I was until recently in the smug position of thinking myself immune to the madness that is the lure of the Napoleonic period (1796 - 1815). I had finally sold off my 15mm Napoleonic figures, as much due to a general lack of interest as disenchantment with 15mm figures in general, and I was already committed to a “horse and musket” period—the Seven Years War (and in several theatres!)
What has finally shaken this complacency is a recent development in the figures that are available for the period. The fine purveyor of modern and renaissance miniatures, The Assault Group (TAG) suddenly brought out a range of 1809 Austrians. It was not the subject matter so much as the style of the figures that drew my eye however. These were from the talented hands of Richard Ansell whose work I had seen recently in the form of a growing SYW line for Minden Miniatures. The proportions of these figures are very realistic, making them much slimmer than most other figures of the same height. This does make it nigh on impossible to mix these figures with other manufacturers in the same army let alone in the same units, the clash of styles is just too great.
These figures are so nicely done however that I just had to have them despite not being able to buy from a plethora of sources, as is my usual habit. This situation has been mitigated by the arrival of two more companies producing similarly proportioned figures (Eagle Miniatures and Alban Miniatures) and with the promise of more to come as this style gains favour. The vast and comprehensive ranges by the likes of Foundry and Front Rank however will not be available to me (and probably a good thing...)
