Partizan - Newark - October 12th 2025
Along with Simon Miller (the author of the To the Strongest rules), I am putting on a display/participation game using my 40mm SYW collection. The game will be on a 12' x 6' table and will be based on the Battle of Kolin, using a draft version of Simon's new 18th century rules.
If any of you are planning to go to Partizan, please pop in and have a chat, and if any of you want to join in the game let me know in the comments below and I will let you have more details.
SYW - North America
Chris has sent me some pictures of the figures for the initial release of figures for the SYW in North America. These figures are near complete so should be released in the (PA) near future.
(I recently bought a copy of the Muskets and Tomahawks skirmish rules and am hoping steer PA towards producing enough figures to allow a French and Indian Wars 'skirmish' game to be played?)
British Rangers
There will be four figures in two moulds comprising:
- Officer with musket pointing
- Ranger firing
- Ranger loading
- Ranger advancing
There is a large variety of heads, which as usual will be interchangeable, also the officer will have a separate hand so he can have either a musket or a tomahawk (probably not the separate arm shown). These four figures, with head swaps, should be enough to make a nice skirmishing unit.
Native Americans
Initially there will just be a single mould with:
- Native American firing
- Native American advancing
First impression: a big WOAW (positive). The group looks very dynamic and poses are perfect in anatomy. I love the difference of the poses among the group and compared to the figures known so far, especially of the advancing figures and the shooting indian (sad, the lower part – leg pose of the officer and advancing ranger is identical). I also agree, that the 4 Ranger figures give a nice and „complete“ group. As for the indians I would prefer the one with no cloths on top, would get a kind of cloth, maybe a vest, so it can be used from spring to autumn. This one is certainly not for cold period. But I agree, it is very picturesque. Let it be the only one half naked. Also I would have liked to see one figure with a bow instead of musket. The advancing indian would be ideal for that. Bows and cloths may still come in future indian moulds. Uniform details: I am not a specialist in the Northamerican theatre, but it looks good for me. Shooting indian: are these gaiters or trousers? If the latter, there should be a strap up to the belt, on each side to fix the trousers like cowboy trousers.
ReplyDeleteConclusion:
If the proposition of Steve (some figures with two separate arms) will be realised, this will be a fantastic group. The dynamic poses will add more life in a display with the „calmer“ line-figures. Bravo and thank you to Chris. 100 % sure to buy.
I'm glad you like them - I know Chris is enjoying sculpting these irregular troops.
DeleteI have suggested that most of the indians should have more clothes!
I think it is more likely the figures will have fixed arms and separate weapons as there is not a lot of space in the moulds.
Wow those Indians are perfect! certainly a mould I'm going to get ASAP. The rangers are also a great addition to the range. Hoping for lots more in the future!
ReplyDeleteI'll pass on the complements to Chris.
DeleteThese are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI like sets of toy soldiers for my cabinet, rather than wargaming and these tick every box. Ive already converted some PA figures to make my own rangers, these will fit in nicely.
I usually buy all the releases anyway, just to support the range, but these are a must.
Compliments to the designer
I'll pass on your compliments.
DeleteWhat did you use for the conversions ? I suspect the Russian infantry on waistcoats might be useful for North America.
They look great. I particularly like the "advancing" figure (or is it sneaking?). I would prefer the "pointing" officer to have his left arm hanging down.
ReplyDeleteI'll tell Chris you like them.
DeleteAs the range expands some more poses will be added.
Oh! Those are nice!! This is FANTASTIC news for the range!! Definitely on my shopping list when they come out. Like the hatchet arm. That'll be useful for conversions -- Early C18th dragoons carried them and they'll make a nice variation.
ReplyDeleteI expect to be at Partizan. I will wander along and say hi.
On the wagon front -- I have laid my hands on the Meisterzinn wagon moulds. No chance to try it for a while, but I'll give it a go and see how it comes out.
I'm painting up my first units!! Currently doing the command. They're coming out very nicely using largely the TTC paints with a few Foundry additions.
I have made wagons from the Meisterzinn mould. Works good but be aware, that the axles where you put in the wheels are too thin compared to the weight of the wagon. The chassis is heavy. After some time, the axles began to bend under the weight of the wagon - even more if you load it with barrels and sacks of Meisterzinn. I recommand to use the limber and back axles and make the chassis of cardboard or plastic or you cut the axles and replace them with a brass rod and put the wheels there.
DeleteKatie
DeleteI think the arms will be fixed and the separate hatchet will be just be with a hand - it is a squeeze getting things in the mould - also the intention is to be able to switch weapons across the range.
If you are going to Partizan we might be looking for players?
Stefan
DeleteI made a lot of wagons - but cheated and 3D printed them!
Stefan -- good intel, thank you! I might try casting the axle areas with steel pins in and see if that works. And I'll need some wagon bodies out of plastic card/balsa eventually to do flat wagons for my pontoon bridge components.
DeleteSteveM -- I'm not sure how much time I'll have tbh -- there's a lot of shopping to do at Partizans!! Maybe for a turn or two? It's a shame about the arm -- it would make it easier to re-pose and add variety. Still useful though! Pass on appreciation for all this work to Chris at PA!! Trying not to take up 3D printing because I already have two jobs that involve arguing with technology...
For everyone -- if you're after metal and can make it to mainstream UK games shows such as Partizan... Dave at Caliver Books, if asked nicely, will resell the metal they use for Minifigs. It comes in ~1250g bars and if you can collect at shows there's no shipping costs (which can get expensive given the weight). I've been hacksawing the bars in half, melt them in a frying pan/electric hob setup until it's chocolatey and can be roughly cast into little ingots in a silversmithing mould for use in the proper PA solder pot. It's not specifically for drop-casting (they spin-cast it) but (apart from wheels) I've been getting good results. (Apparently he buys it in tonne quantities!)
Most of the figures are cast from old unwanted figures and off-cuts which have been given to me - it's surprising how much there is out there. Quality can be variable to say the least.
DeleteFor figures with paint on set up the solder pot outside on a sunny day and stand well back to avoid the fumes.
For tricky parts such s wheels I use their expensive Model Metal which casts much better.
Great poses! I personally like some more bare chested natives. But those tomahawks look more like hatchets to me..
ReplyDeleteI'll pass on the message - I agree the tomahawks are too heavy and have already discussed it - however I am told the masters need to be sufficiently robust to withstand the mould pressing process.
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful. The poses seem very dynamic and well thought out. Can't wait to add these.
ReplyDeleteI've told Chris the figures have been well received.
DeleteWith the light and irregular troops there is a lot more scope for dynamic poses. The poses on the 'close order' troops were deliberately restrained so they would rank up into nice 'old school' units.