Perry Miniatures Napoleonic kits have become a familiar sight in historical wargaming armies, particularly for hobbyists building large 28mm forces for the French, British, Russian and Austrian armies of the Napoleonic Wars. Created by renowned sculptors Alan and Michael Perry, the range combines plastic infantry and cavalry boxes with an extensive supporting catalogue of metal command, artillery and specialist miniatures.

The appeal goes beyond sculpting quality. Napoleonic wargaming often requires entire battalions, brigades and divisions, so affordable plastic rank-and-file miniatures are particularly useful. A Perry infantry box can establish the backbone of an army, while cavalry, artillery and command models allow that collection to gradually develop into a force suitable for anything from a modest club game to a large historical battle.

That flexibility also means Perry Miniatures are not tied to one rules system. They can be based for games such as Blücher, Valour & Fortitude, Black Powder, General d'Armée and many other Napoleonic rulesets, provided players agree on basing and unit conventions.

Canadian historical gamers can browse the Perry Miniatures collection at TistaMinis, including Napoleonic infantry and cavalry for several of the period's most important armies.

Why Are Perry Miniatures So Popular for Napoleonics?

Napoleonic wargaming sits in an unusual position within the miniature hobby. Players want recognizable individual soldiers, colourful uniforms and historically appropriate equipment, but they also need enough figures to make a battalion actually look like a battalion. That balance strongly favours 28mm plastic kits.

Perry Miniatures is run by twin brothers Alan and Michael Perry, two sculptors with decades of experience producing historical and fantasy miniatures. Their catalogue extends far beyond Napoleonics, but the Napoleonic period is particularly well represented with plastic and metal ranges covering numerous armies, troop types and campaigns.

The plastics are especially useful as the foundation of a collection. Rather than buying every infantryman individually, players can assemble large formations from boxed kits and then use command figures, artillery, officers and specialists to give the army more character.

For painters, the period offers another attraction. British red, French blue, Russian green and Austrian white immediately distinguish the major armies across the tabletop, while facings, regimental distinctions, standards, cavalry uniforms and officers provide almost unlimited opportunities for historical research.

Top 10 Perry Miniatures Napoleonic Kits

The following ten kits are not intended as a strict sales ranking. Instead, they represent some of the most useful Perry Miniatures sets for building the four armies covered in this guide, with priority given to core army-building value, historical versatility and products represented in the TistaMinis Perry range.

#	Perry Miniatures Kit	Army	Best Use
1	French Napoleonic Infantry	France	Foundation of a Grande Armée collection
2	British Napoleonic Infantry	Britain	Peninsular War and Waterloo armies
3	Russian Napoleonic Infantry 1809–1814	Russia	1812 campaign and Coalition armies
4	Austrian Napoleonic Infantry 1809–1815	Austria	Large Austrian battalions and later campaigns
5	French Napoleonic Hussars	France	Colourful light cavalry
6	Russian Napoleonic Uhlans 1812–1814	Russia	Lancer formations and cavalry support
7	British Light Dragoons 1808–1815	Britain	Fast cavalry for Peninsula and Waterloo
8	Austrian Napoleonic Hussars 1805–1815	Austria	Light cavalry and painting projects
9	French Napoleonic Dragoons	France	Versatile French cavalry formations
10	Austrian Napoleonic Cavalry 1798–1815	Austria	Expanding beyond infantry-heavy armies

1. Perry French Napoleonic Infantry

If there is one natural starting point for a Perry Napoleonic collection, it is French infantry. Napoleon's armies fought across Europe against virtually every major Coalition power, which makes a French force useful for an enormous range of historical scenarios and campaigns.

The Perry French plastics capture the recognizable appearance of Napoleon's infantry and provide the massed ranks needed to establish a Grande Armée collection. TistaMinis carries both Perry Miniatures French Napoleonic Infantry and the more specifically themed French Napoleonic Infantry Battalion 1807–1814.

French infantry is particularly attractive for someone who expects to keep expanding. Once several battalions are completed, Hussars, Dragoons, Chasseurs à Cheval, heavy cavalry, artillery and command figures can transform those initial blue-coated ranks into a much broader combined-arms force.

