting point.
keep it coming.
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Regarding scenarios I usually prefer to use part of a battle as a scenario, as this gives you the possibility to scale up your forces and also play other parts, or finally the whole battle. The ACW lends it very well for this purpose with big battles having many phases of combat. One battle that I have planned to game this way is Antietam with the Cornfield, the Sunken Road and Burnsides bridge. Gettysburg obviously has similar possibilities over the three days of battle. Don Troiani´s paintings are a great source of inspiration ;)
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If your looking at Perry's as your Core at least for bulk of the rank and file with personality/special figures purchased elsewhere (Warlord Games do some), and I would recommend Perry's as they have helpful uniform mini guides in the're boxsets with flags.
You could pretty much cover all your 28mm ACW needs with the Perry's, but depending on your budget, you might want to check out there Battle in a Box ACW Starter.
£95 with p&p to be added, shop around you may find a free shipping option somewhere. But this is an instant pile of potential, damn near 200 figures, and scenery for about £100 all-in, best starter set bargain imo bar-non, especially when factor in this isn't cheap rubbish, it's quality Perry's workmanship. Then mop up any later releases they did for those figures and guides.
https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product/bb1-battle-in-a-box-american-civil-war/
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If you are into 3d printing Studio Historia are currently doing a Kickstarter that has a lot of options
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I would like to give a shout out for Redoubt. They go well with with Steve Barber, and the Steve Barber spare head packs are a source of alternative very nice heads to the odd ropey Redoubt one.
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I’d recommend Redoubt and Steve barber.
I’ve posted an odd Regt or two of redoubt figures on this forum (you can find my posts under my name). Great variety of figures for Union and Rebs. Note some of the older castings can be a little troublesome with the odd mould lines, missing feet and missing bayonets (although the new owner may have tidied these up)
Steve Barber figures are well sculpted especially the heads that have great character - they have separate upper and lower torsos and heads that you will have to glue but give you an extremely wide range of variation. Be warned that the ‘held rifles’ for marching poses are also separate and can be fiddly to glue. A little modelling putty will be necessary to fill the odd gap between leg and body torsos but the end results are worth it. Let me know if you’d like me to post some pics of them and I will.
On a final note and I hope he won’t mind but check out VonKetteringham 28mm ACW Union Army showcase on YouTube (a year ago I think). A great 5-10 minute showcase of the following ranges - Redoubt / Perry metal and plastic / !st Corps(uk) and Dixon - a series of regiments that he has put together.
Flags - recommend GMB flags and Flags of War - excellent.
Hope this helps.
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..errror
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My figures in the majority are Fenlon Miniatures (now sold under the adventure time label) for my confederate. Sash and Sabre, Old Glory 2nd Ed, Perry and redoubt for the union.
I like the redoubt figures but I mix and match a bit so I can have variation in units.
I use Jonny reb and Fire and Fury scenarios. My armies are based for JR3 but work for FF regimental and black powder.
Look at the western battles lots of great scenarios there
Cheers
Matt
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I have 2 armies all with Dixon figures. I think they get interely the true spirit of the period and there is a huge variety of choices.
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Mine are a mix of Redoubt and Renegade, which marry well - and would marry well with Crusader if any of their figures had a blanket roll. 1st Corps look as though they would fit in too, but I don't have any despite frequent temptation; Steve Barber also look very good and in the same style of sculpting. My current (resumed) 28mm ACW project was interrupted by 25 years of Napoleonics, which allows me to assert that the Redoubt I bought recently from Mr. Grubb are every bit as convincing as the Redoubt I purchased way back in the day. The issue with Redoubt seems to be the horses (judging by comments on this and on other forums): some folk find them cartoonish and underfed. I don't, though grew up on Hinchliffe emaciated ponies and Minifig fat-bottommed nags. I think horses in 25/28mm have always divided opinion. Painted up and based, Redoubt horses are far better than some of those offered in popular Napoleonic ranges where there ought to be a noticeable difference between the mounts of hussars and cuirassiers. Redoubt's separate head suppy is also an enormous boon. Redoubt reins are also solid metal, which some collectors don't like. It doesn't show in my Virginia cavalry regiment as the horses are dark chesnut in colour; but on a pale-sheen horse may pose a 'wargamers's dilemma'.
Dixon are also a complete range you might consider, as others (above) have said. For many years they were the 'go-to' ACW range for wargames magazine covers and when I first saw them I was mighty impressed. They didn't mix well with the figures I already had, however: the 'little shorter' you can live with but the sculpting style was more Minifig than Hinchliffe and Redoubt/Renegade tended to follow the latter.
Best wishes with your new project. I hope you keep LAF updated as I look forward to following your progress.
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PS. On focus, I just picked an interesting battle - Chancellorsville, which had always fascinated. I have elements from Sickles' 3rd Corps and McLaw's division (the two brigades present) from Longstreet's Corps. The regiments engaged at Hazel Grove, in other words.
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Dixon are also a complete range you might consider, as others (above) have said. For many years they were the 'go-to' ACW range for wargames magazine covers and when I first saw them I was mighty impressed. They didn't mix well with the figures I already had, however: the 'little shorter' you can live with but the sculpting style was more Minifig than Hinchliffe and Redoubt/Renegade tended to follow the latter.
Although I have already endorsed Redoubt on this thread, George 1863 is quite right the Dixon range is very complete and have bags of character. The only drawback is that if you go Dixon you have to be prepared to be all Dixon; they don't go with anything else.
I actually have TWO ACW projects running- I have Dixon for my Rebels and Patriots Union Army (almost finished) and Redoubt/Renegade/ Steve Barber for both sides of my Bonnie Blue Flag reinforced Brigades (not yet started painting).
Dixon paint up so easily.