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Once again, PSR have done an excellent job in providing a thorough review, this time of new set 234.
The review goes into considerable detail, and discusses the good and less good points of this set. The review highlights the failings of the set, as discussed here, with regards the highly inaccurate short length of the muskets and the tiny flag. However, the review does like the poses a lot, and the score for elements other than historical accuracy are robust.
There is also a very helpful final paragraph which discusses the PSR approach to providing a score, in the context of historical accuracy.
I hope that one day, when things are back to something like 'normal' Strelets may be able to re-model this set. For the time being, I am still swaying between buying just two boxes and spending quite a lot of time replacing the muskets (and possibly the hats as well). On the other hand, do I want to spend time and effort on this?
One thing that I would flag up (excuse the pun): Is it time now for Strelets to provide standard bearers with poles only, especially where the flag itself is so large that moulding it presents a problem? My vote would be for the pole only, and leave it for the modeller to procure or make up a flag from paper etc.
Totally agree with previous comments about PSR review, the poses are excellent but the short firearms worry me, as when firing in say a 3 rank formation the firearms would interfere with 1st & 2nd rank when fired due to sparks, smoke getting in other ranks eyes & faces, those of you who maybe re-enactors or have fired black powder weapons will know this
as i have collected many armies for at least 6 decades have noted that most metal figure makers produced standard bearers without flags leaving the buyer to either paint & make own flags or get flags from commercial makers and these there is so many flags available either online (some Free) or from sellers
the book references listed on PSR are highly recommended too, the series of books published by Helion in their Century of the Soldier series are a gold mine
looking forward to more WSS sets from Strelets like the proposed mounted commanders
It is a pity that once Strelets show us the masters they are unable to respond to our suggestions for changes regarding accuracy etc.
As Minuteman has said I will buy a box and alter the guns, hats and poles. (for Flag-bearer and Sargeants).
When I've done that, I'll post some pictures.
Well, that was a review to be expected, and it's a pity that Strelets were either unable to, or did not care to, head it off by making changes before the release. I suspect things were too far advanced before we were let in on the plan. A pity, because all the necessary information, with references, was canvassed here. As I have said, my experience of a sister market, that of model trains, is that manufacturers who are open to constructive criticism and properly referenced information generally have happier outcomes than those who brook no such interference.
That said, it is a very fair review. It gives credit for the many fine features of this set. I, too, have been quite taken up by the idea of trying to convert a couple of boxes worth to flintlocks with barrels of a proper length. It would be a crying shame not to use these figures somehow, and I think that, thus converted, they could be a great way to supplement the Set 236 figures, swelling the ranks of the fusiliers, adding the nice early war touch of shoulder-slung cartridge boxes.
With the flags I think it's a case of hack away and start from scratch, which I'm happy to do.
The star of the set is that drummer. Absolutely spot on. If only he were part of a usable set of fusiliers!
I still think the whole concept of musketeers, i.e. matchlock men, is redundant for the French in WSS, so a second fusilier set would have been more useful. I would love to know the basis for PSR's assertion that some matchlocks were still in front-line use up to 1708. Very interesting if true. If true, I'd be up for some long barrel conversions without changing the lock. Any one able to shed further light?
So, near miss, but, worth salvaging; and if they can be corrected by the purchaser, a first class set could still result.
Let's hope Strelets seeks feedback early and then listens in future.
"I would love to know the basis for PSR's assertion that some matchlocks were still in front-line use up to 1708."
Me too. According to the following article which contains a chapter on the transition from the mousquet to the fusil (pp.101-103) the whole French infantry was equipped with flintlocks by 1703.
p. 103: "Le 1er octobre 1703, une ordonnance supprime les dernières piques et, cette même année, l'usage du fusil à baïonnette à douille sera devenu général dans l'infanterie française."