For several years I have been wanting to game "Mad" Anthony's campaign against the Indians of the Northwest Territory. When Old Glory came out with their 25mm (28mm) line a few years ago at Cold Wars, I was in hog heaven! Quite a few of the Wayne's Legion Historical Gamers bought and painted Legion and/or Indian figures, and sporadically over the years I (along with fellow Legion aficionado Craig Charron) have hosted events at various conventions and hobby shops.
Although the Old Glory Mad Anthony range is simply their American War of Independence figures with different heads, and the light infantry figures are wearing (in my opinion) the wrong headgear, it was a good start in my quest to finally game one of my favorite periods in history. Old Glory never made any Legion artillery crews, but Front Rank filled that void nicely, and by using 15mm howitzers to represent the small King's Howitzers used by Wayne, I was pretty satisfied with the units one could put on the gaming table.
But, being an avid "nut" of things Wayne, and remembering seeing an ad for Wayne's Legion figures in MWAN (the Midwest Wargamer's Association Newsletter), I decided recently to write Frying Pan & Blanket Amalgamated (hereafter known as FP&BA)and obtain a listing of the 20mm line. I also was so bold as to ask (beg) for a few samples, so I could a) see them for myself, and b) review them for others who might not be familiar with this line. My good friends Bob Knecht and Scott Savory have run AWI events using FP&BA's figures, so I have seen this company's figures before. I sent in my SASE with my request for a listing of FP&BA's figures and some samples, and after a few weeks time, I received my return envelope in the mail, with a few samples of both Legion and Indian figures.
Now, don't get me wrong, these are not Old Glory-type figures. They suffer from a few issues, such as legs being too short, lacking good heft and animation, and variety in poses available. But, they do offer some benefits that the Old Glory line does not, such as correct headgear for the light infantry, light infantry carrying rifles and muskets (not just muskets as in the Old Glory line), artillery crews that come with a small howitzer, and overall cost. Old Glory infantry figures are currently .90 cents a figure, while the FP&BA infantry figures are .40 cents each. You are getting twice as much metal for an Old Glory figure, but one can field a FP&BA force for half the price as an Old Glory one. You can also order these figures individually, prices ranging up to $2.50 for a wagon. They still sell The Complete Brigadier, a set of rules designed for North American wars at the battalion level.
First, I will list the boxes that are available, and give a brief description of any figures I received from those boxes. By the way, a box of 24 infantry, or nine dragoons, or two howitzers with twelve crew, two drivers and four horses will run you $9.95, and includes metal bases to mount the figures on.
Box 175 Line Infantry, round hat, marching - includes 2 colors, 2 officers, 2 drummers, and 18 battalion men. I received an officer and a private from this box. The private is in "march attack" pose, with his musket held vertical cradled by his left arm, with full accoutrements. The officer is standing, hands resting at his side.
Box 176 Line Skirmishers, round hat, advancing - includes 2 officers, 2 sergeants, and 20 men. The sergeant I received is advancing in a march attack pose, musket worn on his right shoulder, The private is advancing at "porte arms". Both have full gear (backpack, canteen, ammo pouch).
Box 177 Light Infantry, visor cap, advancing - includes 2 officers, 2 sergeants, 2 musicians, and 18 men. There was a sample of the sergeant figure, similar to the one described above, but with different (and proper) headgear.
Box 178 Rifles, visor cap, advancing - includes 2 officers, 2 sergeants, 2 musicians, and 18 men. I received a lowly private as a sample from this box he is advancing at porte arms, looking slightly to his left, and carrying a rifle. In place of the bayonet scabbard, he is carrying a tomahawk (as he should).
Box 179 Artillery, round hats, standing - includes 12 gun crews, 2 light howitzers, 2 drivers, and 4 horses. The artillery crewman I received is wearing a tricorn, not a round hat, which is okay, because he should be wearing a tricorn! I also received a light howitzer, which is my favorite sample. The King's Howitzer was a very small howitzer, and this casting just about has it right. Very cleanly cast, the only problem I have is that the wheels are too big. The wheels on an actual King's Howitzer only comes up to one's mid-thigh, these wheels come up to the figures' bellies.
Box 180 Cavalry, crested caps, all mounted - includes 1 guidon, 1 bugler, 1 officer, 6 troopers, and 9 horses. The officer I received is wearing the round hat, which I don't believe is correct The trooper is in the correct headgear, and has his sword upright against his right shoulder (reminiscent of those old Mini-Fig poses). These two figures have the saddles cast on them, and their legs are of the correct length. The horse I received is in a standing pose, a fairly generic horse.
Rounding out the figures from the Legion line are a mounted Legion officer and a mounted pack train driver.
I also received 7 Woodland Indian figures from Box 132, all in different poses. Again, the legs are a bit too short, and some of the poses seem awkward or stiff, but these are pretty good Indian figures overall. I like the fact that some of the Indians have ear and nose rings, and are all carrying rifles (after trading with whites for over 300 years, nearly every Indian by the 1790s had a rifle or musket as his primary ranged weapon). The hairstyles are all slightly different, but all with shaved sides and a single line of hair running from forehead to back, ala the Mohawk. Some are wearing shirts and leggings, others are bare-chested with loincloths.
There are several other boxes from FP&BA's AWI and War of 1812 lines that could be used in conjunction with their Legion line, Various militia types, both mounted and dismounted, could be used for the Kentucky militia, British infantry from the AWI line could be used to represent the 24th Foot at Fort Miamis, and there are powder carts, wagons, baggage carts, and team horses and drivers one could use to add some diorama flavor to the tabletop.
All of the figures were cleanly cast with very little flash and minor mold lines. The figures measure 20mm from sole to eye, and would probably be considered Light in heft using the Barrett Scale. That said, you can't beat the cost for a 20mm figure, and this company has gotten most of the Legion uniforms correct. I would recommend them as a cheaper and more complete alternative to the Old Glory line. Now I am thinking about doing this period in two different scales, using the FP&BA figures for larger battles, and the Old Glory for skirmish actions. Imagine that, one period, two different scales ... no one ever does that, do they?
Contact FP&BA at 2283 Apache Street, Mendota Heights, N4N 55120 by sending a SASE for their product listing.
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© Copyright 2002 Hal Thinglum
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