I should state at the outset that this review is entirely unsolicited and reflects my own experiences as a customer and historical gamer. I have paid full retail price for every Tiger Miniatures figure in my collection and have no commercial relationship with the company beyond purchasing their products as a regular customer.
Looking across the broader Tiger Miniatures range as a whole, what stands out most is not absolute sculpting finesse but ambition of coverage. The company has consistently explored theatres, colonial campaigns, and lesser represented forces that larger manufacturers either avoid entirely or only touch superficially. That gives the range a strong identity. Rather than producing yet another generic late war German line, Tiger invested heavily in niche historical subjects including colonial forces, Central Asian campaigns, Balkan Wars troops, irregulars, frontier warfare, and obscure Second World War formations.
Tiger Miniatures “Mounties” from my collection
The sculpting style is very much rooted in the older philosophy of tabletop gaming miniatures. These are not hyper sharp digitally sculpted resin display figures designed primarily for close up photography. Instead, they are robust gaming pieces with exaggerated equipment, clear silhouettes, readable poses, and strong physical presence on the table. In many ways this is an advantage. Older style sculpting often survives handling, transport, and repeated gaming far better than ultra delicate modern ranges.
Facial sculpting across the Tiger ranges is generally one of their strongest points. Even where uniform detail is softer, the faces usually possess distinct character rather than anonymous repetition. The figures also tend to paint efficiently because folds, belts, and weapons are defined clearly enough for brushwork without becoming cluttered or over textured.
Mounted “Mounties” from my collection
Another strength is breadth within individual ranges. Tiger often attempts to provide not just basic riflemen but command figures, support weapons, mounted variants, irregulars, specialists, and campaign specific troop types. That matters enormously for narrative gaming because it allows a force to feel historically complete rather than improvised from proxies. Their colonial and frontier ranges especially benefit from this approach because these periods rely heavily on atmosphere and visual identity.
The company also appears comfortable embracing awkward historical subjects. Many ranges intentionally capture transitional uniforms, mixed equipment, and non standard organisation rather than idealised textbook versions of armies. For historically minded gamers this is actually extremely valuable because many real colonial and secondary theatre forces looked uneven, improvised, and regionally adapted. The Tiger ranges generally preserve that feeling instead of smoothing everything into uniformity.
KNIL Forward Observer Team from my collection (the radio operator is from another manufacturer)
The downside is that the sculpting quality can vary somewhat between releases. Some figures are excellent with strong anatomy and movement while others show their age beside newer CAD sculpted competitors. Weapons can occasionally appear oversized, hands slightly heavy, and proportions somewhat heroic. But these weaknesses are usually most visible in close photography rather than during actual play. On the tabletop the figures tend to look cohesive and full of personality.
Tiger Miniatures Command from my collection (The Blitz buggy is from Mardav Miniatures)
Their ranges also paint up particularly well for gamers who favour campaign atmosphere over competition style painting. Washes, dry brushing, dusting, and weathering all work effectively because the sculpting is practical rather than excessively delicate. For colonial gaming this is especially important since dusty uniforms, worn leather, faded cloth, and rough terrain contribute heavily to the visual experience.
Tiger Miniatures KNIL Infantry squad from my collection
Personally, I have focused my own Tiger Miniatures collection around two ranges that fit particularly well with the kinds of historical gaming I most enjoy. For Osprey Publishing The Men Who Would Be Kings I purchased the North West Mounted Police range, largely because the figures possess such strong frontier character. The mounted poses, carbines, broad brimmed hats, and patrol appearance immediately establish the setting on the tabletop. They suit the semi historical colonial atmosphere of the rules extremely well and create a force with genuine visual identity.
For Warlord Games Bolt Action I built a KNIL force from the Tiger range. This was one of the major attractions of the company for me because dedicated KNIL figures remain comparatively uncommon. What I particularly appreciate is that the figures genuinely look like Dutch East Indies colonial troops rather than generic tropical infantry. The mixed equipment, older weapons, and slightly improvised appearance capture the atmosphere of the 1941–42 campaign very effectively. On the tabletop they work exceptionally well for the kinds of scenario driven games that define the Dutch East Indies fighting: delaying actions, jungle patrols, roadblocks, and fragmented defensive engagements under pressure.
KNIL Lewis Gun from my collection
Ultimately, that is what I value most about the Tiger Miniatures range. The figures may not always be the sharpest or most modern sculpts available, but they possess personality, historical individuality, and strong narrative presence. For the kinds of campaigns and conflicts I enjoy gaming, that matters far more than technical perfection.
Another major strength of Tiger Miniatures is the pricing. In an era where many niche historical ranges have become increasingly expensive, Tiger remains very competitively priced, particularly considering the breadth and obscurity of the subjects covered. Building unusual forces such as the KNIL or the North West Mounted Police can often become prohibitively costly because specialist ranges are usually produced in small numbers, but Tiger manages to keep the figures accessible enough to encourage expanding collections rather than limiting purchases to a few showcase units.
Tiger Miniatures artillery crew servicing a Mardav “gun truck”
My own experience with the company recently reinforced that impression. Following my last order, I received an email from Charles explaining that Tiger Miniatures was currently offering free shipping for a limited period. Because I had already paid postage on the order, he suggested I select approximately thirty pounds worth of additional figures instead so that the value effectively balanced out. That sort of customer service is increasingly rare. Rather than simply pocketing the additional postage payment, the company actively encouraged me to expand the collection at no extra shipping cost. It was a small gesture, but one that reflected a genuinely customer focused approach and reinforced the impression of Tiger Miniatures as a company run by people who understand the hobby and the collectors who support it.
One of the better manufactures to do business with. I cannot recommend them more highly.
P.S. My next “fix” from Tiger Miniatures will probably be their Moro range. The Moros fought the KNIL, or Royal Netherlands East Indies Army, during the long colonial conflicts that shaped Dutch expansion and control across the region. These struggles formed part of the wider and ultimately unsuccessful effort to maintain Dutch colonial authority in Indonesia, from the protracted Aceh War through to the later fighting associated with the Indonesian War of Independence between 1945 and 1949.