Russian Infantry - ready to go

Chris has now finished the changes to the figures, they look really good, I will not reload photos of them all, just some examples.

Winter Uniform - Grenadiers

The helmet has been changed to give a longer rear peak, and the coat improved by adding buttons, and pleats in the back to break up the plain area.

Guard Grenadiers

We thought it worth squeezing in a head (in one of the command moulds) for those of you who fancied some guards units, never used in the field, but they will look good in those imaginations!

Summer Uniform - Musketeers

And with the summer uniform a vent has been added to the back of the waistcoat. And the angle on the tricorn has been steepened a little.


















As always comments welcome.

French Infantry

Some thoughts on future plans - probably a looooooooong way off yet.

All quiet on the western front.

The Russians are due out in the the next couple of months, and that should complete the 'close order' infantry for the eastern theater. PA have always planned to get the troops done for the eastern conflict before moving on to the west, however recent discussions, and looking at what troops are already in the moulds has made me wonder what is actually needed for the west?

Certainly the British uniforms were distinctive, particularly the highlanders, so these warrant quite a few new moulds, so quite a major undertaking.

But what about the French, who operated without the British as opponents alongside the Imperial Army as at Rossbach, is much needed to release these?

Is there actually any need for French infantry moulds?

As far as I can see the French uniforms were very similar to the Russians (and to some extent Austrians and Prussians), the main difference being that many, but by no means all, illustrations show the waist belt still worn on the outside; so the Russians would probably be fine provided you are happy with the belts on the inside. (Also, I already have 100's of Karoliners painted up as French, and I suspect so do many others), so is there really a place for French moulds??

The answer is no..........and yes, I don't think they are really needed, however PA want this SYW range to be a stand alone, so yes it is worth doing something.

What to put in?

The answer is probably to treat the French in a similar way to the Austrians, and release a single mould (two bodies and three heads), which has the parts needed to allow the French to be built up using Russian, Austrian and Prussian figures - so what is needed?

For the bodies

I think stick with the old formula:

• Infantry advancing - waist belt outside
• Infantry march attack - waist belt outside
• (Or possibly a drummer without turnbacks?)

Heads

• Two French tricorns
• A grenadier bearskin

I could do with a bit of help here as I find the information confusing:

• Would the French tricorns be different from the Russians?
• Did the French wear mustaches (just grenadiers)?
• Was the French bearskin different to the Austrian - any pictures welcome (particularly the back)?

As I have said these are only initial thoughts, however it does look as if the French infantry can be covered quite well with a single mould - any thoughts?