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Re: Friday- topic for today?

Yes, they fit only for the 7th prussian uhlan regiment.
Sorry, they would have been more usable without the braided dolman for many other uhlan regiments - for austrians, polish or other prussian uhlans. Some cutting work to do for conversions....

Re: Friday- topic for today?

As an afterthought and considering the thread sofar, making the red Uhlans in fielddress, opens up loads of options, for they can be used as French, Polish Russian Austrian and whatever state fielded lancers based on the Polish dress. Saddles could eventually be cut or converted using green stuff where ever required. That would be easier than headswaps.

Re: Friday- topic for today?

Dear Strelets,

Superb figures. I particularly like to see the uhlans, of course.

Regards, James

Re: Friday- topic for today?

Strelets, you have exceeded yourselves today … the preview figures are superb, reflecting that military life is not just about war and fighting. It is the trivial and usually peaceful activities that fill a soldier's time. Love the Legionnaire with the dog and the chap playing the small accordion. No other manufacturer can compare with the range of subjects nor the wonderful "at ease" poses. Cannot wait to see more of these ...

Re: Friday- topic for today?

This is great every bodies happy something for everyone well done Mr Strelets.:heart_eyes:

Re: Friday- topic for today?

I think a bit of clarification is needed here Strelets. Are those Prussian uhlans wearing braided dolmans and correctly shaped Prussian czapkas (significantly different to everyone else's) just EXACTLY what I asked for???

Only joking, of course they are!

Regarding usage:

For the 7th Uhlans (ex Hellwigs Streifcorp) these figures are good to go straight from the box.

Put the czapka heads on Strelets recent set of Prussian Uhlans in litewkas and you have the ex Bremen Volunteers contingent of the 6th Uhlans.

Put the czapka heads on Strelets recent prussian dragoon set in kollets and give them lances and you have the 3rd Silesian Landwehr Cavalry.

Maybe a bit of digging might turn up some other uses for the czapkas; and yes, I will buy boxes just for the heads (although the figures and horses might also be useful).

I didn't seriously expect my request to be realised but here they are, that's awesome! And now we will have the chance to depict a lot of the amazing variety in the Prussian cavalry.

Thank You very much.

The Legionaire with the dog is very cool and great conversion potential. And I could see the guy with the squeezebox in a WWI trench.

Re: Friday- topic for today?

Another batch of excellent sculpting and i do like the Uhlans.
I believe they represent the 1st & 2nd Squadrons of the 7th Uhlans.
The 3rd Squadron wore a busby and blue dolman and were not equipped with the lance.
The were formed from Hellwig (1st & 2nd Sqds) and Schill's (3rd Sqd) Free corps Frankish Hussars.
They were part of Thielemanns 3rd corps.
I really like these recent Prussian Uhlan sculpts (the horses wernt the best but the men themselves are 1st class!).

I also agree the chap with the dog is also an amazing pose.

Re: Friday- topic for today?

Everything important about this wonderful figures has been said.

Therefore: "Just wonderful !" :heart_eyes: :clap:

Re: Friday- topic for today?

Boy oh boy! I had pretty much been able to limit my 1/72 collecting to AWI through ACW (strong on Napoleonic Era). But I've always had a big warm spot in my heart for the French Foreign Legion (shades of Beau Geste); to paraphrase what the man said, "Just when I thought I was out - YOU pull me back in!" Great work.

Re: Friday- topic for today?

Dear Graeme,

absolutely brilliant suggestions regarding head swaps!

On this subject, may we ask our customers whether you will be prepared to do such head swaps in order to receive required regiments, which varied in their uniforms to a certain extent.
That may save us a lot of time and effort for other subjects.

Thanks beforehand for your replies.

Best regards,

Strelets

Re: Friday- topic for today?

Head swaps: From a customer perspective, if the figures are consistent size ie heads the same size,and if the plastic can be easily glued swapping heads is easy, if the plastic does not take glue well and you have to pin them,not so easy. Most super glue`s will work on most plastics with the aid of an activator, so the process should be straight foreword with your figures.

Re: Friday- topic for today?

Strelets-R
Dear Graeme,

absolutely brilliant suggestions regarding head swaps!

On this subject, may we ask our customers whether you will be prepared to do such head swaps in order to receive required regiments, which varied in their uniforms to a certain extent.
That may save us a lot of time and effort for other subjects.

Thanks beforehand for your replies.

Best regards,

Strelets
Hello ,
I started head swaps 10 years ago.
It is the only way to get what I need both in uncovered period or to bring some personal touch to a unit.

