Colonies Asunder – 3D Files for the American Revolution
By Tom Burgess,
Some of my fondest childhood memories are from the 1976 Bicentennial of the American War of Independence (AWI). That excitement has been kindled of late as we will soon be approaching the 250th Anniversary. About a year ago I suggested to Henry Turner, prolific provider of 3D files to print countless 6mm armies, that he might want to consider an AWI line as we approach the 250th. He was probably planning this all along, but I like to think I gave him the idea to produce this excellent “Colonies Asunder” range of 6mm to 15mm wargame miniature files. I’m taking full credit anyway!
So what’s new? Obviously, this is a whole new age and theater for Henry’s portfolio, but he has made some subtle changes with this range. First off, he has “slimed” his sculpting style a bit so that these models print at a more realistic at 8mm. To me these look more natural than his previous 6mm focused ranges. These will need less modification to be scaled for printing at 6mm, 10mm, “Epic” 13.5mm, or even 15mm. Note that at the smaller scales, some degree of exaggerated “cartoon” features is necessary so that details will be noticeable at all. I have seen beautiful painted examples from Henry’s Napoleonic ranges, but the “raw” 6mm figures were always a bit funky looking to me.
I have to say Henry’s new style is far more visually pleasing for me even before the paint goes on. I have reviewed his Kickstarter projects many times, but never got past printing. This time I am going full press to build forces for the Southern AWI campaign.
You can test print and check these out yourself as Henry has posted free samples that you can download here: https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-colonies-asunder-free-samples-367665
The second big change Henry is making with Colonies Asunder is that he has moved from using Kickstarter to now using MyMiniFactory Campaigns. I’m not sure what financially this does for Henry but for us it allows us immediate access to the base files right when we signup. We don’t have to wait until the end of the campaign to get started printing and painting. We do have to wait until each stretch goals are reached to get each of those.
What I really like is that as a MyMiniFactory “Tribe” Henry Turner Tribe member, we get the chance to receive unrealized stretch goals a later membership reward. I have supported Henry through both Patron and Kickstarter before, but I am really liking this MyMiniFactory format much more.
So what’s in the core package? More AWI minis than you can possibly imagine!
Core Content Immediately Available Upon Purchase ($53 STL files/$84 STL and Blender Fires)
• British Regular Infantry
• British Artillery Crew & 6pdr gun
• British Light Dragoons
• British Foot Command
• British Mounted Officers
• Irregular Militia in Town Dress
• Irregular Infantry in Hunting Shirts
• Irregular Foot Command in Hunting Shirts
• Irregular Foot Command in Town Dress
• Continental Regular Infantry
• Continental Artillery Crew & 6pdr gun
• Continental Dragoons
• Continental Foot Command
• Continental Mounted Officers
There is a massive number of variations of figure files in each of those content areas. For example, there are 52 different British Light Dragoon files alone. Also, for each Infantry content area Henry has added strips of three or four figures to simplify unit rank building.