2. Perry British Napoleonic Infantry

The British Army is equally recognizable. Red-coated infantry provides a dramatic visual contrast against French blue and can form the centre of armies for the Peninsular War, Waterloo campaign and numerous related scenarios involving Britain's allies.

The Perry Miniatures British Napoleonic Infantry kit is therefore an obvious foundation for a British collection. Line infantry can be supported by command, artillery and cavalry as the army develops.

British armies are particularly attractive to hobbyists interested in Wellington's campaigns. A collection can begin with straightforward redcoat battalions and eventually expand into a visually diverse Allied force rather than remaining exclusively British.

3. Perry Russian Napoleonic Infantry 1809–1814

For players interested in Napoleon's invasion of Russia and the campaigns that followed, Russian infantry is one of the most useful starting points. The Russian Army played a central role in the 1812 campaign before participating in the Coalition offensives that carried the war back through Germany and ultimately into France.

The Perry Miniatures Russian Napoleonic Infantry 1809–1814 provides the mass infantry required to represent that army effectively. Multiple boxes can create the dense battalion formations associated with larger Russian forces.

Russian green also creates a strong visual identity without demanding the white-uniform painting approach of an Austrian army. Add Uhlans, artillery and command figures and the basic infantry force can quickly develop into a convincing 1812–1814 collection.

4. Perry Austrian Napoleonic Infantry 1809–1815

Austria is sometimes overshadowed by Britain and Russia in popular retellings of Napoleon's final campaigns, but it was one of France's most persistent continental opponents. Austrian armies fought Napoleon repeatedly, making them suitable for battles and campaigns ranging well beyond Waterloo.

The Perry Miniatures Austrian Napoleonic Infantry 1809–1815 kit provides the core troops for the later Napoleonic period. Their white uniforms create one of the most distinctive massed infantry forces available to a historical painter.

Austrian armies also suit players who enjoy the visual effect of large formations. Several infantry battalions arranged together immediately create the appearance of a major continental army, especially once artillery and cavalry begin filling the spaces between formations.

5. Perry French Napoleonic Hussars

Once the infantry foundation is established, French Hussars are one of the most enjoyable ways to add colour and movement. Napoleonic Hussars are famous among miniature painters because their elaborate uniforms contrast sharply with the more standardized appearance of line infantry.

The Perry Miniatures French Napoleonic Hussars kit adds fast-moving light cavalry to a French collection. Historically, Hussars were associated with reconnaissance, screening, pursuit and other roles where speed was essential.

For hobbyists, however, the painting possibilities may be just as important. Dolmans, pelisses, braiding, shakos and distinctive regimental colours make a Hussar formation an excellent display unit without requiring an entire army of complicated uniforms.

6. Perry Russian Napoleonic Uhlans 1812–1814

Russian Uhlans provide a completely different cavalry silhouette. Long lances immediately identify the formation across the table and help break up an army otherwise dominated by infantry and artillery.

The Perry Miniatures Russian Napoleonic Uhlans 1812–1814 set contains 14 mounted figures and can be assembled with lances either lowered for a charge or carried upright. That makes the box useful for both gaming units and more dramatic display formations.

They are a logical expansion after Russian infantry because they add a distinctly different battlefield element without changing the army's historical focus. For an 1812–1814 project, infantry and Uhlans together already establish a strong Russian identity.

7. Perry British Light Dragoons 1808–1815

British Light Dragoons provide the cavalry counterpart to the redcoat infantry. Their campaign coverage makes them particularly useful for armies intended to move between Peninsular War scenarios and the Waterloo campaign.

The Perry Miniatures British Light Dragoons 1808–1815 are a natural second-stage addition after building several British infantry units. They add speed and visual variety without requiring the collector to move outside the same general campaign period.

A balanced British project does not need enormous numbers of cavalry immediately. One well-painted formation can provide a striking contrast to several redcoat battalions while giving rulesets another troop type to represent on the battlefield.

8. Perry Austrian Napoleonic Hussars 1805–1815

Austrian Hussars offer one of the easiest ways to introduce strong colour into an army otherwise dominated by white-coated infantry. They also cover a broad 1805–1815 period, making them useful for several different Austrian campaign projects.