To me Strelets should cover the main units before covering specific/unique instead such as these Prussian Lancers.
Actually for my collection they will become French 1st eclaireur of the guard after a head swap.

The mitigation could to be able to provide extra heads
So instead of 10 different poses in a box, Strelets could limit to 6 different poses and add some extra headgear.

My current project is all about swapping heads because we still don't have this French revolution period rightly covered (hint)

20201010-091943

Enjoy your weekend everyone.
CPN

Re: Friday- topic for today?

These must be 7th Uhlans (Hellwig and Schill) regiment as they were relatively few in number perhaps Stelets could make half the box 1st and 2nd squadrons and the other half dedicated to the 3rd squadron (without lance none were issued).

1st and 2nd squadrons


3rd squadron (no lance issued)

Re: Friday- topic for today?

This company just keeps getting better and better. The honest communication between enthusiasts/customers is simply wonderful - for me head swaps, etc are another aspect of the hobby

Cheers

Re: Friday- topic for today?

As for head swaps, include extra heads in each set so that they can be done more easily. Some poses don't lend themselves to having the head swapped. Pinning is not that hard. I used a #8 guitar string, very thin and very strong, and really cheap.

As for the super glue activator use Bestine Solvent and Thinner for Rubber Cement it contains the active ingredient in most super glue activators and works with any super glue. Way cheaper than the super glue with activator.

As for the FFL at rest guys, very well done. For about 10 years now I have been giving my units, usually per battalion, a mascot, usually a dog, a musician, a unit chaplain, and a cook. The dog, accordion player and man with the jug cover 3/4 so very good news. Now sculpt that FFL chaplain and we are done!

Good work as always.

Mike Bunkermeiser Creek
Bunker Talk blog

Re: Friday- topic for today?

Headswapping in my opinion is a tricky subject.
Yes many can do this (i myself have begun to do this) but many customers just arent as craft minded or find such work too fiddly. You could end up alienating potential customers by going down such a route, from a business perspective.
However if for example you were to do the Dutch/Belgian carabiniers for Waterloo, you could make the figures with no heads and a peg and seperate heads (some bicorn some helmet), with a hole inside them for the peg on body to go in. The uniform was identical for all 3 regiments but the 2nd Belgian wore Helmets while the 1st and 3rd wore bicorns.
Would have to put enough heads in a set so that every figure could be either bicorn or the Belgian helmets. So say if its 12 figures in a set, make sure there are 12 bicorned heads and 12 helmeted heads.

Thats one example where it could work but as I say its a tricky concept because some may be ok at painting but cant perform fiddly work. Then theres kids, whos parents this day and age might not be happy with their child using a scalpel!!!

Re: Friday- topic for today? Head-swopping

I agree. I have performed many hundreds of 'head operations' on figures in my collection, and I always pin the heads using a wire spigot as well as glue: it gives a perfectly strong fit and is better than simply gluing.

HOWEVER: It is not for everyone. It is difficult to do unless you have practice in doing it, requires good eye-sight and manual dexterity, and the right tools...and lots of time and patience.

I think that manufacturers should approach this with a view that their customers WILL NOT wish to fiddle about with head-swops. If this is intended then sets with neatly fitting heads with spigots and holes to accommodate them in bodies need to be provided, with extra heads. This will all add to the cost and complexity of production.

In 1/72 the set should be what it says it is on the front and sides of the box. Let's try to keep this simple.

Re: Friday- topic for today? Head-swopping

I think of head swaps as an extra. So 48 one piece figures that make up the norm of the specific army being done and then a few extra heads to be used for head swaps. That way the kids are happy, and those who don't want to do head swaps are happy, and those who want specific units that don't merit their own specific set have a route to get those unique figures by swapping heads.

https://bunkermeister.blogspot.com/2019/07/new-heads-for-old_20.html

Here are a few examples of what I have done, and I am no master modeller.

https://bunkermeister.blogspot.com/2008/06/head-swapping.html

This details the procedure.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek
Bunker Talk blog

Re: Friday- topic for today?

Dear Strelets,

I'm sure enjoying your Beau Geste early 20th century style Foreign Legionnaires! I can see these latest masters to be used in scenes of bivouacing legionnaires, and while serving on a fort's garrison, whether both on and off duty.

Le cafard was a fact of life for those in far off saharan outposts such as Fort Zinderneuf. Can they find relief in a bottle of wine? Or I'm reminded by the man with a dog ... If you want unconditional love, get a pet. These latest masters really give personality to a most interesting military group of soldiers.

What fun! GC

Oh, and P.S. - I'm also hoping to see some Casualty poses.