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Post by justalad25 on Mar 9, 2023 13:15:36 GMT
I’m somewhat new to the hobby and was wondering where I could find 54mm Crimean War figures? I thought of using some of the more common Napoleonic figures but I’d rather use more accurate figures.
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Post by rossmac on Mar 9, 2023 13:35:54 GMT
It depends on your tastes and budget.
In plastic, Armies in Plastic has a series of "Charge of the Light Brigade" series with sets for British Lancers, Hussars and Light Dragoons, and Russian Cossacks. No guns or infantry though a little conversion of some earlier sets might serve. These are in the slightly larger, thicker, modern 54mm size. Irregular has a range in metal. Not sure how well they'd mix.
In the slightly smaller, slimmer, traditional 54mm toy soldier market there various makers out there with excellent figures if you have the funds but I'll leave that to those with a better knowledge.
Ross
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Post by justalad25 on Mar 9, 2023 13:53:11 GMT
It depends on your tastes and budget. In plastic, Armies in Plastic has a series of "Charge of the Light Brigade" series with sets for British Lancers, Hussars and Light Dragoons, and Russian Cossacks. No guns or infantry though a little conversion of some earlier sets might serve. These are in the slightly larger, thicker, modern 54mm size. Irregular has a range in metal. Not sure how well they'd mix. In the slightly smaller, slimmer, traditional 54mm toy soldier market there various makers out there with excellent figures if you have the funds but I'll leave that to those with a better knowledge. Ross Hi Ross I have seen the armies in plastic range and I like them a lot. However, I want to find some infantry to recreate the battles and I can’t seem to find them through google. James
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Post by spiritofethandune on Mar 9, 2023 14:08:26 GMT
James,
I once thought of doing the Crimean War in 54mm, but gave up because of the difficulty in finding the correct infantry figures without going bankrupt. The trouble with Irregular Miniatures is that the vast majority of infantry poses are standing ones (including all the British). The pose doesn't allow for anything other than a figure standing at ease with one hand resting on his musket/rifle. A unit of these would look awful in my opinion!! You can get separate heads with Albert Shakos from their Empire multipart range (but not the right bodies), so if you are good at converting and can find a suitable plastic body then you might get somewhere.
Best wishes Anthony
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Post by Mike Lewis on Mar 9, 2023 14:29:28 GMT
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Post by rossmac on Mar 9, 2023 15:05:20 GMT
Even easier dodge would be to cut the plastic Nap British shakos down, trim off the peak and paint them as forage caps.
Nap. Highlanders are easy enough, just add sporrans.
Ross
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Post by zuludon on Mar 9, 2023 16:04:37 GMT
I am collecting figures for the Crimean War, mostly metals. In plastic, I am using Britains Super Deetail Berdans Rifles, in green, with head swaps for Russian Caucasian Rifles. You can do head swaps for the AIP Russian Cossacks with the AIP Russian infantry peaked caps for variety. Russian Lancers, when not wearing their greatcoats, were almost identical to British Lancers. AIP ACW artillery in greatcoats just need head swaps for British artillery. Don't forget the French Zouaves at both the Alma and Inkerman. Use the AIP ACW Zouaves. Come to think of it. If you stick to the Alma and Inkerman, you won't need cavalry at all!
Nick Stern
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Post by spiritofethandune on Mar 9, 2023 18:14:04 GMT
Nick,
That's fantastic advice-many thanks! You've rekindled my own interest in 54mm Crimean War...
Best wishes Anthony
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Post by tradgardmastre on Mar 9, 2023 18:22:18 GMT
James, Good to have you on board. Glad people have been able to help. Any thoughts on rules btw? Welcome Alan
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Post by zuludon on Mar 9, 2023 19:51:35 GMT
Wait, there's more! If you can find some inexpensive British Guardsmen in bearskins, any period, even moderns, you can use their heads on the AIP ACW Marines for great coat Guards at Inkerman. They aren't perfect, because they are missing the little shoulder cape, which you could add with foil. You can also use the bearskins with the AIP Light Dragoons for Scots Greys for the Heavy Brigade. Come to think of it, you could try early WW1 picklehaub heads on the Light Dragoons for the rest of Heavy Brigade. As I recall they didn't wear the helmet plume on active service. Artillerymen for both sides is a challenge, aside from the ACW Union artillery in greatcoats. British Crimean War foot artillery uniforms, unlike the infantry, were very different from their Napoleonic counterparts. They wore a double breasted coatee with gold epaulets. It's easier to find undress artillerymen in shell jacket and pillbox cap. Mine are metal. It's also easier to shell out for metal Russian artillerymen. The Dorest Models are very nice. I use modern RHA gunners as I have some and the modern dress uniform has hardly changed.
Anthony, you are very welcome.
Nick
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Post by spiritofethandune on Mar 9, 2023 22:04:06 GMT
Nick,
I'm in awe of your ingenuity!
Very best wishes Anthony
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Post by Quantrilltoy on Mar 12, 2023 16:37:41 GMT
I’m somewhat new to the hobby and was wondering where I could find 54mm Crimean War figures? I thought of using some of the more common Napoleonic figures but I’d rather use more accurate figures. Some of the AIP Russian infantry in peaked caps will work. The Hat Prussian militia are usable as Russians. For British I know someone who has used hundreds of Britians Detail modern British Guardsmen and just changed their rifles, painted crossbelts and added backpacks. The more modern jackets without tails started to be worn in the Crimea although tailed coats were more common. Napoleonic British are not that differnt from Mid century British. The main differnce is the trousers became dark blue instead of grey. The shakoes are slightly differnt, being flat topeed and with a peak at the back. The other differnce is the cap pouches. For grenadiers you can just change the head, either with putty scored with a knife or bearskin heads cut from other figures. I once made mexican grenadiers from the BMC Alamo set mexicans. it would be as easy to make Brits from them, just by changing the heads. Greatcoat NapolFonics are good for both sides. There were also Turks, French and Sardinians on the British side. You could probably rope in some zouaves there.
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Post by justalad25 on Mar 13, 2023 12:48:06 GMT
James, Good to have you on board. Glad people have been able to help. Any thoughts on rules btw? Welcome Alan Alan, I bought on Amazon a while ago One Hour Wargames as it looked promising. I want to take a simpler approach to the hobby at first but I’ll probably look into some more complex rules. James
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Post by spiritofethandune on Mar 13, 2023 21:58:59 GMT
James,
One Hour Wargames is a great choice. A number of us have had great fun with these rules, they are a welcome break from complex rules and still manage to keep period flavour.
Best wishes Anthony
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Post by tradgardmastre on Mar 14, 2023 6:30:09 GMT
The Portable Wargame are an excellent set too, they use a grid system of squares or hexes.Simple, accessible rules that give a good game.
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