Skip to main content

Newsflash! New Figures in the Works!

Some Hessian mercenaries retreating during the Saratoga Campaign of 1777.


A new line of realistic, life-like 1/56th, or 32mm, figures with human proportions (in campaign dress as they actually appeared, no less) is in the works for the American War of Independence! The sculptor is -- Wait for it! -- the famous Richard Ansell, who has also done yeoman's work for Frank Hammond's Minden Miniatures among others.

You can view several photographs of Richard's greens in-progress by visiting the Hesse-Seewald blog, whose own Alte Fritz is heavily involved in the project. You can also click on Battleroad Games & Hobbies, to be transported directly to the website of the U.S.-based producer and distributor of these figures-to-be. Or, you can scroll down the page and look for the links to both at the bottom right of this page.

While the American Revolution is not exactly my period of interest, you cannot help but feel excited and inspired by these wonderful previews of the planned range. And hey, with any luck, maybe some Hessians or other German mercenary figures might come along soon that would be a good fit for an extra unit in the Grand Duchy of Stollen's growing army?

Comments

Steve-the-Wargamer said…
"mercenaries"....hmmm.... whilst strictly speaking accurate, a mite pejorative perhaps??? :o))
6:56 AM
Big Andy said…
I can see me buying some of those. Incidentally Mercenaries has only BECOME a perjorative in the modern world because of Les Affreus in the 60s and of course beciuse government don't one anyone but them to control the violence. Anyhow they are called PMC's now...
6:27 AM
Bloggerator said…
I don't want to be a wet blanket or start a fight with anyone, but isn't this ground pretty well covered in both breadth and quality by the Perrys?

Curious minds want to know...

Greg
3:36 AM
WSTKS-FM Worldwide said…
Yes, Greg, but to my eyes the hands, heads, and legs on many of the Perry's figures, nice as they are, are always a bit too large/fat. Now, that's just me, but the slimmer figures sculpted by Richard Ansell seem to be what many wargamers are looking for. Maybe Alte Fritz himself will weigh in here with additional explanation and rationale?

Best Regards,

Stokes
10:54 AM
Steve-the-Wargamer said…
Stokes is right - the Perry figures are also very "static" or un-animated to my eyes.. the marching infantry always look like they have piles.. :o))
12:23 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The 18th century? What's the Fascination?

Hessian musketeers by All the King's Men Toy Soldiers of Snellville, Georgia, U.S.A. Just a quick post post today, but I thought the above question might be interesting food for thought. Obviously, there is an array of possible periods, theaters, and conflicts that might catch our eyes. But what is it about the era 1700-1799 -- either real, or imagined? Is it the commanders and politics? The fairly straightforward tactics? The myriad of uniforms and flags? The variety and scope of the conflicts? The patchwork of various and sundry petty states, (at least in Central Europe)? I'm very interested to learn your thoughts. Don't be a lurker! Please leave a comment -- or even two or three. Have a nice day everyone!
35 comments
Read more

An Early July Hussar Update. . .

  Marginally neater in appearance with green bases, girths, and ivory horse markings added, but I need to neaten up some hooves now before moving onto the rest of the tack. W here in the world did June go? While I still ponder the answer to that question, how about a quick painting update on the first batch of 14 Minden Austrian hussars and Nadasdy? Good.  I'm glad we are of a like mind. Still on the sloppy side, but I've managed to move things along, painting the green bases, white (ivory) horse markings, and beginning the miles and miles of tack adorning the various horses.  I always like to begin with the girths spanning the horses' ribs which helped hold the saddles in place.  Even with the figures mounted individually on temporary painting bases, these can be kind of tricky to access, but there we are. I've also used various Army Painter washes (Mid-Brown and Strong Tone) as well as their Speed Paint (Grim Black) to make the manes and tails of the horses a bit m...
9 comments
Read more

Basic Reds Done at Last. . .

  S till quite a way to go with the current batch of 20 human figures and a horse (of course), but they're actually starting to look like something after all of the red distinctions.  Quite a bit of painting in hour-long sessions the last week as and when time has allowed.  Mostly applying the basic dark red to facing areas and turnbacks followed by the inevitable touch-ups to clean up wobbly edges and those misplaced, minute splotches of Citadel Khorne Red.   They're looking like so many Austrian infantry regiments of the era at this point, but the eventual flags will turn them magically into the Anhalt-Zerbst Regiment, more or less, of the AWI period.  But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. One frustrating point (ahem) of sad discovery.  I've started trying to use those Winsor & Newton 'Series Seven' brushes (#1 rounds) purchased last spring, and the blasted things simply will not keep a point.  Very frustrating since I have heard over the y...
3 comments
Read more