Wednesday 30 November 2016
About Time!
http://princeaugust.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/new-release-seven-years-war-french.html
Now we need some cavalry!
Wednesday 26 October 2016
French Infantry - painting masterclass
Just to whet your appetite a little more - here are some photos of the figures Richard Hattersley has painted up for the packaging artwork - not bad I suppose?
I think that these look some of the nicest figures so far - well done Chris and Richard.
Now he needs to paint some fighting units - and Prince August need to get them into production!
I think that these look some of the nicest figures so far - well done Chris and Richard.
Now he needs to paint some fighting units - and Prince August need to get them into production!
Sunday 16 October 2016
French - Swiss Guards
In case anyone is still interested in the French infantry - I thought I would post pictures of a unit I have just completed.
I went for the march attack figure with the coat tails loose, as these are something a little different. I decided to paint them as Swiss Guard as I fancied some for my French 'Karoliner' army. (They would probably have been better with turn backs, but I wanted to try the figure without them.)
With the lose coats the range has become useful for earlier periods.
You should be able to put them on your Christmas list!
You should be able to put them on your Christmas list!
Friday 2 September 2016
Cavalry - Digital Sculpting
Austrian Cuirassier
Trooper
Back in July last year I posted a picture of the 'green' for the Austrian cuirassier, which received encouraging feedback.
Soon afterwards PA decided to move over to digital sculpting. The changeover has not been as smooth as hoped, and nothing has been added to the range since the Russians, which were that last of the traditional sculptures. Things are now moving again, the French infantry are ready to go, with a few production problems being ironed out.
The figure has now been replicated digitally, and we think it is pretty much complete. In response to comments last year the reins have been stylised a little to give the impression of being double, without making the area around the bit too heavy
There are a couple of minor changes I have asked Chris to make:
- Modify the buckle positions on the harness, remove the top one at the intersection and replace with two more on the straps below.
- Add a line around the holster cover similar to the one on the saddlecloth.
I think it looks very nice, if there are any error/omissions please let me know.
Trumpeter
Progress on this is not quite as advanced, and the horse, sword etc. will be replaced with the one above - so please just consider this as a taster.
I asked him to base the pose on the old Holger Eriksson mould PA26, and I think it will end up looking great.
Officer and Standard Bearer
There will also be an officer with a sword pointing forwards and a standard bearer, both based on the trooper. Progress is not sufficient to show, as the plan is to tidy up everything on the trooper first and move on from there.
Dragoons
Once the Austrian cuirassier are complete, in order to keep things moving we are considering issuing a 'Prussian' dragoon mould. This will just provide torsos and heads to fit the same horse, and would contain:
- Trooper, similar to above unless there are any suggestions (needs to fit this horse)
- Officer
- Drummer
- Standard bearer
Dragoons were pretty generic, and with minor changes such as tricorn style and the way the carbine is slung (it will be separate) the Austrians, Prussians, French and quite a few others could be covered.
If we can squeeze them it we could add some horse grenadier heads - if not they will have to be taken from the infantry.
Russian Cavalry
Unlike the Austrians, Prussians etc the Russians had their sword belts on the outside of the coat, so these will need some additional moulds.
The French cuirassiers also had belts on the outside.
Prussian Cuirassiers
These will need separate moulds as they wore coats with shorter tails.
..............as always comments welcome.
..............as always comments welcome.
Friday 26 August 2016
French Infantry Update..............again
Nothing very exiting, just the mould listing for the French infantry, which are sculpted and waiting for packaging design etc.
I have not seen the moulds yet, but they look OK from the images I have.
Mould 3113 - Infantry in full coat - march attack and advancing
1. March attack figure
I have not seen the moulds yet, but they look OK from the images I have.
Mould 3113 - Infantry in full coat - march attack and advancing
1. March attack figure
2. Arm & musket for march attach
3. Fusilier head - tricorn
4. Sword
5. Grenadier head - bearskin
6. Sword
7. Advancing figure
(The casting has a groove in the coat to accept the sword, which is fine early war, and for those troops which carry a sword.
If you don't want a sword there might be a bit of work to fill the groove if it doesn't paint over).
Mould 3114 - Infantry in with coat turned back - march attack and advancing
2. Arm & musket for march attach
3. Fusilier head - tricorn
4. Bonnet-de-police head
5. Sword
6. Fusilier head - tricorn
7. Sword
8. Advancing figure
Mould 3115 Drummer and officer
2. Sword
3. Fusilier head - tricorn
4. Officer head - tricorn
5. Officer body
6. Grenadier head - bearskin
Mould 3116 Standard Bearer and NCO
2. NCO partisan
3. Officer bare head - with
curled wig
4. Grenadier head - tricorn (moustache)
5. Officer head - tricorn
6. Standard bearer body
7. Officer's sword
As I said, I haven't got my hands on any of these moulds yet, but they do exist and cast - so hopefully not too long now (have I said that before)!
