When ordering figures that are not Napoleonic from Battle Honours, you must make sure they understand that they are definately NOT Napoleonic. The folks there have a tendency to fixate on their Napoleonic line. Twice in a row, I have seen this happen during a purchase. The first time was at a convention, and it was a simple error to correct. The second time was a mail order, and while they were extremely prompt in correcting the error, it was still annoying*. So repeat yourself. Go ahead, it's your money!

Setting all this aside, there are some significant problems with 19th Century Miniature's marketing strategy. Their insistence upon only offering "mega bags" of 100 infantry figures for the major powers (Austria, France, Prussia, even Piedmont!) has caused some dilemma within my wargame group as well as others, especially for those of us who are trying to round out their armies.

In and of itself, 100 figure bags is a great idea. For $20 that comes to 20 cents a figure - outstanding! The problem is, that's the only way you can get 'em, unless you want to pay twice the price for "individual figures". That can be irksome when you need just 64 Baden Infantry!

Their figure ratio seems to be envisioned at 40 to 1, meaning that one figure is intended to represent forty soldiers. This is based on their 24 figure packs, which if you assume is being sold as a complete unit, would be at a 40 to 1 ratio, equal 960 soldiers - an even battalion, considering wartime attrition. The trouble is, most rules sets target 50 or 60 to 1 at operational or divisional scale, and 100+ to 1 at Grand Tactical scale, leaving you and me with scads of extra figures - a waste of money, and even when you consider the great price, that is still a no-no in these tough times!

The solution is for 19th C. Miniatures to grant some flexibility to the consumer and offer more 24 figure bags. The mark up is slightly better, and it would be far easier to complete. In several cases, their line of German Confederates are really just warmed over Austrians or Prussians, so repackaging would be as simple as sticking a new label on the package. This would also be in keeping with the packaging practise of their Napoleonic line.

Otherwise, for Franco-Prussian and most of the German Confederates, one can still go to Falcon's and Frontier's lines (to be examined next issue!) and Partha/Minifigs is still handling Crimean War. That is money that 19th c. Miniatures is leaving on the table.

*You know what I mean about "annoying". You find your parcel of lead in the mailbox and joyfully rush indoors, heedless of the unimportant shower of mail you are trailing. However, whether you precisely slice open the box with an x-acto knife like a surgeon, or tear it apart like an uncooperative box of Cheerios, to find out they've screwed up your order is probably the worst feeling in the world; worse even than bad sex! - FINIS -

More Reviews:

Grande Bataille, Grande Victoire
Rank and File 15mm Miniatures
The Second Schleswig War