15mm Miniatures for 19th Century European Wars

(Updated 9 April 2018)

While I prefer to game in 25/28mm, the sheer size of many of the European battles of the 19th Century requires smaller figures to fit the average wargame table-top and wargamer's pocketbook. They also work better for the grand-tactical rules which are the mainstay of wargamers doing this period. For this reason, the following listing offers an overview of available 15mm and 18mm figures. It holds only dedicated figure ranges concerned with the following 19th-Century European conflicts:

The Greek War of Independence, the Crimean War, the Three Years' War (the 1848 Schleswig-Holstein War), the 1848 Italian War of Independence, the Franco-Austrian War, Risorgimento conflicts of 1848-1870, the Second Schleswig-Holstein War (1864), the Austro-Prussian War, the Franco-Prussian War, and the Russo-Turkish War, the Balkan Wars, and the Carlist Wars.

I am excluding colonial conflicts (although it is not always easy to define the term) and I am excluding many post-Napoleonic 19th Century conflicts which were essentially European in style but did not take place within Europe or the nearer part of Asia which concerned the European powers of the day (that is, outside the Balkans and south-eastern Russia). Also, some minor conflicts (i.e., the Swiss Civil War, the Belgian Revolution) have been ignored as simply a bit too obscure.

Further, this list includes only dedicated ranges aimed at these conflicts, although many other ranges will have suitable figures. Notably, any Napoleonic or ACW range will have figures which are useful, and many companies make French Colonial figures (and other colonial figures) which are also directly useful. Listing out all of these ranges is not the point of this exercise, although I may extend it to cover these in the future.

I cannot claim that this list is exhaustive - I have tried my best to locate all of the manufacturers and ranges, but I'm sure there are some I've missed. My thanks to the Blood and Iron Yahoo! Group for some useful pointers. If you see any errors or omissions, please contact me at: ilg21@yahoo.com.

I have supplied at least one current link, usually to the figure manufacturer, and sometimes have supplied additional links for UK, European, and/or US distributors. Note that Prussian ranges typically cover Bavarians, and sometimes some of the other North German Confederation states.

Alphacast:

Greek War of Independence and Balkan Wars. The sculptor and proprietor passed away, and I can find no indication of what has happened to the molds. Some figures are available through Mick Yarrow Miniatures (scroll down - its the WWI page) for some of the Balkan Wars range.

Aude Miniatures:

1848 Italian War of Independence and other Risorgimento subjects. Used to be available from Fighting 15's in the UK, but no longer. I have found a store in Italy (Aster Wargames) which sells some of their figures. Here is a page of contact information if you wish to try to pursue the subject: Aude Miniatures in Carcassone. Note that the e-mail there is not to Aude itself, but to the people who do the directory. Too bad to see them go - the range covered Italians of various stripes, Austro-Hungarians, and more.

Cannon Fodder Miniatures:

This Australian-based manufacturer had their figures distributed for a time by Blaze Away Miniatures in the UK, who were acquired by Lancashire Games (see their listing below). Cannon Fodder did Austrians for 1864/1866, presumably now that portion of the Lancashire Games offerings.

Eagle Figures:

French, Prussians, and Bavarians for the Franco-Prussian War.

Essex:

Essex have figures for the Franco-Prussian War and the Austro-Prussian War. You can get these in the US from Noble Knight Games - here is the link to their Austro-Prussian line, which is mis-categorized as "Franco-Prussian - Austria." All Essex 15mm for the period are listed at Noble Knight under an historical era heading "Franco-Prussian ______" but you need to search. The line is quite complete (French and Prussian infantry, cavalry, guns, generals, etc.)

Eureka (in UK, in US):

The Australian manufacturer's site lists the 1848 Schleswig-Holstein Infantry. They also have an 18mm Crimean War line which is available from Fighting 15s in the UK and also from Eureka USA. I am sure the Australian site has them but I couldn't find it there. (The Australian site has some good game markers designed for Fire & Fury which may be useful.)

Falcon Miniatures:

They do Franco-Prussian War figures in old-style 15mm. The link anbove is to their eBay store. They also have a Facebook page.

Fantassin Miniatures:

Fantassin did a range for the First Carlist War, which was the subject of a legal dispute between Xan Miniatures and Capitan Games/Battlemodels. There is a lot of stuff about it on TMP. Check with these companies to see if they got it all straightened out, and where to buy, etc. (Interestingly, Xan has the Totentanz ACW line listed on their site - see the Totentanz entry below).

Freikorps:

See the Total System Scenics/QRF Models entry below.

Frontier

UK-based Frontier does a 15mm Franco-Prussian line. (They may be available from Noble Knight Games in the US.)

Hagen Miniatures (Honved):

Figures for the 1848 conflicts in Hungary and Italy.

Irregular Miniatures:

(You have to go to the 15mm link at the bottom of the page.) Ranges for 1866, the Franco-Prussian War, and the Balkan Wars.

Lancashire Games:

Ranges for 1859 - 1870
Austrians
Prussians (incl. allies)
Piedmontese/Sardinian
French

Russo-Turkish War
Crimean War

Minifigs:

Franco-Prussian War
Crimean War

Mirliton:

(An Italian producer better known for 25mm ranges in the period.)
Piedmontese 1850-1866
Austrians 1859-1866

Old Glory 15s (Nineteenth Century Miniatures):

Franco-Prussian War
Austro-Prussian War
(Note that this range includes Italians for 1866 which may be useful for earlier conflicts, and Württembergers, as well as the usual suspects.)

Outpost Wargames Services:

Franco-Prussian War

Rank & File (Nineteenth Century Miniatures):

Crimean War
Russo-Turkish War
1859/60 Piedmont/Sardinia
1856-66 Austrians
1870 French
1864 - 1870 Prussians
1864 Danes
1866 Hanovarians
1866 Saxons
(Note that this line has a Mounted Generals category, with many different nationalities which are difficult to find, including Austrians and minor German states.)

Stronghold Miniatures - Pioneer:

Sadly, these seem to be no more. (They had Crimean War, Russo-Turkish War, Austro-Prussian War, Franco-Prussian War, and 2nd Schleswig-Holstein War lines.)

Tabletop Miniatures:

Another name now found among the missing. They produced a Russo-Turkish War line.

Total System Scenics/QRF Models (old Freikorps 15s):

1st Carlist War
Austrians 1859/1866
Denmark 1850
France 1854-1870
Piedmont/Sardinia
Neapolitans
Garibaldini
Papal forces
Prussia 1864/1866/1870
Schleswig-Holstein 1848-1851
(They also have Maximillian Adventure and Great Paraguayan War ranges.)

Totentanz Miniatures:

This Spanish producer has a line for the 1st Carlist War.