Back in the old days, 30mm was a standard size for wargame figures. Anyone who was in the hobby before 1970 undoubtedly used 30's if he did any miniature wargaming and odds are he still has a bunch of them put away somewhere. Their large size and corresponding cost led to their decline in popularity. Nowadays, they are the domain of only a few devoted hobbists.
Rather than a disadvantage, the size of 30mm figures is
their main attraction. They are big enough to accomodate
the wealth of detail one expects on a 54mm collector
figure, and are big enough also to reflect a superb paint
job. Nonetheless, they are small enough to use for
wargaming. Thirty millimeter figures are ideal for the
hobbyist who enjoys painting and desires a medium that
will fully display his efforts.
The following list was compiled for those who have 30's
and want to add to them, and for those who would like to
obtain them for the first time.
Willie Figures: Edward Suren, 139A Sloane
Street, London SW1X 9AY England. Willie figures are
spoken of in tones of hushed reverence. Extensive range
of foot and horse including Romans, Franco-Prussian War
and nearly everything in between. Wide range of
Napoleonics. Does not offer artillery or flagbearers. Figures
can be ordered painted. Prices are steep. Foot are L1.00
to L1.50, horse are L2.25 (1981). One must expect to pay
more for the best.
Stadden Figures: Tradition Scandinavia Ltd,
P.O. Box 21170, S-100 31, Stockholm, Sweden. Another
highly regarded range which was out of production until
1981. Offers some medieval and SYW, and a wider
selection of Napoleonics, AWI, Crimean War, ACW and
British Colonial. The largest range is, oddly enough, WWI.
The Napoleonic range is fairly good for British and French,
very limited for other nations. In the old days, wargamers
commonly bought Scruby's for line units and Stadden or
Willie figures for Guards and Elite units. The 1981 price
list (also for 1982) asks 90p for a foot and up to L1.90 for
mounted and artillery equipment.
Fusilier: c/o Walter Simon, 12905 Layhill Road,
Silver Springs, Maryland 20906. A couple of enterprising
souls acquired the rights, molds and masters to the
Minifig line of 30's and opened shop earlier this year. The
Minifig 30's regretably were out of production until Fusilier
came along. The figures are largish but excellent, not at all
stocky like their 25's. Range is limited to Napoleonics. Good offering of French and
British, only a few Prussians, and nothing else. Offer guns
and equipment. Very reasonable prices (1982) are
70cents per foot up to $1.70 for cavalry.
H-R Products: P.O. Box 67, McHenry,
Illinois 60050. Range offers only British and French
Napoleonic artillery. Guns are $4.00, limbers and
caissons from $2.00 to $5.00.
Jack Scruby: The Soldier Factory, 789 Main
Street, Cambria, California 93428. Jack Scruby's role in
the development of wargaming need not be repeated here.
He offers an extensive range of Napoleonics (virtually
everything except Turks) as well as Medievals, AWI, ACW
and British Colonial. Figure quality of his original output
would be below today's standard, but I understand many of
the molds have been redone. Prices
Rose Miniatures: 15 Llanover Road,
Plumstead, London SE18 3ST England. Smallish figures,
probably closer to a "true" 30mm scale (whatever that may
be). Range is limited to Napoleonic foot figures of Russia,
Prussia, Bavaria, Wurtemburg, Saxony and Britain.
Includes officers, drummers and flagbearers. Great
similarity between poses. No cavalry, artillery or crews.
Prices (Autumn 1981) vary from 53p per figure to 90p for a
drummer.
Spencer-Smith Miniatures: Ronald Spencer-Smith, 66 Longmeadow Frimley, Camberley, Surrey GU16 5R] England. Soft and hard plastic figures for AWI and Napoleonics. These are the cheapest figures available. 1980 price list asks a bag of 30 infantry for £ 1.10 (with surcharge), which is about 6 cents each. A minimum order of £ 10 is required.
Cladercraft: same address as Hincliffe, listed below. Range limited to Napoleonic guns, equipment and a few dioramas. These used to be marketed as Hinchliffe. They are apparently made in England, and the address in England is probably the best bet. Very nice, but expensive. A gun and crew of nine lists (1982) at $34.95. Prices for guns alone on request.
Flats: various makers and dealers. Thirty millimeter is a standard size for flats, which have been popular in Europe for many years. They do not mix well with
full round figures.
Foremost Figures: same address as Hinchliffe, below. These are advertised as large 25's and Hinchliffe 25's are large to begin with. Well detailed figures in a variety of
action poses. Range includes ECW cavalry, wild west and Robin Hood, but is principally devoted to Waterloo French and English. No guns, crew or equipment. Easily mix with Rose, but a bit too small to mix in a unit with Fusilier. Prices (1982) are 80 cents per foot up to $1.75 for horse and rider.
Essex Miniatures: 3 Bay Close, Canvey Island,
Essex SS8 OAF England. Listed as 25's, but they are larger
than that. Lots of detail and metal for the money. Range
includes ancients, medievals, Renaissance, and ECW. No
Napoleonics. Easily useable with Rose figures, less so with
Willie's. Prices (1982) range from 19p for a foot up to 53p for a
horse and rider.
Hinchliffe Models Inc. P.O. Box 7307, Dallas,
Texas 75209 or 21 Station Street, Meltham, Huddersfield HD7
3NX England. Hinchliffe 25's are acknowledged to be 28's,
and always seem to get larger. Extensive range. For use as
30's, the guns and horses are too small, though the riders
can be used on 30mm horses. Except for drummers
and flagbearers, generally cannot mix Hinchliffe's with other
arnkers in the same unit. Can use entire units of Hinchliffe's
as 30's if they are mounted on thicker bases, but why bother.
At 70 cents per foot and $1.50 per horse and rider (1982) you can
buy Fusilier or Rose and have the real thing.
NOTE: Dollar equivalents for pound Stirling
fluctuate almost daily. Pence (p) are 100p to the pound.
Prices are listed as of the date of the author's most current
information, which date is shown in brackets. Prices do not
include postage or handling. Unless otherwise specified,
"cavalry" or "horse" includes horse and rider. Anyone with
information about other producers of 30's is asked to contact the author.
WILLIE FRENCH NAPOLEONIC CUIRASSIER
TRUMPETER ON WILLIE HORSE.
WILLIE FRENCH NAPOLEONIC DRUMMER (R) AND 7
YEARS WAR DRUMMER.
STADDEN (TRADITION-SCANDINAVIA) FRENCH
NAPOLEONIC GUARD HORSE ARTILLERYMAN.
MINIFIGS (FUSILIER) FRENCH NAPOLEONIC
HUSSAR TRUMPETER ON WILLIE HORSE.
ROSE SAXON NAPOLEONIC INFANTRYMAN (L)
AND SCRUBY (R) BRITISH NAPOLEONIC INF.
HR PRODUCTS 1812 FRENCH 12# GUN,
MINIFIG (FUSILIER) BRITISH GUNNER (R) & CALDERCRAFT BRITISH
NAPOLEONIC HORSE ARTILLERYMAN.
(1982) are $1.00 per foot, $2.00 per horse, and equipment
varies in price.
FOREMOST MOUNTED ECW TRUMPETER.
ROSE WURTTEMBERG NAPOLEONIC OFFICER
(R) & MINIFIG (FUSILIER) BRITISH NAPOLEONIC OFFICER.
NOT QUITE 30's (BUT CLOSE)
ESSEX DUTCH RENAISSANCE PIKEMAN (R) AND WILLIE ECW MUSKETEER (Weapons Removed to Show Figure Detail).
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