Lil Army or Prince August (1 Viewer)

[rcapps]

I would like to try my hand at casting toy soldiers. I'm thinking about Napoleonics and have looked at both Lil Army and Prince August. Can anyone tell me a little about their experience with molds from the two companies? Which mold has the best detail? What is your preference? Do you have pictures of the completed figures you could post? I appreciate any help and information you can provide.

Robert

 

[Obee]

Robert,

I have most of the Price August moulds and have had great fun making my Napoleonic Armies

here are some images of my troops, but also got the PS site for more.

95th Foot Rifles

27th Foot

French Grenadier Guards

Line Artillery

Line Infantry

Foot Dragoons

Band of the Grenadier Guards inc conversions

Napoleon & General (conversion)

More to follow...

 

[Obee]

At Ease

Medical services

I've done other French conversions, so check them out here:
http://members.upnaway.com/~obees/soldiers/napoleonf.htm

I don't have the cavary figures, but also have some of the semi-flat 40mm figures too from the 18th century, which are also great fun to paint.

As far as Lil Army goes, I have 2 moulds of some Indnian Troops.

33rd Punjabi Regt.

29th Bombay band with Prnice August arms and musical instruments.

Nawanagar State Drummers 1903 with Prince August arms and drums.

So you see you can mix and match parts from both makers.

Gendarme, Veteran, Chasseur and Grenadier of Paris Guard, Grenadier 3rd Regt. Imperial Guard (Dutch Grenadiers), Italian Officer - all from PA, but with some conversion.

I hope this helps...... but please feel free to conatct me personally for other info.

John

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I think I have all the Lil Army Napoleonic molds...and a few Prince August. While I like the Prince August, I find them a little small. Since I like the idea of "filling the ranks" of my collector pieces with my home casts, I find the Lil Army a better match. On the other hand, I have really enjoyed the Prince August ceremonials, and I don't need to worry about them fitting in with manufactured pieces. Keep in mind that the larger figures do require more metal. Did you have a particular genre you wanted to cast? It might make the difference for you.

In any case, if you haven't done this before, you are in for a treat...it's very rewarding. Consider the burns "battle scars"!

By the way, John...your painting of those figures is fantastic! Really nice job.

 

[aujj65]

Looks like an excellent choice for Napoleonics and I agree very well painted John.

Jeff

 

[Obee]

Thanks for the kind words about my troops.

Yes they do make some great battlefield fillers, as they don;t have the same fineness as ather makers, but they are VERY economical, because you can make a whole army for a small cost AND I love Napoleonics

John

 

[theBaron]

The Prins August molds produce a figure in "true" 54mm. I have the Seven Years War Prussian molds, plus the traditional toy soldier mold sets, and the 40mm half-round 18th century figure molds. I don't have any Li'l Army molds, so I can't compare from direct experience. But I've been reluctant to get any of them, because the catalog pictures depict figures that seem to suffer from the same kind of proportions as older wargaming figures do (heads and hands, weapons, all a little off, for the size of the figure). They may have improved, of course. But the Prins August molds produce castings that can be finished very nicely as-is, or bashed into new and unique figures, and are very easy to use.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

The Prins August molds produce a figure in "true" 54mm. I have the Seven Years War Prussian molds, plus the traditional toy soldier mold sets, and the 40mm half-round 18th century figure molds. I don't have any Li'l Army molds, so I can't compare from direct experience. But I've been reluctant to get any of them, because the catalog pictures depict figures that seem to suffer from the same kind of proportions as older wargaming figures do (heads and hands, weapons, all a little off, for the size of the figure). They may have improved, of course. But the Prins August molds produce castings that can be finished very nicely as-is, or bashed into new and unique figures, and are very easy to use.

Prost!
Brad

Brad:

I am always a little horrified when I see illustrations of Lil Army figures printed in catalogues as they look simply dreadful. It has not, however, been my experience that the figures suffer the "oompa-loompa" effect of gaming pieces - dwarfish, with big heads and hands. I will try to make time tomorrow and take some photos of the Lil Army Napoleonics. I agree that some of the features are at times a bit grotesque (that's a nice endorsement!...lol) - my French Guard's faces look a bit simian - and some poses sometimes look a bit akward, but generally I think they are decent molds, with higher relief than the Prince August (which makes for easier painting). Perhaps the most attractive feature of the Napoleonics range is a wide variety of poses.