The Perry Miniatures Austrian Napoleonic Hussars 1805–1815 represent the light cavalry arm and make an excellent painting project in their own right. The detailed uniforms provide an opportunity to research specific regiments rather than using one generic cavalry scheme.

For gamers, Hussars give an Austrian collection a lighter cavalry element alongside its infantry and heavier mounted formations. For painters, they are simply one of the most visually interesting units in the army.

9. Perry French Napoleonic Dragoons

French armies offer enough cavalry choices that collectors can build an entire side project around mounted troops. Dragoons are particularly recognizable because they combine the visual impact of massed cavalry with a long history as troops capable of operating in more than one battlefield role.

The Perry Miniatures French Napoleonic Dragoons add another important formation to a growing Grande Armée. They work especially well once a collection already contains several infantry battalions and some lighter cavalry.

Perry also produces French Heavy Cavalry and Chasseurs à Cheval, allowing a dedicated French player to create a much more varied mounted arm rather than repeating the same cavalry unit several times.

10. Perry Austrian Napoleonic Cavalry 1798–1815

The Perry Miniatures Austrian Napoleonic Cavalry 1798–1815 rounds out our top ten because it helps turn a basic Austrian infantry collection into a combined-arms army.

Austrian cavalry played an important role throughout the period, and mounted formations make the tabletop army substantially more visually varied. They also give players a reason to explore earlier Austrian campaigns rather than treating the army purely as a late-war Coalition force.

Combined with Austrian infantry and Hussars, the kit provides a solid foundation for collectors who want one of the less commonly represented major powers rather than beginning with the familiar French-versus-British matchup.

British, French, Russian or Austrian: Which Army Should You Start?

There is no universally best Napoleonic army because historical interest should play a major role in the decision. You may spend dozens of hours researching uniforms, assembling formations and painting hundreds of figures, so choosing an army whose history genuinely interests you is usually more rewarding than selecting solely for tabletop performance.

Army	Why Collect It?	Good Starting Point
French	Huge campaign variety and extensive troop selection	French Napoleonic Infantry
British	Peninsular War, Waterloo and iconic redcoat formations	British Napoleonic Infantry
Russian	1812 invasion and major Coalition campaigns	Russian Infantry 1809–1814
Austrian	Repeated wars against Napoleon and impressive mass formations	Austrian Infantry 1809–1815

French armies probably offer the broadest historical opponent selection because Napoleon's forces fought so many European powers. British armies are ideal for players fascinated by Wellington and the Peninsula, while Russians naturally suit Borodino, the 1812 campaign and the later Coalition offensives. Austria is particularly rewarding for players interested in Austerlitz, Aspern-Essling, Wagram and the repeated continental wars against France.

Why Perry Miniatures Work Well With Blücher

Blücher, designed by Sam Mustafa, approaches the Napoleonic Wars at a much higher command level than rulesets centred on individual battalions. Players take the role of an army commander, while tabletop units represent large formations such as infantry brigades, cavalry brigades and concentrations of artillery.

That approach makes Blücher especially interesting for players attracted to the scale of Napoleonic warfare. Rather than focusing on whether one individual company has fired, the game asks players to think about reserves, corps-level movement, concentration of force and the overall battle plan.

Perry Miniatures can create an impressive visual version of that concept. Multiple infantry bases can represent a brigade, while cavalry formations and artillery provide clear visual identification. The exact number of miniatures used on each base is less important than maintaining consistent unit footprints and clearly representing the formation.

Do You Need Hundreds of Miniatures for Blücher?

Not necessarily. One useful feature of Blücher is that the game is fundamentally concerned with the footprint and identity of the unit rather than requiring a fixed number of 28mm figures. Players can choose a basing style that matches the size of collection they want to build.

A visually dense brigade might contain several ranks of Perry infantry, while a more economical approach can use fewer figures on the same basic footprint. This allows a collection to grow gradually rather than requiring several hundred painted models before the first game.

The important point is consistency. If infantry brigades use one agreed base size and cavalry another, both players can create armies according to their preferred modelling style while keeping the game functional.

Valour & Fortitude: Perry's Own Free Rules Option

Perry Miniatures also supports Valour & Fortitude, a free rules system intended for large historical battles. Perry provides current Napoleonic army sheets for major forces including Britain, France, Russia and Austria, which makes it especially convenient for someone building exactly the armies discussed in this guide.

