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Post by Edwardian on Oct 30, 2017 22:04:05 GMT
Very effective, with great colour tones on the wood.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 29, 2017 12:28:25 GMT
Great painting, and it illustrates this set nicely.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 29, 2017 12:27:23 GMT
Very nice job on them.
Worth going to the blog for some close-ups.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 29, 2017 12:21:39 GMT
Yes, I would advocate some basic and fairly common troop types, because there are still some surprising gaps.
I think filling in these gaps would support existing releases, but would be troop-types that someone building an army would need a fair number of.
For Napoleonics, I would argue that a format that 'ranks up', like MAC, or as we have seen with the Prussian Landwehr, marching and attack with integral command. To me it would seem obvious to apply either format to:
- Pre-1812 French Line Infantry - Bardin French Line Infantry - Austrians - Stove-pipe British Infantry
I realise that there are already figures in the range for (1) and (4), but I think sets all dong the same thing, e.g. marching, is better.
I would also suggest Prussian Landwehr cavalry, because there were a lot of them!
Other basics, to my mind, would be:
- WW1 British Infantry 1916-1918 (I think the faceless Canadians could now be relieved of that duty). HaT already does gun crews, heavy weapons and Highlanders to suit the later war period. - WW2 Early War British Infantry.
I don't think Victorian colonials are obscure; they have traditionally always been amongst the mainstream choices. Back in the day we relied on generic British Infantry from the likes of Spencer Smith, but standards of accuracy, and sculpting have moved on since then. The Zulu War is fairly well represented, but otherwise its very patchy in 1/72nd.
We have a couple of great Indian Army sets from the late Nineteenth Century.
How about some Indian Army Screw Guns and crew, to provide an "all arms" force and some British Infantry to go with them?
I know there are some fairly generic Highlanders, but we cannot have the 3rd Foot & Mouth fight every campaign, so how about:
- Second Afghan War British Infantry (with home service trousers); and,
- Late Nineteenth Century British Infantry with Slade Wallace equipment.
For a third colonial period choice I would go for Egyptian Infantry, preferably in the 'white' uniform.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 20, 2017 16:30:06 GMT
Very impressive, indeed.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 20, 2017 13:01:33 GMT
Dear Hat, What happened to the three beautiful sets n° 8294, 8296, 8927, all concerning Nap infantry? They seemed to be ready for production not needing further refinements. Then Waterloo 1815 issued its own sets on the same subject and the process of your production had been interrupted. To me the two kind of products of the two manufacturers are rathrer different both in terms of poses, quality, and subjects. I think therefore that there is still a wide space on the market for your products. Regards. Giovanni.
I had to look these up!
8296 pre-1812 French Line Inf. Marching (link) 8297 pre-1812 French Line Inf. Command (link) 8294 1815 French Line Infantry Marching (link)
There cannot be a single Napoleonic figure more useful, or required in such great quantities, as the marching French line infantryman!
I note that the published test shots (of the sprues) for all 3 sets were dated 20 March 2016.
Please add my vote. I would dearly love to see all three sets.
I would also love to see:
Re-released, 8219 French Light Infantry Chasseurs (Marching) (link), as these seem to have been unavailable for some years now, whereas the elites always seem available; and, 8252 1808-1812 French Light Infantry Chasseurs Command (link)
AND
Re-mastered, the lost 1815 French Line Infantry Command - As the initial investment in this product seems lost, could this set now be the subject of crowd-funding?
Just add paint, glue and Austrians, Russians, Prussian or Brits to suit.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 19, 2017 17:37:09 GMT
I use the 19th century Indian cavalry in Mesopotamia with great satisfaction. For dismounted, I use the colonial Indian infantry because the turbans are closer in size and style to the cavalry than are the WW1 Indian infantry turbans, which (I think) are wrapped above the ears and are more Muslim than Sikh-looking.
Grumble,
I am coming round to this view. I may add bandoliers.
