Not too bad, really. Yes, the assembly is time-consuming, not all the poses you need are on the parts sprues and like the infantry you can take issue with some of the sculpting choices. But if you don't mind gluing stuff together, the price is right.
To my eyes, the biggest flaw is the riders sitting a bit far back. This can't be easily helped, as they ride with bent knees right up against saddle holsters. Had these been placed a bit further forward towards the horses' shoulders, I think it would have helped the appearance. That and the horses' legs look a tad short to me.
It's interesting to compare with these old Heinrichsen flats in 3/4 profile, the sword pose I wish could be made right off the parts sprues.
Super looking figs and interesting to see with flats too...
ReplyDeleteThe 'Tartar' cap of the Grenadier a cheval is quite distinctive indeed, but could have inspired the uniform designer of a francophile {Imagi-}Nation. More than one country gave mitres to its grenadiers, for instance, so why not -if the coat is not blue? A member of 'Emperor vs Elector' planned to buy a lot of Grenadiers a cheval standard-bearers to build a regiment of 18th C. 'Turcopoles' lancers.
ReplyDeleteAlternatively it could be used for trumpeters, if the colonel proprietaire has family roots in Eastern Europe (I'm sure there is a historical precedent, though the reference escapes me now), or a taste for exotic fashion: Maurice de Saxe and Murat did 'worse'.
Thanks, gentlemen !
ReplyDeleteGood observations about the tartar cap, Jean-Louis. You're right. And I plan to use them for my Bourgogne imagi-nation foot grenadiers. That's another good point about the WF infantry and cavalry, some of the body parts can be swapped back and forth.
Regards,
Steve
Those3 flats are gorgeous! and odd as it might seem, look more real. I think you are right about the horses legs, but I think the round figure's neck and torso are a little too long. Which might explain why the 2 figures have the same over all height despite the shorter horse legs.
ReplyDeleteWhich is not to say that the finished figures don't look good.
Thanks, Ross !
ReplyDeleteYour take on the proportions of the figures is right on. Although my intent was to show desired sword pose, Wargames Factory couldn't help but come off second best posed next to flats (even ones designed in 1920). You could do the same with about any other 28mm wargames figures figures. It's like comparing two quite different schools of art, although they both purport to realism.
Regards,
Steve
Steve and Ross;
ReplyDeleteInteresting point about the comparison. I've had this conversation with a few of the sculptors and makers that I know and most (besides not being trained artists) feel that if they produced this type of anatomically-correct figure it would not be accepted, either by the manufacturer or the end-user. They may be right, but Les Higgins, Charles Stadden, Ted Suren and others in their day would have proved them wrong. In today's crop of figures, I guess Frank Hammond's and Richard Ansell's "Minden" range would probably come the closest. I do wish more sculptors and makers would pay attention to this, as I think the public could be swayed.
Bill
Steve,
ReplyDeleteOnce again nicely done - I think some of your concerns with the Cavalry Figures will be lost once enmasse on the gaming table - the sitting too far back thing will probably 'disappear' and the short legs being less noticeable 'in a crowd' - I certainly appreciate what you and Aidan have contributed the last few days on assembling the WF WSS plastic Infantry & Cavalry. As I mention on my blog I'm just about to start on assembling my WF figs for use with Sam Mustafa's new 'Maurice' (he of apparently unfashionable sense above) rules, and although a keen fan of the WSS era I am really starting from scratch with regard to uniform knowledge and organisational info - so the heads up on all the little quirks has saved me a few blunders I might have regretted later...
I am interested in your heads of the cavalry observations - that one of the heads is specifically only useful for a single French Regiment is a bit of a stunner - considering it's a generic pack designed to cover most cavalry types - and you say yet it doesn't have a suitable head for French Dragoons (a presumably much more numerous troop type)? I presume hopefully that 90% of Cavalry just wore the Tricorne anyway, with some of the Dutch (and possibly Austrians) still wearing 'lobster-pot' helmets and ECW style buff-coats, so not too many had the more unique headgear?
@Sir William the Aged - Bill, FWIW I agree with you totally - luckily a few sculptors do get somewhere close (if not completely so) - such as the Perrys, and more so some of the 28mm plastic manufacturer's sculptors like the HäT hard plastic figs (most notably the Napoleonic ones)...
Cheers,
John
Wargaming.info
Steve - do you mind if I use one of your cav pics above in a post on my site (with appropriate link of course)?
ReplyDeleteCheers,
John
Certainly you have my permission, John. Thanks for asking.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Steve
Thanks Steve - I'll let you know when it's up. :)
ReplyDeleteUp Now :-)
ReplyDeleteMaurice – First Game Impressions