Frontier Miniatures

25mm War of 1812 and More

By Ken Bunger

Frontier has produced a range of Americans for the War of 1812 in 25mm. At last some opposition for all those 25mm British that I've had stored away unpainted for years. There are figures to build, accuarately, either a 1812-13 or a 1814 American Army. In addition one has a choice of either summer or winter uniforms! The quality and historical accuracy of the castings, at the risk of sounding repetitious, are excellent. The height and proportioning of the figures are consistant with their other ranges, and, therefore, perfectly compatable with the 25mm Napoleonics manufactured by Minifigs.

There are four different types of basic advancing infantry: WE1-1811 shako, light equipment; WE3 1811 shako, light equipment, short jacket; WE7 1814 shako, knapsack; 1814 shako, light equipment, short jacket. There are command sets, artillerymen, a rifleman, and a dismounted Kentucky rifleman. There are also four mounted figures including an officer, light dragoon in helmet, militia dragoon in Tarleton helmet, and a mounted rifleman in buckskins and top hat. This latter figure represents Colonel Johnson's Regiment but has obvious uses for troops up to the 1850's. The artillerymen come in assorted positions with seperate equipment, including one in an older style long coat popular in the artillery branch. The officers wear the fore and aft hat. The figures are cast so that head swapping and conversions are easily accomplished. Fighting the Creeks with Andy Jackson is also a use for this range -"Git a bar fer me, Davy!"

Frontier's extensive catalog is available for $3.00 plus they'll send you a sample figure. Their address is Frontier Miniatures, 629 Centennial, El Paso, TX 79912 or phone (915)-877-3048. Prices are generally $4.00 per pack of Colonials or 15mm, and $5.50 per pack of other 25mm. Ten infantry or four cavalry (3 in Colonials) are in a pack.

MORE FRONTIER MINIATURES

The Frontier is aflame! ---aflame with new figures from Frontier Miniatures that is. Frontier (formerly Pass of the North) has produced ranges for 25mm Mexican-American War, 15mm and 25mm Plains Indian Wars, 25mm Maximillian Mexican and French Foreign Legion, 25mm War of 1812, 25mm American Revolution and 25mm Pershing's Mexican Expedition. Moving even further west, there are figures for the Moros in the Philippines and for the Boxer Rebellion. And for the more traditional sort of wargamer, there are two small ranges of Dark Ages and Teutonic Knights (ca.1300). The detail on all of the above figures is crisply cast and historically accurate. The figures height and bulk are consistant as amoung the different ranges, and are very similar in these two respects to the well known colonial figures of Ral Partha.

The Plains Indians have separate heads and bodies for both 15mm and 25mm scales. There are five styles of dismounted and six styles of rider bodies. The ten head styles depict Sioux, Cheyenne, Crow, Nez-Perce and Blackfoot warriors. Of course most styles are interchangeable. The bodies wear either loin cloth or buckskins. The range could use a body in a shirt. Remarkably, the 15mm heads are perfectly cast and fit well onto the bodies. The US Cavalry are represented by two mounted and three dismounted troopers. There is also a mounted command pack and both a mounted and a dismounted trooper wearing a buffalo hide coat. The trooper with revolver wears a shirt, while the one with a carbine on his hip wears the short style sack coat. The equipage on the horse is well detailed and historically accurate. This range is well suited for the Civil War as well.

The 15mm horses are very similar to those of Minifigs', so they will mix together well. Other Indians and US Cavalry available in 25mm are ranges produced by Minifigs, Garrison, and Iron Brigade which are all compatable with Frontier. Larger 25mm are made by both Hincliffe and Connoisseur Figures. I haven't seen the Whittlesey Indians from England yet. So for you John Ford fans (and who isn't) - Trooper Tyree-Yo!!

If your troopers tire of chasing the ubiquitous Redskin, limber your mountain howitzer, turn the column south across the Rio Grande and prepare to free the Peon from the yoke of Maximillian. Frontier has both a 25mm Imperial Mexican Army range and French Foreign Legion range for this period. The foot Mexican figure wears the small round hat, while the three mounted figures wear the short shako which is almost a kepi. Despite three attempts at uniform regulations, Maximillian's Army would be a variety of dress. Many ACW troops would fit. The Mexican irregular types in both the 1847 and 1916 ranges by Frontier will provide acceptable representations. The Legionnaires are without their greatcoat and wear the tunic. The one in the kepi is in full marching order, while the two wearing a straw hat and a sombrero only have a haversack. The officer is in a kepi and open tunic. The two mounted figures are in short jackets and kepis. All kepis for the rankers have neckcloths. The figures' design is taken directly from Martin Windrow's excellent Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion. Frontier also makes a number of useful French colonials. The French also easily convert to Austrians and Belgians in Mexico. If one trims off the neckcloth, the resultant conversion is a Franco-Prussian War figure. Without hesitation, I can say these figures are the best yet from Frontier.

An "almost"of history would make an interesting campaign. On May 17,1965, Phil Sheridan was ordered to "place a strong force on the Rio Grande" by General Grant. Little Phil arrived on the border with over 50,000 US troops, including several newly raised black regiments. He was opposed or could have been opposed, by Mexicans, French, Austrians, Spaniards, Belgians, Commanches, ex-Confederates and the odd Egyptian Battalion. To the everlasting sorrow and detriment of the wargamer, Maximillian blinked first and a general peace broke out.

The new 25mm Mexican War range by Frontier Miniatures fills a real void. Scruby still produces nice 25mm figures for this period, but the Minifig range is long defunct. The excellent Frontier figures can also be used for the Seminole Wars and the Texan Revolution.

As with all the Frontierfigures the detail is plentiful, crisp and historically accurate. As of February of 1985, most of the range was available. The personalities and some of the regular Mexican cavalry were not available. All of the regular line and light troops are included. In addition there is a great assortment of irregular and volunteer types. The Kentucky Volunteer is dressed in buckskins and tricorne hat, a very versatile figure. The 3rd Regular US Infantry is in a short jacket, brass shoulder scales and a dress shako, which is also useful as a US Marine. No tails hang from the jacket. The Morman Battalion figure is in regulation fatigue dress except wearing a low crown slouch hat. The 1st Mississippi have the correct red shirts, but I wish the hats were a bit larger. The US Regular running isn't a very useful figure, as it's bareheaded and waving a musket. The Mexican Irregular is a perfect generic Mexican irregular. This figure wears sandals, poncho, and sombrero. The same comment applies to the irregular officer. One of the nice touches given this range is that each box of ten US Regulars contains a sergeant with sword and sash. There is also a great dismounted US Dragoon, although not listed in the catalog. I also highly recommend this range.

Frontier's range of American Revolution figures was a pleasant Christmas suprise. There are about thirty figures if one counts the command sets. Again, I can't fault the accuracy of any of the figures. The only note in this regard would be that the American Regular has an epaulette on his right shoulder which can be easily trimmed if not needed. The Hessian listed is a grenadier without full marching order. It is perfect for the Seven Years War. The Highlanders are in kilts. The piper and grenadier are also useful for the SYW. The Highlander in the wonderful march-attack pose would also be perfect SYW, except for the backpack. The highlanders have short turned back coattails which must be trimmed off to make the proper SYW jacket. The Indians are very well done and are of course useful for any period from the early Eighteenth Century to the War of 1812. Highly Recommended.

ED NOTE: After the above was typeset, Ken Bunger wrote to mention that he had found one error in the Imperial Mexican army range. The lancer should be wearing a small sombrero, as only the officers of the Empress's Lancers wore the kepi.

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