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This is a fine set of figures and some very good horses, as we have noted before here.
However, I doubt that I will use all these figures alongside each other in the same unit. Individually each figure has its merits, but from what I can see the style varies one from the other, especially in relation to the way that the cuirass is being worn. That is, some of the figures have it over their coat, some under.
As noted here before, the British officially adopted the cuirass for the later stages of the War of Spanish Succession (from 1707 ie: so it was definitely not worn by British cavalry at either Blenheim (1704) or Ramillies (1706)), although there remains a debate as to whether it was actually worn in the field at all even from 1707. If so, then officially, it was under the uniform coat.
The figures in this set with their cuirasses on full display will serve as, for example, Danish Horse or French Cuirassiers du Roi. The figures with cuirasses hidden under their coats may (or may not) serve as later war British cavalry. As a stand-alone figure, the officer in cuirass is fine, for instance as any continental European cavalry commander (indeed, perhaps as a figure for Prince Eugene). The trumpeter 'at rest' is excellent.
So, a good set with some very individual and useful poses and great horses, but not one that will line up in a rank together as one unit in my view. But useful nonetheless and another great addition to the WoSS range.
The sculpting again is excellent. However, the choice to have the men wearing the cuirass in part over and in part under the coat is indeed not so good. Grant in his book on the uniforms of Marlborough's wars states that British horse did wear the cuirass underneath the coat from 1707 but ONLY the front plate. However, he doesn't say where this information comes from (perhaps someone here can shed some light on the matter). John Wootton's painting of Blenheim (from 1743?) shows - probably British - horse with front AND backplate OVER the coat (which may be wrong or they might be Danes), but that's the way cuirassiers of all other nations did wear it. Wearing the cuirass under the coat did always strike me as somewhat impractical. It doesn't offer any additional protection and only risks the coat getting cut to pieces. So it might have been better to produce some more generic cuirassiers. That said I'm still tempted to buy at least one box, if only for the lovely sculpts.
.... Wearing the cuirass under the coat did always strike me as somewhat impractical. It doesn't offer any additional protection and only risks the coat getting cut to pieces. So it might have been better to produce some more generic cuirassiers. That said I'm still tempted to buy at least one box, if only for the lovely sculpts.
Actually it is practical, as the coat (having worn one once, I can tell you they are incredibly heavy), can be removed in hot weather without taking off the armor. If this was ever done during the period I have no idea, it just seems sensible to me.
Thank you for a sight of these beautiful figures. This range is fast becoming one of the out standing 1/72nd collections. I look forward to having some of them in our WSS armies later this year.
Any chance of a set of Grenadiers wearing the bearskin, for the armies of the Empire, Bavaria, France, Savoy etc ?
Nice figures as usual, but honestly for me it is all about the artillery at this point. Some howitzers and mortars to fully enable some siege scenarios would be 100% ideal.