After years of my nagging, Chris & PA have now moved onto the Prussian cuirassiers; sculpting is well underway so here are some preliminary screen shots.😂
Although the walking Austrian cuirassier and generic dragoon pose is nice, feedback gained from my display/participation games is that the pose of the modified 'charging' Karoliner figures is nicer. (To be fair to Chris, the walking horse with trooper carrying the the sword on his shoulder was my idea).
For the Prussian cuirassiers we decided to revert to a more active fast trot similar to the old HE and Karoliner cavalry - I hope we made the right decision. Currently the plan is to produce 3 moulds, and in them provide the parts to make the usual officer, musician, standard bearer and trooper.
Trooper/Standard Bearer
This is a fine chap 'charging' at a fast trot, and being a cuirassier is mounted on a larger horse than the dragoons. He will come with a separate right sword arm, carbine and head.
The figure will also double as the standard bearer, the only real uniform difference is that the standard bearer's cross belt should be fringed but the trooper's plain - I suggested this did not warrant a separate figure/mould. and the fringe could be painted on, As with the dragoons, a small separate arm will be provided which needs drilling to add the standard pole.
Chris has also sculpted an outstretched arm with a pistol, but he is not sure if it will fit into this mould, so it might have to go with the officer where there is a bit more space?
Officer
Another nice chap, again separate right arm and head - and possibly a spare pistol arm.
Trumpeter
Again a nice figure with separate right arm and head (unfortunately it is not possible to add the chords to the trumpet as they would be too fragile for the mould making process).
Austrian (& Russian) cuirassier?
As I am sure you anyone who reads this blog is aware I am not happy with the current moulds for the Austrian cuirassiers as they are WAY too big, as a result of which I don't use them and instead use converted Karoliners.
If PA were to change the uniforms on these charging figures to represent Austrian cuirassiers do you think they would sell?
What is next?
I think after the Prussian cuirassier PA will be releasing the missing British standard bearer and NCO (I have not seen these yet).
As as usual comments welcome
These look great, can't fault them, just as long as the size is right. Really hope that the pistol arm gets put in somewhere too.
ReplyDeleteI reckon it might be an easy conversion to use the trumpeter with the hussars for Austrian and french regiments
I think they look good - the test print I have seen has the trooper the right size and the horse a fair bit larger than the dragoon horse, which is as it should be.
DeleteFor the dragoon trumpeters I have used the arm from the Austrian cuirassiers - a little on the large size but does the job.
Oh yes! Definitely want the pistol arm for some conversions -- I was going to use the hand off #47 but it's not very detailed.
DeleteThey really look good, very nice indeed.
ReplyDeleteI think so - hopefully no more conversions needed.
DeleteMany thanks for posting. It's great that PA is continuing the series. While I note that the work is still I progress and there will certainly be improvements anyway, I take the liberty of making a few suggestions for improvement:
ReplyDeleteTrooper/Standard Bearer
The head, upper body and arms look really good. I have nothing to complain about.
I don't like the position of the legs. PA11 shows how to do it better. The legs also seem a bit too long to me: According to the classic classification, the legs up to the joint make up 50% of the length of the body. Here it is significantly more. The position of the foot could also be better. As PA11 rightly shows, the foot is turned slightly outwards when riding, so that in a semi-plastic figure the foot must be shorter and the stirrups should not be shown entirely from the side. The spurs should at least be indicated.
The horse is obviously still in an early design phase and I assume that the head and neck will be heavily reworked. The depiction of the rear legs should be reconsidered. PA11 shows how to do it better. The tuft of grass has also been cleverly used there to give the figure stability.
Officer
I also like the head, upper body and arms very much here.
Legs/foot: see above.
Horse: Head and neck: see above.
The muscles should be worked out better (I didn't like the previous shapes very much).
Trumpeter
I also like the head, upper body and arms very much here.
Legs/foot: see above.
Horse: Head and neck: see above.
The position of the hind legs should be improved. At the moment it looks static.
I agree with the comment about the rear legs on the trumpeter horse - a different pose would work better with the other two figures
DeleteI will pass on the comments, however as far as I am aware the sculpting is complete and they are at the tool making stage.
DeleteThese will be separate heads still?
ReplyDelete(I'm after them for 'Imaginations' stuff so I'd want to give them less flattened tricorns to match other figures...)
Oh, never mind -- I read the post properly this time... it does say sep heads. Super! I'll be picking them up!!
DeleteThey should have separate heads - but check before you order.
DeleteI'm told the heads are separate.
DeleteNice to see PA well ahead with more molds although I found it a bit odd that they didn’t finish the British infantry first. I cast up about 40 of the latter this weekend and they turned out quite nice so am definitely looking forward to casting the NCO and standard bearer. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long.
ReplyDeleteThe Prussian cuirassiers look good and I am sure will complement my conversions especially since the pose of the horse is different. Seems 2025 might be a good casting year with plenty of releases.
As far as I am aware the missing British command figures are next in line after the cuirassiers.
DeleteFirst: very good news that so soon after the edition of british moulds, already a new group is in the pipeline - thank you PA. Second: I think the prussian cuirassiers look good. Although a group in the Rossbach serie of PA have the same unit, this group of the SYW is much more detailed and the poses are well chosen. I will buy these moulds for sure. Third: yes, I believe there is a market for adapted uniforms to get Austrians for 3 reasons: size of the first Austrian cuirassiers are too big to fit into the other groups of the SYW and second because it looks strange if you place wild attacking Prussians against calm almost standing Austrians cavallery. Finally because there are 3 horse-poses instead of one. The first Austrians cuirassiers is the only group, I have not bought - not because I don't like the figures, they look great, but because of the non fitting size. The SYW was mainly a war between Austria and Prussia - so these two armies should be complete (also with cavallery).
ReplyDeleteI currently have 3 units of Rossbach cuirassiers converted by swapping heads to those from the SYW range, adding carbines to the troopers and making a trumpeter. They look nice but are a bit on the small side. Hopefully these will be a better fit.
DeleteI will suggest PA modify them to make Austrians, it should not be a massive task - it always helps if customers also ask on their FB page.