Additionally the following stretch goals have already been reached at the time of this article adding to the above:
• Cavalry in Hunting Shirts
• Irregular Artillery Crews
• German Auxiliary Infantry (Musketeers, Fusiliers & Grenadiers)
• German Artillery Crews with 3pdr
• German Hussars
• German Jaegers
• British “Bloodhounds” (Light Infantry in Jackets & Roundabouts) & Centre Co. Infantry in “Southern Dress”
• British Highlander Infantry
• Queen’s Rangers Infantry (Skirmishers & Grenadiers)
• Queen’s Rangers Hussars
Locked
• Continental Infantry in Light Hats
• British Legion Infantry
• British Legion Dragoons & Regular Light Dragoons in Tarletons
• British Regulars & Artillery Crew in Saratoga Dress
• More Cannons: 3pdr, 5.5″ Howitzer, Battalion Carriage
• Dismounted British Light Dragoon Skirmishers
• Dismounted Continental Dragoon Skirmishers
• Extra Foot Command Poses
• Extra Skirmisher Poses
• Early Continentals with Rolled Greatcoats
• Volunteers of Ireland
• French Army (Infantry, Artillery, Command)
• Continental Infantry in “Summer Dress” (Waistcoats)
• French Hussars
• Butler’s Rangers
• Lord Dunmore’s Ethiopian Regiment (Loyalist African American Infantry)
• Extra Infantry poses
• British Fusiliers
• Boats & Rowers (Continentals, British Regulars & Royal Navy)
• Camp Followers
Add-ons:
Colonies Asunder: The Frontier ($25 STL files/$53 STL and Blender files)
Stretch goals (these will let you expand to French and Indian war)
• Idle Standing Militia Poses -15 Backers
• Coureur-de-bois – 30 Backers
• Canadian Militia in Winter Dress (Long Coats) – 45 Backers
• French SYW Colonial Infantry – 60 Backers
• British SYW Colonial Infantry – 75 Backers
• Rogers’ Rangers – 90 Backers
• Prone Skirmisher & Native Poses – 105 Backers
• French SYW Marines – 120 Backers
• British SYW Highlanders – 135 Backers
• British SYW Artillery Crew – 150 Backers
• French SYW Regular Artillery Crew – 165 Backers
• Canoe – 180 Backers
• Native Rowers – 195 Backers
• European Rowers – 210 Backers
• Joseph Brandt – 230 Backers
• Frontier Shack – 245 Backers
• Log Blockhouse & Fortifications; Hedgehogs; Wall; Fortifications; Farm Fences
THE PERSONALITY PACK & STRETCH GOALS ($10)
Includes:
• George Washington
• William Howe
• Benedict Arnold (wonder if he’ll be in both American and British service?)
• Charles Cornwallis
Stretch goals for the Personality pack are:
• Horatio Gates – 15 Backers (I hope we get one of him fleeing from Camden!)
• George Clinton – 30 Backers
• Charles Lee – 45 Backers
• John Burgoyne – 60 Backers
• Nathaniel Greene – 75 Backers
• Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben – 90 Backers
• Wilhelm von Knyphausen – 105 Backers
• Thomas Gage – 120 Backers
• Banastre Tarleton – 135 Backers
• “Molly Pitcher” – 150 Backers
• Paul Revere – 165 Backers
• Rochembau – 180 Backers
• Lafayette – 200 Backers
Casualty Pack ($20)
• British Regular Casualties (Centre, Light Infantry & Grenadier Companies)
• Continental Regular Casualties
• German Casualties
• Huntsman Casualties
• Militia Casualties
• Native Casualties
• British Dragoon Casualty
• British Horse Casualty
• Continental Dragoon Casualty
• Continental Horse Casualty
• Separate Hat STLs
• Separate Musket STLs
I am so excited about this range that I will back it on MyMiniFactory even though Henry has already shared the core set files with me for this review. There are just too many must haves in the stretch goals that I have to have. I am thinking about going with the base 8mm as designed, when I print these files.
I will do both sides in the Southern campaign in the AWI. I am not worried about compatibility with other manufactures since these will be so cheap I can easily build two opposing armies. The 8mm base files just look like they are the best mix of small size, realistic proportions, and detail to me. Henry designs his models to be printed right on the build plates with any supports that are needed. If these are required, like with the below British Light Infantry, they are minimal and easily removed after printing and cleaning. Every file I have ever printed from any one of Henry’s collections has always printed perfectly on the first try.
Since the battles in the south were small, I toyed with the idea trying to use 1:1 unit scale and 1mm on the board equals real foot. But after doing the math, I determined the boards would still need to be too large. So now I am considering a 1:5 unit man/scale and a 1mm on table equals 5m/yds real distance. That will easily let me get the largest southern AWI battles on to a 4′ by 8′ table.
You can by the Henry Turner Colonies Asunder files at a reduced early bird price until Monday May 13th 11pm PST here: Colonies Asunder: The American Revolution Campaign – MyMiniFactory You undoubtedly can buy them anytime you want on My MiniFactory, but up to May 13th you can get them with an early bird discount.
I highly recommend these models for the wargaming looking to start of some AWI gaming for the 250th at a very low cost.
Tom,
Another excellent article. You just cut a hole in the bottom of my pocket! Luckily, due the inexpensive nature of self printing minis that hole isn’t a big one.
Looking forward to both building my own armies and seeing your Southern Campaign project come to life.