Russian Infantry vs British Infantry 1916-1918: Which to Buy?

Quick answer

Choose the British Infantry (1916-1918) set if you want the most figures for your money and a wide spread of Western Front and Middle East options. Choose the Russian Infantry set if your force is built around the Eastern Front or the Russian Civil War and you need riflemen in a different uniform. If you are starting a Great War project from scratch, the British box is the more flexible first purchase.

What each box actually gives you

The British Infantry (1916-1918) set is built around up to 30 hard plastic infantry equipped for World War One, with the parts described as somewhat suitable for the lead up to World War Two. The Russian Infantry set is a hard plastic infantry kit covering Russia's war effort; the catalog notes that Russia entered World War One with the largest army in the world at 1.4 million under arms and that the historical arc runs through the February Revolution to civil war. Those descriptions tell you what kind of force each box represents, but they do not confirm a figure count for the Russian set, so treat the British box's 30-figure count as a known quantity and the Russian box's count as something to confirm before you plan a full army around it.

Equipment and pose variety

The British set lists Lee Enfield rifles, Webley pistols, Lewis guns, grenades, and trench equipment, plus a selection of hat and helmet types so you can model troops in the trenches, in the sands of Arabia, for early war and officers, and with gasmasks. That is a genuinely broad kit: you can build a Western Front platoon, a desert column, or a command group from the same box. The Russian set's catalog entry focuses on the historical context of the Russian Army rather than listing weapons and headgear, so if you need specific Russian small arms or head options, check the kit's parts before committing. The practical trade-off is clear: the British box gives you more documented variety, while the Russian box gives you a distinctive Eastern Front force that most opponents will not already own.

Price and value per figure

At catalog prices, the British Infantry (1916-1918) set is USD 24.54 against a comparison price of USD 38.95, and the Russian Infantry set is USD 28.04 against the same USD 38.95 comparison price. The British box is cheaper and states up to 30 figures, so if your measure is cost per usable infantryman, it comes out ahead on the supplied facts. The Russian box costs more, and because its figure count is not stated in the catalog, you cannot calculate the same per-figure figure without checking the product page. Both are hard plastic, so both give you the usual modelling advantages of plastic: easy assembly, easy conversion, and paint that grips well.

How they play together on the table

These two boxes are not really rivals for the same slot in your collection. British Infantry (1916-1918) suits the Western Front, the Middle East, and the transition into early World War Two, while Russian Infantry suits the Eastern Front and the Russian Civil War. If you already own one, the other is a natural opponent or ally depending on your scenario. Buying both gives you two visually distinct forces for Great War wargaming, which is often more useful than doubling up on one nationality. If you only want one box this month, pick the theatre your group actually games.

Trade-offs at a glance

• Figure count: The British box states up to 30 figures; the Russian box does not state a figure count in the supplied catalog facts. If you need a known number of riflemen for a points list, the British box is the safer buy.
• Equipment variety: The British set lists rifles, pistols, a light machine gun, grenades, and multiple head options; the Russian set's catalog entry does not list weapons or heads. Check the Russian kit's parts if you need specific weapons or headgear before buying.
• Theatre and period: British Infantry covers the trenches, Arabia, early war, officers, and gasmasks, and is somewhat suitable for the lead up to World War Two; Russian Infantry covers the Eastern Front and the road to civil war. Pick the box that matches the battles your group actually plays, not just the lower price.
• Price: British Infantry is USD 24.54 and Russian Infantry is USD 28.04, both against a USD 38.95 comparison price. The British box is cheaper and states more figures, so it wins on raw value; the Russian box wins on being a less common force.

Product facts

• British Infantry (1916-1918): Hard plastic set allowing you to build up to 30 British infantry equipped for World War One, with a selection of hat and helmet types for trenches, the sands of Arabia, early war and officers, and gasmasks; includes Lee Enfield rifles, Webley pistols, Lewis guns, grenades, and trench equipment. You get a large, multi-purpose infantry force from one box, which is ideal if you want to build several different British units or start a Great War army cheaply.
• Russian Infantry: Hard plastic Russian Infantry set covering Russia's World War One army, which entered the war with 1.4 million men under arms and later saw the February Revolution and civil war. This is the box to choose when your games are set on the Eastern Front or in the Russian Civil War, where British infantry would look out of place.

Which should you buy?

Best for

• New Great War players who want a large, flexible British force for the Western Front or Middle East
• Modellers who want gasmask heads, officers, and a mix of rifles, pistols, and a Lewis gun in one box
• Anyone building a British force that can stretch into the lead up to World War Two

Not for

• Players who specifically need Russian troops for the Eastern Front or Russian Civil War
• Buyers who want a distinctive, less common army on the club table