AIP & Barzso Figs: 54mm?

Big Shiny Plastic Soldiers:

do the relative size and bulk really matter?

Wargaming with big figs is already outside of some wargamer's safety space. Altho many would definitely benefit from the great size and bulk making them more obvious to the eye, they just consider plastic toy soldiers to be mere "toys". While that can be the case, there are a number of manufacturers and sculpting styles that suit the wargame table quite well. It's almost as if they were made with the intent to wargame them. Hmmm......?

One manufacturer of 54mm Plastics I really like is Armies in Plastic [CLICK] which has found a popular niche in skirmish style figs [here, this means "the figs have a lot of different poses"].  Their French and Indian War line [CLICK] is especially likeable, with 8 different poses that nicely balance realism and toy soldier style. Below is pictured their French & Indian War - French Army 1754 - 1763 box set:

While ideal for a skirmish battle, if you want that "all the soldiers in the same pose" look, you'd have to buy several boxes to create a firing line, or all marching / charging, etc.  Nothing wrong with that as these 16 figs [2 sets of 8] presently retail for $10!  Astonishing, when you consider how many re-issues of old toy plastics are asking $3-6 per figure in a set, and $10-20 for single character figures.  Kinda crazy, IMHO, but I shouldn't judge.

As for comparative sizing, using the generally accepted guide that we measure from the soles of the feet to the top of the head [due to wildly differing head gear], the AIP figures come in right around 54-56mm, I'd say:

Well, this Ranger is about 52-53mm...

And this Injun is around 55-56mm.

...as is this French Line soldier.

Overall, they are close in height and just as important to the eye, in bulk.  They are all pretty robust figs, with perhaps slightly larger proportions than bad diet and long marches would result in - of course, they wore a lot of clothing layers and carried lots of gear, which makes you look larger.

Here the AIP are compared to - what I am told - are the Barzso French Canadian Militia, likely the ones from the Braddock's Defeat set.  On the right, we can see that altho the height is very close, and I feel like the militia man has a realistic build, next to the red Injun fig he looks small.  The Indian looks like the Terminator.  Based upon illustrations the three Ospreys I have about American Woodland Indians, I'd say he's a bit big and a bit muscular.

On the left, we have Petit Jacques, who comes in at only about 47mm.  In both size and bulk he is somewhat dwarfed by the Line soldier next to him, as well as the Indian. Overall, I like the variety in sizes, after all, people are different sizes.  I would have appreciated a fat fell, Gros Pierre, or something.

The similarity of pose makes it very easy to compare these fellows.

This guy is leaning to the right, but even standing straight up, I'm guessing he's only come in at 48-49mm at best.

Overall, I like having the variety of styles and sizes, I think it makes it feel more "skirmish" and less like a uniformly sized set of toy soldiers.  Overall, I don't really care that much about the relative size and bulk, as long as there is a sort of middle ground of average guys who make up most of the figs.

Hope this has been helpful.  If you want to see any other comparisons, LMK and I'll check out what I have, especially in my son's old toy bins!