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Re: Friday in Waiting

Just noticed that these have the worsted tufts of the battalion companies, so not the box full of flank company soldiers we often see. Well done Strelets.

Roger W
The muskets also look odd to me too 😕. And whats with this obsession with forage caps??!!
Re. the forage caps, I think the "Sharpe" TV series has a lot to answer for. And yes, the muskets look a bit odd to me too when I first saw the pic I had to have a closer look to convince myself that the firing chap wasn't using a Martini Henry. Bayonets are easier to cut off than stick on.

Re: Friday in Waiting

Yeah forage caps ... nice if they come as spare heads, but otherwise of limited use. And I have to agree about the muskets. Fixed bayonets is a must. You can always cut them off if you please, but the other way round ... And as mentioned before they do look rather clumsy, more like a long shotgun than a Brown Bess. As the men themselves are great this seems indeed a matter of rushed research/production. Please don't take the Esci/Italeri road where the box art was sometimes better researched the actual figures.

Re: Friday in Waiting

I think the figures are wonderfully done. While the forage cap was only worn in camp, and never in battle, and while bayonets were fixed for the reasons stated, I think we are lucky to have such a prolific producer making such nicely sculpted figures. I suspect that it is too late to change the forage caps, muskets and bayonets so I will buy and adapt accordingly. If it is possible in future Strelets to make those changes I know everyone would be hugely grateful.

Re: Friday in Waiting

Problem is making the changes for the future would be too late for this set......a set I was really hoping would be made, looking forward to its potential creation, and now find huge disappointment in due to the aforementioned design mistakes. Last time i felt this down about a set was those god awful Peninsular Dragoons by Hat.

The British contingent seem to really suffer from poor quality or poorly thought out sets, yet there is a wealth of information out there on them to look at.
The market is full of half baked efforts or poorly thought out sets. So when we again ask for a decent set of late war British in action, we then get told by the manufacturer or other people, "such and such a set has already been made"....and so the circle continues.
So if these arent corrected, there still wont be a really good set of Belgic Shako British infantry (in action) on sale.

I dont mind doing some conversions but I dont want to be doing them just for the sake of it, definately not messing around trying to find or make bayonets & then fixing on to a great quantity of figures. So if that was to be the case, these chaps would be left on the shelf by me along with the Prussian Hussars & Dragoons.

Besides i really dont know what weapon they are holding, it really doesnt look like a brown bess, as someone has said, more like something much later. They look a bit short & flat, but then the lack of a bayonet is probably making them look worse.

Wonderful sculpting is one thing, but the figures still need to be correct and useable.

Re: Friday in Waiting

Roger W
Problem is making the changes for the future would be too late for this set......a set I was really hoping would be made, looking forward to its potential creation, and now find huge disappointment in due to the aforementioned design mistakes. Last time i felt this down about a set was those god awful Peninsular Dragoons by Hat.

The British contingent seem to really suffer from poor quality or poorly thought out sets, yet there is a wealth of information out there on them to look at.
The market is full of half baked efforts or poorly thought out sets. So when we again ask for a decent set of late war British in action, we then get told by the manufacturer or other people, \\\"such and such a set has already been made\\\"....and so the circle continues.
So if these arent corrected, there still wont be a really good set of Belgic Shako British infantry (in action) on sale.

I dont mind doing some conversions but I dont want to be doing them just for the sake of it, definately not messing around trying to find or make bayonets & then fixing on to a great quantity of figures. So if that was to be the case, these chaps would be left on the shelf by me along with the Prussian Hussars & Dragoons.

Besides i really dont know what weapon they are holding, it really doesnt look like a brown bess, as someone has said, more like something much later. They look a bit short & flat, but then the lack of a bayonet is probably making them look worse.

Wonderful sculpting is one thing, but the figures still need to be correct and useable.
"The British contingent seem to really suffer from poor quality or poorly thought out sets, yet there is a wealth of information out there on them to look at ... we then get told by the manufacturer or other people, "such and such a set has already been made"... and so the circle continues ... I dont mind doing some conversions but I dont want to be doing them just for the sake of it ... Wonderful sculpting is one thing, but the figures still need to be correct and useable."

My oh my. Actually, Strelets's Brit sets have always been much better than any other nation's sets. How many mistakes have been made with French, Russian, Prussian, etc. sets? We - non-native speakers of English complained, brought up hard evidence - but then were chastised and shunned by Anglo-Saxon smart asses ... "there are many others sets from other companies" - "just minor problems - convert!", etc. bull****. Why do I feel satisfied that, this time, the Anglo-Saxons feel ****** off themselves?

Re: Friday in Waiting

Right, 1st off, nobody mentioned that problems ONLY affect the British figure sets, I simply focused on them as this is what these masters are. I said that Belgic Shako "British" Infantry (some of which who were also German [KGL] and thus not English speaking by the way), is a bunch that has not been covered well.