 

[christopher]

hello here you writes Christopher, I'm new here, the report is this old but I also collect the forms from Prince August after the pour I build many of them at once, I'll post some pictures of my plants inside adhered best greeting Chris

 

[theBaron]

Brad:

I am always a little horrified when I see illustrations of Lil Army figures printed in catalogues as they look simply dreadful. It has not, however, been my experience that the figures suffer the "oompa-loompa" effect of gaming pieces - dwarfish, with big heads and hands. I will try to make time tomorrow and take some photos of the Lil Army Napoleonics. I agree that some of the features are at times a bit grotesque (that's a nice endorsement!...lol) - my French Guard's faces look a bit simian - and some poses sometimes look a bit akward, but generally I think they are decent molds, with higher relief than the Prince August (which makes for easier painting). Perhaps the most attractive feature of the Napoleonics range is a wide variety of poses.

Thanks, Nicholas! You've confirmed for me that my eyes aren't as bad as I thought they were

Prost!
Brad

 

[christopher]

loock at my Prince august Conversions

 

[christopher]

lock at my prince August Converions

 

[kilted vampire]

Lil Army figures are larger for the most part. I have a fair number of them. I had a few PA molds but not anymore. Some of the PA Napoleonics look really nice.

John your figures always look wonderful. I hope someday all of mine will look that good.

Christopher nice work. I may try to get some of the PA molds.


So many choices.

One other note, I sometimes use the Lil Army Napoleonic heads on the Conte plastic Napoleonic figures. The Conte heads seem smallish to me. Gives them a little weight too.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Christopher:

Which heads did you use on that French artillery crew to make the conversion? They look great!

 

[christopher]

Christopher:

Which heads did you use on that French artillery crew to make the conversion? They look great!

Hy the headsfrom the canonier are from Mouldnr 80 14 the head of line Infanterie are self made

 

[Obee]

Nice conversions Christopher.

I've done some too, especaily on Artillery, like you.

Line Artillery

Coastal Artillery

Voltigeurs

Line Grenadiers

Dutch Grenadiers

Gendarmes

Fusilier Grenadiers

These sets are ver versitile, so keep a lookout on Prince August website, or subscribe to thier newsletter, as they regularly have some evry good specials on moulds.

John

 

[kilted vampire]

John those guys look great!

 

[bromhead]

Brad:

I am always a little horrified when I see illustrations of Lil Army figures printed in catalogues as they look simply dreadful. It has not, however, been my experience that the figures suffer the "oompa-loompa" effect of gaming pieces - dwarfish, with big heads and hands. I will try to make time tomorrow and take some photos of the Lil Army Napoleonics. I agree that some of the features are at times a bit grotesque (that's a nice endorsement!...lol) - my French Guard's faces look a bit simian - and some poses sometimes look a bit akward, but generally I think they are decent molds, with higher relief than the Prince August (which makes for easier painting). Perhaps the most attractive feature of the Napoleonics range is a wide variety of poses.

I prefer P A figures having both.

 

[rcapps]

I plan to order a Prince August mold, 27th Foot, this week. Can anyone recommend a melting pot? Should I order the Prince August pot or something different? I also need suggestions on metal. Is it possible to cast lead-free with excellent results. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Obee]

I plan to order a Prince August mold, 27th Foot, this week. Can anyone recommend a melting pot? Should I order the Prince August pot or something different? I also need suggestions on metal. Is it possible to cast lead-free with excellent results. Thanks for the suggestions.

I use an old saucepan, that I got a garage sale for $1 and its heated on a gas camping stove that I have set up in the garage.

The place is well ventilated so the fumes blow away, and I have a workbench closeby to place the moulds on when cooling, and for cutting the excess off.

I use lead alloy, and add pweter, also from old discarded objects such as goblets, again bought second hand.

I hope this helps, and show us you finished toops, they should look like this:

John