Thanks
James
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 19, 2017 17:34:52 GMT
They are: Sapper (pioneer), Officer with sword, Medic (Surgeon), and ADC. They're not more specific than that but yes, the officer with sword looks like a regular company officer and, I think, the ADC could serve as any of the more senior officers. Just a suggestion but if you've bought a good number of the marching set you might be needing officers. There was some debate on the HaT forum and other forums regarding the Sapper. Apparently Landwehr battalions didn't have attached sappers or pioneers, they only had blokes with axes who could clear obstacles and construct makeshift defences. You may have to blackball my application to join the button counters club because I can't see the difference. I think it's a good, useful figure and I certainly ordered one.
Graeme,
Very many thanks for this. As a result, I have now made my choice.
Best wishes
James
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 18, 2017 11:33:01 GMT
Great work, Edwardian, on this complete regiment with its three battalions, grenadiers included in the first one. Also good are the flags, the regimental one ("Coronela" flag, with the Royal coat of arms) in the first battalion and the two battalion flags ("Batallona" flag with the Burgundy cross).
Congratulations for the excellent paint job and the correct historical research.
Santi.
Thank you, Santi. Your comments on the accuracy are very much appreciated. I did try to get them as right as possible!
I understand that all three battalions of a regiment did not often take the field together, but I believe that all three battalions of the Órdenes Militares regiment were present at Bailén, though not in the same position. I also read that when Castanos brought regular regiments up to strength, the recruits wore waistcoats and forage caps from the other men. I do not know how true that is, but it would alter the look of the units.
I decided not to attempt this; I thought it would look messy and, after all, a small group of figures on a base is merely representative of a battalion, so I thought that a representative uniform would be best. In any case, I suspect the HaT figures represent a somewhat idealised picture of troops on campaign!
Nevertheless, I like the smartness of these figures!
I look forward to painting more, though I am sure many mistakes are on the way!
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 18, 2017 11:18:28 GMT
I have now received an email from HaT inviting me to choose the bonus figures from a set of four. This is very exciting, but I have evidently missed out on the course of developments here, so could some kind soul please explain what each represents?
Left to right are pictured a pioneer, an officer brandishing a sword (presumably a company officer), but then there is another officer who looks like he is holding a little case (a surgeon?), and, finally, an officer with a map.
What specifically do they represent?
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 11, 2017 12:14:15 GMT
For 7YW there are many options in 20mm metal for decades, however I'd love to see marching, advancing and firing in affordable plastic, and not giants like some sets by HäT and Zvezda!
The HaT Prussians are noticeably taller than the Redbox Brits or the Revell figures. Were they sized for the Zvezda figures, I wonder?
Anyway, I agree it would be good if any future 'Lace Wars' releases were brought down to earth slightly.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 10, 2017 14:16:29 GMT
Superb painting, I look forward to the release.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 10, 2017 13:29:26 GMT
I think in 1914 on the Western Front and in Mesapotamia early in the war the old uniforms would be ok, you can also use the WW1 Indian infantry to represent dismounted, and either swap the heads to match the mounted or vice versa.. for later war you may be better off head swapping the 1914 British Cavalry... It all depends on how much of a button counter you are, but think its all possible....
Thanks. Not too much of a button counter, I hope!
You raise a good point; I suspect that, if the dates were known, most of the Eastern theatre photographs would be more like 1917 than 1915.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 10, 2017 12:21:50 GMT
I have several boxes of HaT's Bengal lancers. They seem very well suited to the last years of the Nineteenth Century, e.g. campaigns on the North West Frontier (campaigns that would benefit from some later style British infantry figures, and a screw gun and crew!).
Anyhow, I thought HaT's Bengal lancers (HAT Set 8289) might also do for WW1. I had Mesopotamia in mind, though they also served on the Western Front.
Looking at contemporary photographs, Indian cavalry regiments in Mesopotamia invariably seem to be wearing service dress tunics, with chest pockets and fall-down collar quite visible, instead of the kurta worn in the HaT set. Whilst I am sure I will find that some Indian cavalry deployed wearing the kurta, it hardly seems typical. Furthermore, photographs of the Great War period invariably show the Indian cavalry wearing ammunition bandoliers, as seen in HaT's WW1 British cavalry and Australian Light Horse sets.
