For many of us, it was a fascination with miniature gaming which first drew us to a study of the Ottoman Empire. In this issue gamer and historian Robert Burke gives us the first installment of his three-part overview of historical gaming figure manufacturers.

Anyone who has been playing Napoleonic wargames for even a short period of time can probably name half a dozen companies which sell French or British figures; but where does one go to buy model soldiers for an Ottoman army?

This article will review the manufacturers (known to me) that produce figures suitable for representing the Ottomans of the Napoleonic Era, Revolutionary French, and British (for the 1798 Egyptian Expedition). I invite any of our readers who have additional information on companies manufacturing Ottoman figures to write and share their information with us.

I have divided the Ottoman figures by size (i.e. 15mm, 20mm and 25mm). Unfortunately, in most cases I have not had the privilege of seeing these figures. However, if I receive figures in the future I will review them in subsequent issues of the Dragoman. In most cases, I do not know whether the figures reviewed below are lead or pewter. I suggest that people who care about this controversy contact the manufacturers directly.

15mm

This size offers the greatest range and variety of Ottoman figures for the Napoleonic wargamer. In alphabetical order, the companies producing l5mm Ottomans are:

BATTLE HONOURS UK (available from Kitney & Co., 1215 Crystal Business Centre, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9QX, United Kingdom).

I have been informed that Battle Honours UK makes a complete line of l5mm Ottoman figures. Unfortunately, I have not seen a list of these figures yet. However, I've also been told that Battle Honors US is supposed to start carrying the figures produced by Battle Honours UK (including their Ottoman figures) sometime later this year (Battle Honors figures are produced in the United States by 19th Century Miniatures, 13595 Green St., Grand Haven, MI 49417).

Cost: 8 figures per pack of infantry, 3 cavalrymen and horses per pack of cavalry. Most packs are £ 1. Shipping is an additional 50 percent for Air Mail.

CHARIOT MINIATURES (available from Pharaohs Arms, P.O. Box 579, Merrickville, Ontario, Canada, KOG lNO).

While Chariot Miniatures does not make any Ottoman figures, they do produce a very complete line of 15mm Revolutionary French figures. There are 25 packs of infantry, cavalry, artillerymen and guns, including several different types of command figures. Although I have not seen this particular line of figures, I have seen several different examples of Chariot's l5mm Ancient figures. These figures measure 16mm from the top of the base to the figure's eye level. The figures are just a fraction under medium heft and my only major complaint is that their weapons are sometimes too thin and bend too easily. However, they paint up very nicely.

Cost: (all prices are in US dollars) Most infantry and cavalry packs (including command packs) are sold in packs of 8 foot or 4 horse for $2.85. Guns are sold singly for $2.85. Shipping is an additional 15 percent (10 percent if the order is over $50)

FALCON FIGURES UK (available from QUARTERMASTER, 235 Water Street, Plantagenet, Ontario, KOB lL0, Canada).

Falcon Figures (UK) produces a large line of 15mm Ottoman figures. There are 30 different types of figures, including a Heavy Gun and a Camel Gunner (which I would really like to see). Their only lack is a dearth of command figures (they offer one pack of infantry command figures but do not specify if it is for Janissaries or Nizami Jedid (New Order infantry). I have one sample figure of an Ottoman horseman. It is a European Djelli finng a pistol. The horse seems a little small. In terms of size, the figures will blend in well with most other 15mm figures.

Falcon Figures also offers a line of early French infantry (1793-1806), including a young Napoleon figure (c. 1796, $1.65), perfect for the French invasion of Egypt. Cost: (all prices are in US dollars) 8 infantry or 6 command infantry per pack for $2.99, 4 cavalry or 3 mounted command for $2.99, the heavy gun costs $3.89. Falcon Figures also offer Bargain Bags (50 infantry or 25 cavalry) of some figures for $12.49.

IMPERIAL MINIATURES (formerly A&B MINIATURES, available from Emperor's Headquarters, 5744 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60634).

Imperial Miniatures offers a very small line of figures. They have Janissaries in two poses (marching and firing) and Albanian Light Infantry. Regrettably, this is another line of Ottoman figures that I haven't seen yet.

Cost: 12 infantry per pack for $4.49 (U.S.).

JACOBITE MINIATURES (available from SIMTAC, 15G Colton Road, East Lyme, CT 06333).

Jacobite produces a large line of Ottoman figures for the Napoleonic wars. The best part is that they make a command pack for virtually every type of infantry or cavalry figure they produce. Unfortunately, Jacobite does not produce any Ottoman guns. Jacobite figures measure 15mm from the top of their base to the figure's eye level. The figures are very clean, with little or no flash. They appear a little heftier than Minifigs but should mix in well with them.

Cost: 12 infantry or 5 cavalry for $4 (U.S.), 6 Infantry command, 3 Cavalry command or Personality with costs for $2.50. Artillery and other equipment costs $5 per pack.

MINIFIGS (available from Ral Partha, 5938 Carthage Court, Cincinnati, OH 45212).

As most wargamers know, Minifigs was purchased by Ral Partha a couple of years ago. They are now producing Minifigs in pewter. Minifigs has both a 15mm Ottoman line of figures as well as a Mamluk Egyptian line of figures. Minifigs tend to be on the tall side for 15mm figures.

Fortunately, they offer a large number of command figures. A few of the molds (i.e. Janissary and Nizam-i Jedid command packs, Arab Sekhan command pack and Bedouin Cavalry command) are not currently in production. There is a chance that Ral Partha may redesign these molds and put them back into production. Minifigs does not produce any guns specifically designed for the Turks. They also have a French Revolutionary (1790-1804) line of figures, with some of the figures being specif~cally designed for the Egyptian campaign (e.g. Line Grenadiers or Light Infantry in leather caps). Some of these figures may also be unavailable at the present ~ne.

Cost: 24 infantry per pack for $7.50 (U.S.), 8 cavalry per pack for $7.

NAISMITH (available from Regal Miniatures, 609 Euclid Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50313.

Naismith produces a small line of Ottoman figures (I use "small" in all senses of the word). Naismith figures measure 13mm from the top of the base to eye level and may look a little puny if placed next to some of the larger 15mm figures available. They do have a mounted command pack, artillerymen, three types of cavalry and four types of infantry (including command figures for Janissaries and Mzam-i Jedid).

Cost: Six infantry or three cavalry per pack for $2.79 (U.S.).

More Armies

So You Want to Buy an Ottoman Army? Part I: 15mm
So You Want to Buy an Ottoman Army? Part II: 20-25mm
So You Want to Buy an Ottoman Army? Part III: 6mm
So You Want to Buy an Ottoman Army? Part IV: Update
More Good Figure Information
Faking it in 6mm