2nd, yes that applies to other nations too. Did you not see my reference to the Prussian Dragoons & Hussars??
Im still waiting to see a really good comprehensive set for the 1813-1815 French Line Infantry as another "non British" example. I have also been quite vocal in wanting to see Brunswickers, Nassauers & Dutch/Belgians. Neither whom used "Anglo-Saxon" English as their 1st language to my knowledge.

3rd, race plays no part in my criticisms. As I have said, this time its Brits but I have also been unimpressed with some Prussian cavalry & a while back, some greatcoat wearing French infantry sets from Strelets.

And lastly, I for one have never and will never fob someone off over existing sets or insist that they just convert other figures. In fact i have repeatedly said on here that conversions are not for everyone. Hence me being dead against missing bayonets!!!!!

Re: Friday in Waiting

Nice figures, very good sculpting. But as others have observed, the lack of bayonets - always fixed in combat, unless these gentleman are practising a good few miles from the enemy- and the forage cap are key errors. The muskets do not look like Brown Bess flintlocks either. Oh dear...

So near, and yet so far....

Re: Friday in Waiting

Dear Strelets,

Thursday morning and evening too; marvellous.

Regards,

James

Re: Friday in Waiting

I hope there are more poses of the middle guy with a tam o shanter. I will need him at New Orleans 1815 (the Highlanders didn't wear kilts there, but they had these hats).

And BTW, with the two previous Nappy Brit casualty poses you showed previously, these are definitely headed to New Orleans for me.

Now I just need Line Jackson (some pirate gunners, some US 7th Infantry and some Kentucky militia). Since they are basically doing the same thing, just standing behind cotton bales firing and loading, not too many poses needed. No marching or attacking poses necessary, so a box of 12 poses could cover a lot of this (4 gunners, 6 Inf and 6 militia). More is better, obviously, but some is better than none.

Qte "Nappy Brit casualty poses you showed previously, ...are definitely headed to New Orleans" Unq

Dear Arlin,

It looks as if there are more people, heading to ... well, let it be New Orleans:slightly_smiling_face: :


Regards,

Strelets

Re: Qte "Nappy Brit casualty poses you showed previously, ...are definitely headed to New Orleans"

Now they are brilliant!

Re: Qte "Nappy Brit casualty poses you showed previously, ...are definitely headed to New Orleans"

.........again without bayonets fixed. No wonder the poor chaps are suffering casualties as they dont look to be trained & drilled properly!! Oh they can stand still nicely (😉),but once they see action.....
Even their brown bess/Lee Enfield hybrids havent helped them.

Seriously Strelets, can you just let us know if the entire set is like that (no fixed bayonets) please?

If it is, is it now too late to get them attached?
Thorough research & good quality control are just as important as quality sculpting.
If a job is worth doing, its worth doing right so my grandfather used to say. Especially for something people pay hard earned money for.

The odd looking muskets themselves & the forage caps might be too late to change, but cant the masters at least just have bayonets attached to the end of the "muskets"?

Wasnt there a French WSS set (musketeers?/Fusiliers?) that had issues with the musket/fusil? So this really should of been a lesson learned.

Please take the criticism & comments seriously and ensure it doesnt happen again for future sets, as this was a ridiculous mistake for such a important set.

The recent uhlan masters were good, but these British Infantrymen were a set I was really hoping for...and have instead been left feeling disappointed & frustrated.

Re: Qte "Nappy Brit casualty poses you showed previously, ...are definitely headed to New Orleans"

Fantastic!
Strelets delivers what we asked for I.e. action boxes leading the path for other nations to have the same treatment.

To be fair I am convinced the bayonet will be provided as the look of top figures seems to indicate to me that the bayonets seem to have snapped from maybe the moulding phase.

As for the headgear, well it is known the shakos were worn out especially in campaign and since Amazon prime was not there yet all armies soldiers did use their bonnets.

Overall very happy. Now same treatment for cavalry please:)

CPN

Re: Qte "Nappy Brit casualty poses you showed previously, ...are definitely headed to New Orleans"

I really hope it is indeed just a case of bayonets having just snapped off. I was really hoping & looking forward to this type of set seeing the light of day.
Forage cap guys will be beheaded and have a belgic shako wearing head attached instead!!

If the bayonets arent broken off but actually not done on purpose, well..., i wont have to worry about changing the forage cap wearers.

Re: Qte "Nappy Brit casualty poses you showed previously, ...are definitely headed to New Orleans"

Yep, New Orleans it will be. Heck, it already feels like Mardi Gras!

Re: Qte "Nappy Brit casualty poses you showed previously, ...are definitely headed to New Orleans"

Dear Strelets :- again very good and very needed figures, but again they need the brown bess musket WITH BAYONET!! turn backs on coat tails, please please please do not put the wounded standard bearer laying on the floor, as the standard would have been taken of him either before he hit the floor or very very soon after!!! Better still DONT include a wounded standard bearer!! O and no forege caps please

Re: Friday in Waiting

My my, there are quite a few Fridays this week. :joy: :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

Re: Friday in Waiting

No use in the desert.... But they do need bayonets, Strelets can be chunky bayonets,but with care they can be trimmed,and that is easier than adding them from scratch.