So, I am wondering whether the best way to represent the Indian cavalry in Mesopotamia might be to use the HaT WW1 British Cavalry (HAT Set 8272) and do head swops with the Bengal lancers?
The close-up of the 3 riders is in fact of cavalry in France, in 1917, but was the most detailed shot I could find. The other shots are from Mesopotamia, however.
If anyone has any suggestions or information that might help, I would be most grateful.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 10, 2017 8:21:26 GMT
The other issue with most other manufacturers' sets is the mix of poses. For regular/line infantry, I have always preferred being able to rank up figures for musket era wargames units. HaT really pioneered this approach with separate marching and fighting sets. I notice that HaT has recently adopted a similar approach, coinciding with a very noticeable improvement in the quality of their sculpting.
Some more such 7 Years War sets from HaT would be very welcome. I would like to see SYW French (preferably without turnbacks) I would not neglect the British, despite the excellent Redbox figures, because, again, the subject would benefit from a decent marching set. French and British sets would be useful for various colonial campaigns, including the French-Indian wars in North America and Clive in India, as well as Continental European campaigns. I'd also like to see French cavalry (breast plates under coats, please), and British dragoons, as well as artillery for France, Britain, Prussia and Austria.
I would also welcome troops for the American revolution.
Perhaps I have a somewhat old fashioned 'Grand Manner' approach, but, to my mind, nothing looks better than a decent number of marching figures ranked together in a column! Plastic 1/72 gives you the space and budget to do just that!
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 7, 2017 19:09:49 GMT
Very nice job on the very tricky problem of painting all white uniforms. Very realistic looking figures and they look great En Masse.
Thank you both.
It was fun giving these a go, I just have to find time to do some more!
As it seems there is a limit to images in each post, I hope I will be forgiven for posting some extra shots.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 7, 2017 11:17:27 GMT
I share the disappointment of others with regard to the 1/72nd British Light and Heavy Dragoons.
A signal blow to my Peninsular ambitions!
I infer from what it was said that it is, for some reason, now not possible to manufacture them to the correct size.
Can we please ask HaT to consider producing these figures, and the French 1813-1815 command, with new masters if necessary.
If necessary these could be put to crowd funding.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 7, 2017 10:22:49 GMT
I am glad to join this excellent new forum. I dip in and out of wargames figures, because I have limited time for hobbies and other hobbies that claim my time.
One of the great 1/72 releases of recent years has been the HaT Spanish infantry sets.
My first attempt at Napoleonics is the Órdenes Militares regiment (I have just worked out that you need to click on the thumbnails in order to see the pictures full-size!):
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 7, 2017 9:34:03 GMT
If there was to be MAC sets, or, rather, something like the forthcoming Prussian Landwehr with attack and marching sets, including command figures, for the Brunswickers. Alternative heads would allow for both Lieb and Line/Light
I would also love to see a decent French staff set. We have seen Napoleons and Marshalls and colourful ADCs, but it would be useful to have a quality set of mounted Generals of Division and Brigade and a sensible number of mounted ADCs in regulation uniform - 2 GdeDs, 4 GdeBs and 6 ADCs?
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 7, 2017 9:26:42 GMT
Top of my 1/72 requests lists would be, please:
8219 1808-12 French Chasseurs (Marching) 8252 1808-12 French Chasseurs Command 8094 WWI Ottoman Artillery and Machine guns
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 7, 2017 9:23:58 GMT
For wargames, I suppose the choice is whether to make buildings at a noticeably smaller scale, to accommodate the ground-scale, or whether you want something that visually complements the figures.
If the former, I suppose the easiest thing is to match the ground scale.
If the latter, a good starting point for HaT figures are UK-outline model railways to OO Gauge, which have a scale of 1/76. This is close enough to 1/72 and enables you to work to a handy scale of 4mm to a foot. However, selective compression is possible; many UK model railway buildings are compressed, particularly churches, so there is an art to shrinking the building but retaining the impression of scale.
The third way is, I suppose, anything in between that fits the space available and looks visually pleasing.
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