Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Peipp Miniaturen Dresden - 45mm Toy Soldiers


Sorry for the lack of recent activity.  A couple things have happened. For one thing, I ran out of gas on the 30mm flat ancients project.  Got halfway done with the Lampert archers and could not muster the enthusiasm to finish the formation.  I will get back to them sooner or later, but once I hit the wall, that's it for a while.  Secondly, we had a death in the family, about which I'd rather not inflict the distressing details on the blog readership.  But suffice it to say I wasn't in a painting mood for a while, and it entailed spending a week in New York, away from the painting table.

However, I used the brief hiatus from the flats to finish up a couple of Peipp 18th Century figures which had been sitting in the painting queue for quite some time. For those unfamiliar with Peipp, they are a family business in Dresden Germany, offering rather stylized and charming toy soldiers in two scales, 45mm and 54mm. 

 http://www.peipp-miniaturen.de/

They do run large, the 45mm are about 50mm and the 54mm are 60mm.  To illustrate, I have posed a Peipp musketeer with 45mm flats and 54mm scale figures to give a better idea of their dimensions.

L to R: 45mm flats: Schmidttdiel, Rossner / Peipp / 54mm: Barzso, ATKM

L to R: 45mm flat - Schmidttdiel / Peipp / 54mm: Tradition
Peipp's prices are quite reasonable given the pleasing designs and bulk quantity of metal you get with your 5 euros for a foot figure.  And the selection of WSS figures in 45mm would allow for building some nice formations of troops.  Still, painting full armies would be quite a costly proposition. So I'll continue to accumulate a few more now and again, with these figures remaining an occasional and pleasant diversion.







Next up, back to the flats: 40mm Romans vs. Germans.  I got a great deal on a 45 piece set of Heinrichsen castings, beautiful figures which were originally offered in 1882. Needless to say the designs are somewhat fanciful when it comes to historical accuracy but very appealing in their own way. I look forward to sharing them with you.

9 comments:

  1. My sympathy for your family's loss, sir . . . and welcome back to the blogosphere.


    -- Jeff

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  2. Sorry to hear that you've suffered a loss.

    I've seen the Peipps crop up now and then but never in person. Would the larger Meisterzinn's work beside them, perhaps if raised slightly? I once placed one of the officers that I converted into a Highlander beside a Herald Gordon Highlander and they didn't seem all that far off.

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  3. My condolences for your sad loss , interesting figures - had not heard of these before.

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  4. Also very sorry for you loss. The Peipps are lovely...

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  5. Thanks gentlemen, for your condolences.

    Ross, I see what you're driving at. I think Peipp and Meisterzinn are something of a stylistic mismatch, the bulkiness of the Peipps not working in favor of mixed formations. They look like big beer-drinking, schnitzel-eating Germans and the horses apparently haven't refused any feedbags either.

    However, the Peipp generals are plentiful and excellent. I think using them based individually as command figures for formations of Meisterzinn wouldn't look too bad. But I really think the Peipps could be used even more effectively with 54mm troops.

    Regards,
    Steve

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  6. Many thanks for the tip - the mounted figs would be perfect!

    Uncle Toby

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  7. You're quite welcome, Uncle Toby. I look forward to perhaps seeing a few show up in your armies one day.

    Regards,
    Steve

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  8. A very useful post thanks, and what stunning painting on your blog. I purchased some Peipp 54mm generals for my ECW project but they are just too huge (one I can use as Anthony Payne, the last Cornish giant who fought at Lansdown in 1643). I am seeking 54mm 18th century civilians and cavalry, the Peipp 45mm foot seem rather small but the cavalry will be useful.

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  9. Thanks, Springinsfeld. Glad the post was of use to you. See also "Peipp Remounts", but then perhaps you already have. I agree with you about the scale, and the "54mm" are indeed giants. Although I think the 45mm foot wouldn't look too out of place with a 54mm project provided the bases were shimmed a bit and the figures kept in their own units. The Peipp civilians are actually quite delightful.

    I look forward to seeing what you make of them and regards,
    Steve

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