The Napoleonic Heavyweights: Perry Miniatures vs. Wargames Atlantic

If you're feeling the allure of serried ranks of brightly uniformed soldiers unloading their muskets at close range, watching your flanks and being ready to form square when the cavalry appear, then the Napoleonic Era is for you.  This era of wargaming presents it's own unique tactical challenges and has a number of mature rules sets available that represent these challenges on the tabletop.

If you are starting a Napoleonic army in 28mm, you are likely looking at two of the biggest names in the UK market. While they both produce high-quality plastics, they serve slightly different needs for the wargamer.

1. Perry Miniatures: The Gold Standard

Founded by the legendary Alan and Michael Perry, these figures are widely considered the benchmark for historical accuracy.

The Aesthetic: Slender, realistic proportions. They look like "real people" in uniform.

The Ranges: Their French and British plastic sets are iconic. The "French Napoleonic Line Infantry 1812-1815" box is arguably the best-selling Napoleonic plastic set in history.

Pros: Incredible detail, massive range of metal "support" codes (officers, casualties, specialists) that perfectly match the plastics.

Cons: The plastic can be slightly delicate; the thin muskets require a careful hand when removing from the sprue.

2. Wargames Atlantic: The Value Disruptor

Wargames Atlantic has shaken up the hobby by providing high-count boxes and unique subjects that others have ignored.

The Aesthetic: Slightly "chunkier" than Perry. They are robust, easy to paint, and survive the "tabletop tumble" well.

The Ranges: Their Prussian Reserve and Russian Infantry sets are game-changers for building "horde" armies on a budget.

Pros: Usually higher figure counts per box (often 30-40+ models), making them the most cost-effective way to build a battalion. The plastic is slightly "softer" and easier to kitbash.

Cons: Fewer specialized metal sets to accompany them compared to the Perry range.

Which Should You Choose?

If you want...	Choose...
Museum-level accuracy	Perry Miniatures
To build a massive army fast	Wargames Atlantic
Compatibility with Metals	Perry Miniatures
Ease of assembly/durability	Wargames Atlantic

The Shop Owner’s Pro-Tip: "Mixing and Matching"

Can you put them in the same army? Yes, but not in the same unit.

Because Perry figures are a "true" 28mm and Wargames Atlantic are a bit "heroic" in scale, putting them side-by-side in a single rank looks a bit odd. However, having a Perry Line Battalion next to a Wargames Atlantic Reserve Battalion on the tabletop looks perfectly natural—after all, real soldiers come in different heights!

Current Stock Alert

We currently have the following in the shop:

Perry: French Line Infantry (1812-1815), British Line Infantry, and the stunning Prussian Light Dragoons.

Wargames Atlantic: Prussian Reserve, French (1807-1812), and the Russian Infantry.

Free shipping over £60!

Grow your Napoleonic army faster and take advantage of our free shipping offer when you order over £60 worth of miniatures.  And don't forget to add your paints and glues, whether that's the historicaly compatible Vallejo Model Colour range or the useful Army Painter Speedpaints.