Re: Friday in Waiting....muskets and bayonets

The strange thing is that Strelets have modelled perfectly acceptable British muskets, useable as 'Brown Bess' weapons, in the three WoSS British infantry sets. All of the muskets in these sets have socket bayonets fixed.

So it can be done!

Re: Friday in Waiting....muskets and bayonets

Different sculptor is my guess.

Re: Friday in Waiting

A first step towards the often requested firing line sets.
Great sculpting & excellent choice of poses: firing, reloading, wounded... :+1:
And yes, quite a few enthusiasts are very much hoping for an expansion of this format to include the main infantry units of the major opponents of the Napoleonic Wars: France, Russia, Austria-Hungary & Prussia.
In this light, keep em coming, as long as this is a foreshadowing of the more essential troop contingents of the decisive battles 1812-15.
:sunglasses:

If still possible at this stage, it would indeed be a great improvement if the figures could have fixed bayonets on their rifles.

Re: Friday in Waiting

In case they come without bayonets they can perhaps be used for the defense of Hougoumont. They probably didn't have them attached when firing out of windows. Very limited scenario though.

Re: Friday in Waiting

Wouldn't they need poses aiming downwards then, so as to fire on the attacking French from an elevated position?
Not to mention I think Nassau Grenadiers held the gardeners house for a while. Not saying guardsmen weren't in the house at some point but, certainly not all day.
Think a good few guardsmen would of had bayonets attached for if and when the French scaled the walls.
Either way, a rather limiting scope for the set as you say. 😕

Re: Friday in Waiting

This is how I approached this at Hougoumont:

Re: Friday in Waiting

Wonderful General Picton...but taken from a distance I cannot see bayonets, attached or otherwise:grin:

I cannot seriously believe that any Napoleonic infantry would fight without a bayonet attached to their musket, unless in very specific circumstances: holding fortified buildings and firing through loop-holes might be one; being caught by surprise on the march might be another; and having a specific role as a sharpshooter might be a third (the bayonet is quite heavy and makes it more difficult to hold an aiming point). Some infantry eg: Russian and many Prussians, might keep the bayonet attached at all times.

But the bottom line is...mould muskets with attached bayonets please.

Re: Friday in Waiting

Yep a fair few look like they got bayonets on Minuteman. Nice work General Picton!! Some ACW conversions in there among others.
And yes Minuteman, bottom line....have bayonets fixed please Strelets.

But the stars of the show....
Those cabbages growing there!!!
Cauliflower too!! Looks like a real garden!!!

Re: Friday in Waiting

Very nice diorama indeed, General Picton! I really like the garden and the British infantry. The French might need some reinforcements though or is the rest of them hiding behind the trees? 😄

Re: Friday in Waiting

Thanks Flambeau! Will this do?




























Re: Friday in Waiting

Oh wow!!!

Its things like the way you have made French troops giving one another a leg up over the wall that really gives your diorama a new dimension. Its truly amazing. Your the king of conversions!
And the build of the Chateau itself....im lost for words!
Must be getting on during the day as the fire has certainly done its damage.
Do you plan on adding any flickering LED type lighting to things like areas on fire etc? Some under the barns and main house to represent burning embers so to speak?

Re: Friday in Waiting

As The Duke himself might have said in a somewhat under-stated sort of way: "Yes, that will do very well, (General) Picton. Now get your men down there and clear those French off my garden wall."

Splendid stuff, simply awe-inspiring. And what a lot of Frenchmen there are trying to get at those cabbages in the walled garden....:grin:

Re: Friday in Waiting

Feelings can run high in the horticultural world - I received some criticism that my cabbages were out of season for the 18th June.

Re: Friday in Waiting

General Picton
Feelings can run high in the horticultural world - I received some criticism that my cabbages were out of season for the 18th June.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Out of season or not, they are brilliantly done. All the gardens are.
General Picton aka Capability Brown of the miniature world!!!

Re: Friday in Waiting

Oh ... Wow ... and ... Wow!!! Didn't see these earlier as there were so many new threads and this one moved ever further down, but that's absolutely awesome. Also shows that Airfix's french artillery still is of some use. How many boxes went into this one?
Can't say it often enough: Fantastic work! Is there more? La Haye Sainte or Plancenoit?

Re: Friday in Waiting

General Picton has his own blog if you would like to visit it? You can spend ages just looking over the pictures with your jaw dropped in amazement!

This is the link:

http://generalpicton.blogspot.com/?m=1

The work is truly fantastic and the level of conversion ability is something I can only dream about!

Re: Friday in Waiting

Thanks! Just found out about it by myself and then I realized I had previously seen his fantastic work on Benno's site. Just didn't make the connection at the time I posted - stupid me :sunglasses: It's now been added to my favorites. Truly amazing stuff! There are some real artists at work here!

Re: Friday in Waiting

Dear Strelets :- Good figures but can they please have the brown bess instead of the carbine??!! Can they also have a bayonet fitted, no forage caps unless they are spare heads plus can coat tails have turnbacks please??!! This would turn a good set into a great set, as is at the moment i wil not be includeing them into my collection.