I do not even focus on gunpowder era armies of any type and am tempted by that selection. That officer pose with the cuirass is inspiring. Charge for Louis!! :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

Very nice sculpts and the officer in cuirass is outstanding.

These figures represent a very specific and relatively small component of the Maison du Roi. For those wishing to model this unit, then this set is fine. For wargamers wishing to re-create a scaled representation of the French army in the WoSS, then one box of these chaps will be all you need. On a figure to actual of 1:20 you'll only need one unit of 6 or 7 figures.

A particular difficulty is also that, because of their tactical role (somewhat like dragoons but with an elite status), the Grenadiers would often fight on foot. The sculpts here correctly show gaiters rather than riding boots, reflecting this status as mounted infantry rather than true cavalry.

However, this set does not include any dismounted figures, although a conversion of some of the figures from the earlier French line Grenadiers set would be possible.

There is something definitely east-European about them, especially so given the curved sabres rather than straight broad-swords; and of course the exotic headgear. I'm not quite sure what these could become in the context of eastern European/Baltic/ GNW armies, but I'll keep thinking.

So, one box is all I'll need, at least until I have thought a bit about the conversion potential. The officer is already 'promoted' to become a senior General in my French WoSS army however!

PS: It looks as if the six horse poses will be the same ones for all WoSS cavalry sets....

PPS: What we actually need is French line cavalry and dragoons, which out-numbered the Grenadiers by at least 20:1, probably more.....For wargamers in particular these mounted line troops would be much more useful.

To be fair, it would be possible to convert several of the figures here into line dragoons, although this would be a fiddly task. The problem of lack of dismounted equivalents remains. And if you were a wargamer wishing to create, say, 30 or 40 French dragoons, then that would be a lot of converting and some un-used figures for the spares box.

These chaps could easily serve as French line dragoons, since some French dragoon regiments had headgear that was not particularly different than the horse grenadiers. Just don't paint their fancy lace.

You have all said it; they are wonderful, detailed figures in excellent poses.

Regards, James

indeed superb looking sculpts, can't wait to get a few boxes of them, great conversions potential, drummer looks brilliant as does mounted officer in cuirass ( officer could be used for many nations in WSS/GNW.

only 6/7 figures per unit??? to me that doesn't feel right, minimum figures in my cavalry units average 20 sometimes more!!!

keep up the great work Strelets on WSS sets, hopefully cavalry sets both French and British and maybe gunners will be available in UK before Xmas

you all stay safe out there
cheers Old John

One of the great things about collecting armies for the tabletop is that you can make the units whatever size you want...so why not 20 figures if that suits you John. Go for it.

I'm simply suggesting that, if you apply a figure to actual scale, the Grenadiers were limited to about 150 souls maximum, which at a stretch is 8 figures if you use a 1:20 figure ratio. If you use 1:10, then it's 16 figures. And so on. I try not to add extra troops to my armies if that makes a particular unit or component too large: a French Napoleonic army with 80% of the infantry Old Guard would be historically inaccurate etc etc.

Enjoy the new Horse Grenadiers, whatever.:grinning:

agree about too many Old Guard:)), with over 6 decades of collecting /wargaming/ converting have found if units look right in your eyes it's all personal choice, my basing system is 2 or 3 mounted figures to a base, 4 to 6 infantry to a base, for artillery it depends on size of battery eg if a 12 gun battery would have one gun and 12 gunners rest pro rata, for commanders usually a single figure, system works well with rules i use for regimental or brigade sized games, use Fire and Fury variants for many conflicts from English Civil War,WSS/GNW, ACW, AWI, FPW, Crimea, also Rank and File rules with a few house rules, the game the thing :)) again all down to personal choice

more WSS units needed from Strelets please as soon as possible !!!!!!

you all stay safe out there
cheers Old John