Chintoys Napoleon Sets a Comparison is look at these figure by our very good friend Erwin Sell. These figures first surfaced up in Europe. They have now shown up in United States. There is a mystery of who is behind these figures. Right now we know that they were designed in the Ukraine. They were made in China. Still we do not know who had them made and what are their plans.
Erwin has done an extensive study of these figures. He has compared them to other makers of Napoleonic figures. What his research shows will help the collector of Napoleonic figures.
Chintoys Napoleon Sets a Comparison Erwin’s Thoughts
Figures are quite remarkable detailed. The mold halves (union seam) are very well concealed. They are much better than Engineer Bassevitch who often show their mold lines. You can see this in sample pictures below comparing Chintoy with Engineer Bassevitch.
As you can see in the photos Engineer Bassevitch the mold line shows. The company has twice delayed production because mold problems and defect in figures. So definitely Chintoy are far better made. The molds are design for mass production machines not hand press machines that Engineer Bassevitch uses.
The Napoleonic Staff figures measuring from bottom of boots to top of the head (not hat) shows them to be from 58 mm to 65mm high. While the set of Sharpe’s Rifles by exact type measurement are exact 54 mm minus smaller character small pose from book and film too
You can see difference in pictures and notice contrast by high of shoulder in both set standing figures poses as well.
These next pictures show a Chintoy Sharpe figure with various companies including Airfix and Reamsa. The Sharpe figure is in gray.
This last picture shows Richard Sharpe. He does not look like Sean Bean who portrayed him in the movie. This was done due to avoid licensing rights
Chintoys Napoleon Sets a Comparison Plastic Observation
Chintoys are more lighter soft and bendable than Engineer Bassevitch. The figures are a bit more light in weight and dense compare with Engineer Bassevitch. The Engineer Bassevitch Crimean War and Chintoy do not have the same color and the base is less thick.
Thanks for the detailed review! I will have to get these sets. Great sculpting. Hopefully Chintoys keeps up this TV or Movie theme. The Gunga Din cast would be nice!
Dittos on the thanks; mine are supposed to be on the way – looking forward to getting them; I just hope the Napoleonic staff aren’t too tall for some of the uses I have planned, though if push comes to shove I CAN use them for one of my plans – they might make good staff and officers for my Mexican Armies as if they are that tall they will probably go well with the Conte, TSSD and now Paragon troops.
Wayne,the measures I give are exact,staff are accurate base in the fact they copied exact historical person but in the 60mm scale ,not matching the british set.
They will match perfect w Alamo conte and tssd as those are 60 mm becasue bases and actual scale.
Erwin, no doubt about your measurements; sometimes one “make do” even if figures are a different scale if it isn’t too noticeable at a glance. But I figure I can always put the guys to use – I guess the differences in scale will be a deciding factor in how many sets I buy.
I agree Wayne.
I don’t collect Naps, but I’m wondering if these can be used for War of 1812.
These look like top notch figures. The sculpting is excellent and the figures shown here, are very well made. Mold lines and flash are a big factor for me, so this is good news.
I may have to see what possibilities exist to convert some of these into War of 1812 figures.
Bill,not 95 th fought in in it but Brunswick sharpshooter light batallion did.
Canadian rise similar forces alongside the British and used as well w similar uniform.
So yes,they could be used and they match w Barzso,nust that I did not pull mine x pictures.
Bill
As far to be used as light ranger or light regiment using same light infantry uniform with similar or different color for the war of 1812 ,they will be beret suitable as for following units from the Canadian and German allied plus India units send during war.
As far 95th only two battalion(by book-records) 500 exact were ever send by end of 1814 and early1815 .Of it only one took part in one main engagement (battle of new Orleans) that was fought by after the war peace was signed actually and out of 400 men deployed,none ever took direct action as were pin-down by cannon fire even too far to use their rifles wile taking only 11 wounded light wounded and not able to shoot ball as out of range x a period of 4 hours battle. Wile most regular and non regular American massacre the entire regular British frontal attack with just musket fire.
