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I agree, these are some of the best Strelets sets I've seen; detailed, fine, elegant and poised. How they make me wish Strelets would turn its talents and attentions to the Seven Years War and produce British and French sets!
Reflecting on recent posts, I wonder, do we need sets for all nations?
Uniforms are fairly generic at this period.
True, there are myriad detailed distinctions: Different patterns of spontoons, liveried musicians etc, but, really, uniform items are pretty similar across the nations.
The French need their own sets, as they are distinguished by their ventral cartridge boxes and differently patterned coat pocket flaps. Yet, some of the French could just as easily be painted up for Spanish and the British sets suit many nations. I have British figures, for instance, ready to be painted as Dutch and Danes.
What, specifically, would make an unpainted set of figures for this period Danish for instance?
Austrians might be distinguished by fur grenadier caps or Prussians by cutaway coats, but many nations' infantry just involved a change of colour for this period in this scale. Fertile ground, these sets, for Imaginations, too, I should have thought.
I think the idea of generic infantry - and cavalry for that matter - certainly works for this period. There was a conversation a few years ago on another manufacturer's Forum along similar lines; it is an idea which is well worth reviving.
Yes, there are distinctions for certain nations, and the French are clearly deserving of their own sets, both because of their specific equipment details (and certain uniform details)...and also because they are the largest army of the period!
Yes, the English/British sets can certainly be used generically, although I think I'd prefer a generic set - say, Dutch or Danish - without the marching order that PSR have noted as being (usually) discarded before combat. A generic Dutch or Danish set, alongside the sets already released, would allow most nations to be modelled.
The Bavarians have distinctive grenadier headgear, but I am in fact planning to do some head replacements using SYW Austrian grenadier heads from another well-known manufacturer's sets for my Bavarian grenadiers. Not perfect, but good enough in my view.
Let us also not forget that a number of very useful GNW sets have been released in the past, both by Strelets and more particularly (in my case) by Zvezda. Having invested in the past in lots of these sets they will be used in my WoSS armies, as well as constituting nearly all of my existing GNW Swedes and Russians (and Saxons as well).
Incidentally, having rather 'over-bought' Swedish infantry in the past (they have coat turn-backs which make them awkward figures to use for WoSS), I am now pressing them into service as circa 1740s British Foot for Dettingen, Fontenoy etc. To my mind they work quite well in this 'new' role.
Much cavalry for the period is also generic, and if there was only one further set that Strelets produced for the WoSS I think my vote would go with a set of really good generic dragoons to serve in most European armies for the WoSS period.
But very hopefully, we will not be limited to only one further set!!
Re: French WSS Range: Thoughts on Infantry (1690-1715) and other sets
As suggested before, I would be glad to see an infantry set labelled as "generic european" in order to cover other nations which were important as well such as Austria, Prussia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
Re: French WSS Range: Thoughts on Infantry (1690-1715) and other sets
Hi,
Cavalrywise, I would like the more unique types of horse to be covered, and some of these are to be found in the Imperial Austrian army:
-Austrian/Bavarian cuirassiers (a kind of mandatory one)
-Hungarian hussars in Austrian service,
Then, among the others, probably 3 or 4 sets would see it done:
-Maison du Roi cavalry (may do with 3 or 4 figures of each unit)
-a British Dragoons set (just in name, generic enough to cover whatever)
-French Dragoons mounted AND dismounted, wearing distinctive headgear. 1 of each?
So, that's a total of 5 or 6.
One thing I would love to find in future cavalry sets is some smart-looking kettledrummers! There are not many around, you know, and they quite add to the visual appeal of the era.
- "Light" Cavalry - standard French "Horse"
- Dragoons
- Artillery
I wonder in what volumes people buy figures for such ranges, and I have no idea whether my consumption is above or below average? So far, I have invested in 30 boxes across the range of 4 WSS infantry sets, which, I feel, represents sufficient investment in the range so far as to justify commenting on what else it might usefully contain!
Re: French WSS Range: Thoughts on Infantry (1690-1715) and other sets
Dear Edwardian, I'm very interested in your plans when creating such a large-scale project of VSS in 1/72? Are you suggesting creating a diorama or popularizing this conflict in wargame? Is it possible to get acquainted with your works?
Re: French WSS Range: Thoughts on Infantry (1690-1715) and other sets
You are very kind, Valentin, thank you.
I tend to paint up wargames units (to a rather generous 1:20 figure ratio, because that gives units a meaningfully sized appearance to my eyes), but have never wargamed!
Sad, I know.
I would be happy to post pictures as and when I have them, probably on Benno's, and let you know!