Are these the best Napoleonics on the market ?

[THE CID]

I?ll answer my own question, I believe they are. Piano Wargames figures are superbly sculpted, well cast and a pleasure to paint.

[IronDuke596]

Yes.

[Jemima Fawr]

They're good, but they're not AB Figures.

[FriendlyNeighbourhoodNerd]

For me, if Mr Barton sculpted in 28mm (this goes for his Napoleonics and WWII as well) he could charge any amount of money for the figures, and I'd gladly pay.

(Of course I understand there might even be a bigger market for 15/18mm and 20mm respectively - certainly so when these figures first came out, I imagine. With Warlord's efforts this might not be so much the case anymore, especially in WWII).

These Piano figures look wonderful, though. Some really good paintjobs there as well!

[jambo1]

I think they probably are, lovely looking figure. Too late for me though, I am an Elite MIniatures man, pretty much my whole collection is from Elite.

[carlos marighela]

Those are superb. I suppose techically speaking Eureka's Revolutionary Wars range is not quite Napoleonic but they would give them a run for their money.*

Mr Barton's 18mm range does take a lot of beating but I'd be happy to acknowledge these as best 28mm Nappies.


* There is an overlap as both companies do Tyrolean ranges.

[batu]

Piano humans have no necks. Perry and Hicks are the best in 28mm.

[Legiox217]

Piano humans have no necks. Perry and Hicks are the best in 28mm.

I really like Perry's sculpts while with Foundry, as I preferred the more exaggerated details and bulk that lend to an enjoyable painting experience - though the actual sculpting of their current lines are very nice. However, the casting quality of the metal figures under their own name has been atrocious of late, and I've completely wrote them off for now I think. The plastics are fun to play with, but without the idea of a supplementary metal range, I don't see much point.
 How do you like Hicks' AWI? I'm holding them now, and I can't get over how tiny they are. The detail is outstanding, you can really see it in the facial features, and the proportions are great besides the odd hand-to-head ratio being off on the standard bearers. But I just can't believe how skinny they are, and am blown away that they are the same height or taller as things such as Front Rank/Perry that I have on hand. I'm a little daunted to paint them after cleaning up so many FR and a couple Calpe models lately.
Speaking of Calpe - surely no one casts cleaner and crisper metal Prussians?

[George1863]

Franznap for me, absolutely without question - and after 50-odd years of looking. These look very good, though.

[George1863]

As a PS to my comment. I am a painter rather than a gamer. I want detail therefore and don't care at all if it takes me two years to get a regiment of 80 figures completed. This range looks great if you want to build an army and game a war. Far better than most. Franznap are beautifully elegant and detailed sculptures that you hardly dare to paint, .  As an aside, the best figures on the market for me in any scale and any era are Van Dyck Models 12mm. To paint just what's there poses a real/satisfying challenge. 

[IronDuke596]

BTW, AB do make 28mm napoleonics albeit in resin/plastic.

[bluechi]

Habsburger in coats....nice range...must have it

[Captain Blood]

Well they are very nice, that’s for sure, and beautifully painted, Craig 

[HerbertTarkel]

I’m firmly in the Perry camp for what’s best, although the Piano are quite nice.

[Tony Barton]

If AB make 28mm figures, I should love to hear about that , since I have never made any !
But thanks for the kind words about my 18mm figures.
AB