No other record exist of any unit belong to the 95th in war of 1812 as the entire regiment were from 1808 till 1814 used in peninsular campaign by English army and later Wellington but not send back to Britain till November 1814 from there only two battalion were hastily reformed to be send back to America in 1815
About units using same uniforms and coats colors were the following that saw action from 1812 till end war and very well used in many of main battles
American/Canadian 60th regiment(Royal American ) 7th battalion 1814-1815
Independent companies of foreigner(Mostly Germans and Dutch) 1813-1815
Glengerry light fencibles9mostly British speaking Canadian born) 1812-1815(This is the more saw and used light rifle corp force UNIT in battle using exact same dress and colors as that of 95th ,saw action in least 6 main battles and many small combats)
Bellow we got the least ever see action if any …
95th two battalion,only one used in a battle with indirect action at the end of war as described bellow.
And the Royal west India rangers(hastily used before battle of New Orleans)in skirmish at coast securing landing.
The above data could be clearly see in historical link here were indicated the units ,coats,pants colors seed and main action that were used.
http://www.warof1812.ca/charts/regts_na.htm
Regarding the Napoleon marshal staff set .
I would not use it all for any other period,neither faces of uniforms is close to those used by American or British officer and more less for much later 1830’s Mexican army general staff period.
The extremely ornate and decorated imperial era uniforms of french and not french napoleon main generals is too beautiful and rich to be used in other less fancy armies uniforms officer .
But if use a lot cutting,converting and painting cover I guess you could do any and use most x any.
Hope this help.
My suggestion and thoughts.
Best regards.
Bill,
5 companies of the 95th Rifles were sent to North America to take part in the final stages of the War of 1812 in 1814, so you could use them for that along with the ITALERI set which didn’t come with an officer or Sergeant.
You might want to paint them though even just a single colour for that toy soldier look.
There is a book on the subject which came out a few years ago ‘The 95th Rifles in America, a recollection of two soldiers’ Available on Amazon.
They don’t need converted as the uniform was the same as used in the Napoleonic War.
The 60th rifles were also in the War of 1812, same uniform but with red facing instead of Black.
The Canadian ‘Glengarry Light Infantry’ used the 95th uniform with infantry muskets and equipment.
So a few options to include them in your games or displays.
The French Command would not be so useful but might fit into an Mexican War setup or the Alamo.
So there are possibilities for your collection. The other sets still to come from Chintoys will also give you some additions.
Bill,
Found this illustration of the uniforms of the British 60th rifles in America
https://majjamesbronan.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/60_ft_7_bn_1814-1815__muia_r_marrion_ph_r_chartrand.jpeg
So converting the Sharpes set is simply a paint job.
Best regards,
Les
Received a set of each today,my only quibble with them is I wish the Rifles had been moulded in Green and the French Officers in Blue.
To celebrate my recent retirement I will be bringing my family to Orlando for 3 weeks in August 2017. Do any of you guys know of anything toy soldier related within a reasonable distance of Orlando. Many thanks in anticipation. If there is anything, I am sure the wealth of knowledge within this forum will have the answer.
PS. Since my retirement I check Stad’s Stuff almost every day and find the discussions and information second to none. Keep up the great work.
John.
There some stores around ,but most carry all metal. About shows, only I know and done long ago is south Florida show but in January or early February.
I went to it few times. Not that big but concurred. Some plastic dealers back them.
You may contact this site to ask for more information and google some stores near .
http://southfloridatoysoldier.com/
Best…
Mine also arrived today, from RebelAlpha, the hobbystore in California (info supplied by Erwin — thanks), which came out several dollars per box less expensive than any other source).
They really are nicely sculpted figures, in a good injection-molded high-quality plastic, and definitely much more modestly priced than Engineer Bassevich or Pvblivs (or Ex. Force).
But I would share Brian’s “quibble”: Why in the world are French Napoleonic General Staff Officers cast in a dark tan, and why in the world are the Sharpe’s Rifles cast in gray? What do these colors have to do with anything?
Don, Gray and Tan are popular colors for European plastic because they are made to be painted. Paint goes better over light colors.