Saturday 18 June 2016
Battle of Chotusitz
Last weekend I spent a very enjoyable weekend with a group of gamers from the AMG (A Military Gentlemen) group, which is a group of gamers with a general interest in 18th Century Gaming.
http://amilitarygentleman.blogspot.co.uk/
A group very worth joining - to do so you will need to buy the book 'A Military Gentleman' from the above website - a very nice book - but not cheap.
Over the two days we played the Battle of Chotusitz twice, using the 40mm semi flats on a 12'x6' table. The table was of a size which allowed us to represent each of the units shown on the map below with one of my gaming units of either 16 infantry or 8 cavalry.
Figures were a bit of a hotchpotch:
And the long lines of Austrians eager to crush the Prussians in front of them before Frederick arrived with the bulk of the infantry.
In more detail - just to show off my new Russians (Austrians today).
http://amilitarygentleman.blogspot.co.uk/
A group very worth joining - to do so you will need to buy the book 'A Military Gentleman' from the above website - a very nice book - but not cheap.
Over the two days we played the Battle of Chotusitz twice, using the 40mm semi flats on a 12'x6' table. The table was of a size which allowed us to represent each of the units shown on the map below with one of my gaming units of either 16 infantry or 8 cavalry.
Figures were a bit of a hotchpotch:
- There were 16 units of Austrian infantry, of which about half were my new SYW Austrians and Hungarians - the remaining units being white coated French.
- The 17 units of Prussian infantry were all blue coated 'Prussians', again about half new and the rest 'Karoliners'.
- The 25 units of cavalry were just a mix of what we have (not helped by the fact that I left 6 units at home!). Like many of you I am waiting for the new Cuirassiers.
And the long lines of Austrians eager to crush the Prussians in front of them before Frederick arrived with the bulk of the infantry.
I took a few photos, but not really with sufficient regularity to describe the game, so I will just show a few shots of interest.
Part way through the cavalry melee on the west of the field. The Austrians are gettingthe better of it, but there is no way I can tell you who is who!
And at the other end of the field, east of Chotusitz, another very confused cavalry melee - again I can't remember which units were Prussian and which Austrian!
And the Austrian infantry assault on the centre, after seeing off Leopold they are confronted by Frederick's infantry lines.
The situation just prior to the end of the second game. The infantry in Frederick's 'square' is pretty much all that remains; Leopold's infantry and most of the cavalry having been swept from the field. Shortly after this point the far end of the square caved in under a combination of short range musketry followed by a charge of the Austrian cavalry; at which point we called it an Austrian victory.
The games were played with the 'Field of Battle' rules, which allowed the games to be played to a conclusion on both days. The card driven approach gave rise to some odd/amusing swings in play, which most players enjoyed.
There are some more photos on Mark Dudley's blog:
And just something which might be of interest - Chris has found space in one of the moulds for an officers head without a hat - oh the shame!
Thursday 2 June 2016
French Infantry - Sculpting Complete!
I've not posted anything for over a month, so I thought it time for an update - just to show I am still here!
It's been a long learning process..........however I'm pleased to say that Chris has now finished the sculpting of the French infantry - and they have been tweaked a bit to make them fit in even better with the older figures.
He has also taken the opportunity to add two new figures - a standard bearer:
And also an NCO without turnbacks (so the chap with a sword I discussed in the last post is an officer).
In addition to the tricorns there will be a grenadier head
And a bonnet de police (not quite finished)
The 3D printing is now all sorted, below is a casting of the French infantryman with turnbacks advancing (right), shown alongside an advancing Austrian (er left), as you can see they are a pretty good match. (Since this version the facial features exaggerated a little, and the tricorn enlarged, see image).
It's been a long learning process..........however I'm pleased to say that Chris has now finished the sculpting of the French infantry - and they have been tweaked a bit to make them fit in even better with the older figures.
He has also taken the opportunity to add two new figures - a standard bearer:
And also an NCO without turnbacks (so the chap with a sword I discussed in the last post is an officer).
In addition to the tricorns there will be a grenadier head
And a bonnet de police (not quite finished)
The 3D printing is now all sorted, below is a casting of the French infantryman with turnbacks advancing (right), shown alongside an advancing Austrian (er left), as you can see they are a pretty good match. (Since this version the facial features exaggerated a little, and the tricorn enlarged, see image).
I should get a set of test moulds shortly - AND THEN THE CAVALRY!
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