This is an appealing entry point because a player can begin with Perry plastic miniatures and access the core gaming material without immediately investing in a large library of rules and supplements. It is also a natural way to use collections that already contain substantial numbers of 28mm figures.

Blücher and Valour & Fortitude approach Napoleonic warfare differently, so neither needs to replace the other. A large Perry collection can easily serve multiple rulesets if it is based sensibly.

Other Rulesets for Perry Napoleonic Miniatures

One of the biggest advantages of historical miniatures is that the figures are independent of the rules. A French infantryman remains a French infantryman regardless of which book happens to be beside the table.

Ruleset	General Focus	Why Perry Works
Blücher	Large battles and brigade-level command	Excellent for visually impressive mass armies
Valour & Fortitude	Accessible large historical battles	Perry-supported army sheets and easy entry
Black Powder	Broad horse-and-musket mass battles	Well suited to traditional 28mm formations
General d'Armée	Napoleonic command and battlefield manoeuvre	Strong fit for battalion-based collections
Lasalle	Purpose-built Napoleonic battles	Works with existing historical collections

This rules flexibility is important when investing in a historical army. A collection that takes years to build does not become obsolete simply because your gaming group decides to try a different system.

Building a Perry Napoleonic Army From Scratch

The easiest mistake is buying too many specialist units before completing the core army. Hussars and heavy cavalry may be exciting boxes, but a Napoleonic battlefield looks most convincing when those units are supporting coherent infantry formations.

Start with two or three infantry boxes from the same nation. Assemble them into battalions using a consistent frontage, research an appropriate uniform scheme and decide how command stands and standards will identify each formation.

Next, add artillery and commanders. These relatively small additions immediately make the force feel more like an organized army rather than a collection of infantry. Cavalry can then provide the major visual and tactical expansion.

Once those elements are complete, the collection can grow according to your preferred rules. A Blücher player may prioritize additional brigades to create a larger army, while someone playing a battalion-focused game might add specialist infantry, light troops and more detailed command elements.

Painting Perry Napoleonic Armies

Painting dozens of Napoleonic soldiers can initially seem intimidating because of the uniform detail, but regimented armies are ideal for batch painting. Once the colour sequence for one soldier is established, the same process can be repeated across an entire unit.

Prime the formation together, establish the dominant uniform colour, then work through equipment, flesh, straps and headgear in stages. Leave officers, standards and musicians until later so they can receive additional attention without slowing down every rank-and-file model.

Army choice also changes the painting experience. British redcoats create strong colour quickly, Russian green is relatively forgiving across mass formations, French blue provides a classic Napoleonic appearance, and Austrian white requires more careful shading but produces an exceptionally striking finished army.

Browse miniature paints and basing materials at TistaMinis when planning a large historical project. Consistent basing is especially important because it visually connects dozens or hundreds of individual soldiers into one army.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts: Why Perry Napoleonics Remain an Excellent Army Project

Perry Miniatures works particularly well for Napoleonics because the range supports both sides of the historical miniature hobby. Individual figures have enough character and uniform detail to reward careful painting, but the plastic kits are designed around the reality that Napoleonic players often need large formations rather than isolated models.

The French and British remain obvious starting points because of their famous campaigns and instantly recognizable uniforms, but Russian and Austrian collections can be equally impressive. Russia opens the door to the enormous campaigns of 1812–1814, while Austria provides one of the period's most persistent Coalition opponents and some of its most distinctive massed formations.

Rules such as Blücher also give those collections room to grow. A few infantry boxes can begin as individual battalions for one game and eventually contribute to brigade-sized formations in a much larger battle. Valour & Fortitude provides another accessible route, while Black Powder, General d'Armée and other systems mean the miniatures never need to belong to a single rules ecosystem.

For a new collection, start with the army whose history and uniforms appeal to you most, build several coherent infantry formations, and expand into cavalry, artillery and command once the core is painted. That approach turns individual Perry boxes into something far more satisfying: a complete Napoleonic army.

Browse the Perry Miniatures range at TistaMinis to explore available British, French, Russian and Austrian Napoleonic kits, or visit our wargames collection for more historical tabletop ranges.