Airfix Naps……Gray
Esci……….Gray & Tanish?
First issue Accurate AWI sets.
It was only after American collectors demanded blue and red plastic that Accurate changed colors.
Anyway, that’s what I’ve been told.
Since early time starting by early Airfix the hobby sets were done in colors to be painted.
As been told here and mention correct by Bill ,it is tradition for hobby colletors as these brands and figures are done primarily for the painters collectors world.
If you observe well airfix,matchbox,esci,hat,a call to arms,hats.italeri and many more come w cases ilustrating painting colors choices and instructions.
All do these new are not in cases yet,definetely follow the same guideline and european style.
Grey and most ligh colors are the best for easy paint cover base.
It was the pale yellows and grays of Airfix/ESCI 1/72 Nappies that got me into painting my collection in the first place. Fortunately, with improvements in paints and my learning more about keeping my paint jobs together it’s not as hopeless a task as it once seemed many years ago.
I remember years ago using Citadel paint over Airfix-Humbrol or Tamiya/esci colors.
Now the quality had increase and paint adhere better and faster ,clear coat protectors are much better than those used years ago too.
Least base in my experience. I stop painting few years ago minus few small jobs.
Just received my figures in the UK and interestingly they are the reverse colours of those shown here. The French are grey and the Rifles are tan. Perhaps they may appear in other colours as the printed card show the Rifles in a red colour. I very much like the detail and hope they produce more sets in action poses.
Well.Hope they do not do in red as will screw it big time too.
Green,dark blue,black and dark brown are great for any light shooter unit for 1812 and napoleonic wars included british,canadian,german in english service,portuguese and Americans.
For french staff is hard as,many depicted use main total different colors as representing many different corps.
I’ve had a go at identifying the individual figures in the Sharpe’s Rifles set.
1. Officer with sword is obviously Richard Sharpe.
2. Bareheaded figure with the seven barrel naval gun is Sergeant Patrick Harper.
3. Holding sword bayonet in right hand is Daniel Hagman.
4. Kneeling loading is Rifleman Harris. (His first name seems not to be mentioned).
5. Shorter figure cocking rifle is young Ben Perkins.
6. Rifle and sword bayonet at ready, wearing a headscarf is Isaiah Tongue.
7. Standing firing is Francis Cooper.
8. The final figure, kneeling firing, is more difficult to identify as the above figures were the only regulars in the TV series. My guess is Rifleman Moore played by Richard Rutherford-Moore. He was the ‘military advisor and armourer’ for the show. He appears in several episodes as an extra and is given an acting credit in some of them. I met him years ago when he had a display stall at a re-enactment show, and he bears a good resemblance to this figure, including a nice pair of sideburns. Any views?
I think you’ve hit everything exactly.
And I think it’s quite interesting how the colors of the two sets have been made in reversed colors — French General Staff in gray, and Sharpe’s Rifles in the dark tan. My own two sets here in the U.S. were just the reverse.
Hmmmm…… I wonder if these are “British Versions” & “American Versions” or this is just random. Could open up some trade options across the pond??
Andy,according to the US dealer ,Scott just ordered then and they come random assorted in his second batch.So I guess some just play around w colors .!?
🙂 🙂
I do not know if any here had get them from other US dealer.
When Barzso did the US 1812 and rangers were done in wrong green and light blue colors shades too.
Colors are some time hard to get right on resin and some plastic corret.
Even later bad quality airfix reissues of WW2 sets had been done in wrong shades like royal blue x german and dark forest green x US infantry neither correct historical background base uniform colors.
The silver type grey used since marx in germans and repeated by CONTE,TSSD,CTS is incorrect too.But I guess was to match blend w MARX.MPC ,LIDO .
AIP has been one of newest producer that had manage play w colors much better.
For me is not an issue as far color is not white or too bright that rest view of detail.Otherwise I have to spray them if not painting.:-) 🙂 🙂
Why grey or tan plastic? Because it’s cheaper than colored plastic. Especially if they’re using regrind. Some colors, like red and orange, are usually more expensive than other colors. This is because those pigments are more expensive.