'First Look' at the new Napoleonic French!

[CATenWolde]

Looking good! It's very nice to see a greatcoat option right from the start.

Trying to think of some constructive criticism ... about the only thing I can come up with is it might be nice to have some more modeling on the musket, to make the barrel easier to pick out, and perhaps make sure that the bayonet isn't "cleaver" thick. This might be a photo-angle thing.

The NCO is a nice addition, but personally, if I had a chance to pick another pose or two, it would be for a foot officer pose. You have one in every unit, and they tend to stick out, more so than the colour bearer (as the attention is taken up by the flag itself). Foot officer figures can give a unit a bit of personality all by themselves.

Otherwise, just keep up the good work!

Cheers,

Christopher

PS - going to be in London from the 3rd to the 13th on mixed family vacation and research, so if there's anything cool going on let me know! May also take a day trip to Bristol.

[jchaos79]

I love the figure of the long coat and the sabre... superb!!!

Congratulations to the sculptor!

[Leon]

Trying to think of some constructive criticism ... about the only thing I can come up with is it might be nice to have some more modeling on the musket, to make the barrel easier to pick out, and perhaps make sure that the bayonet isn't "cleaver" thick. This might be a photo-angle thing.

The NCO is a nice addition, but personally, if I had a chance to pick another pose or two, it would be for a foot officer pose. You have one in every unit, and they tend to stick out, more so than the colour bearer (as the attention is taken up by the flag itself). Foot officer figures can give a unit a bit of personality all by themselves.

The bayonet's aren't too bad, and they'll thin down during the moulding process as well.

What kind of foot officer are you looking for?  We've got the command for each pack, plus the NCO's as well.

[CATenWolde]

I just meant that the "command set" (officer, colour bearer, drummer/coronet) could include an officer A and an officer B, i.e. a couple of different poses for variety's sake. For instance, the one you have is a great active pose, and maybe "B" could be more staid, etc.

Not a deal breaker, as most lines only have a single officer variant - just thinking out loud.

Cheers,

Christopher

[Leon]

I just meant that the "command set" (officer, colour bearer, drummer/coronet) could include an officer A and an officer B, i.e. a couple of different poses for variety's sake. For instance, the one you have is a great active pose, and maybe "B" could be more staid, etc.

I get what you mean now.  I can have chat with the designer about a different pose.

Out of interest, would people prefer to have the command in with the 30 figures in the packs, or as a separate code of their own?

[CATenWolde]

My vote is for separate command packs. There are so many different ways of basing Napoleonics that it would be hard to get exactly the right mix - some people will do 1:60 (or even higher) and want a ratio of about 1 command set per 12 figures, other will do 1:20 or even 1:10 and obviously need much less.

[lentulus]

to have the command in with the 30 figures in the packs, or as a separate code of their own?

A separate code, but of 9-12 figures instead of 30. 

You are very good about special orders, but I think it would be nice to have two pack sizes in the catalog for most codes -- say (at today's price) 1.50 for 12 or 3.00 for 30.   I don't mind paying a premium for the flexibility.  It lets me budget an order around my unit sizes without putting you to extra work with odd figure counts.

[Leon]

My vote is for separate command packs. There are so many different ways of basing Napoleonics that it would be hard to get exactly the right mix - some people will do 1:60 (or even higher) and want a ratio of about 1 command set per 12 figures, other will do 1:20 or even 1:10 and obviously need much less.

A separate code, but of 9-12 figures instead of 30.  

You are very good about special orders, but I think it would be nice to have two pack sizes in the catalog for most codes -- say (at today's price) 1.50 for 12 or 3.00 for 30.   I don't mind paying a premium for the flexibility.  It lets me budget an order around my unit sizes without putting you to extra work with odd figure counts.

I'll make a note of the separate command packs.

The smaller packs option is probably something we wouldn't want to do really.  The moulds all contain between 32-40 figures, so to only take 15 off and melt down the rest would seriously reduce our production rate.  We do keep spares of a lot of codes, but we don't have the space required to keep everything, so a lot of it would have to go back in the melting pot.  We will always take orders for specific numbers of figures, that's not a problem, we just wouldn't want to encourage it too much.

[NTM]

These have finally won me over, I have been kidding myself for a while now that I will stick to 15mm for Napoleonics as the offerings from Pendraken and others have not quite been right. I have the 1812 French infantry and Lancers of which the former were disappointing but the latter excellent. These are just a whole new level of excellence. The only question is what to do until you bring out my favoured Prussians?

[Leon]

I'm sure we can offer you something to keep you busy!

[NTM]

I'm sure the French will keep me busy enough I'm now confident that there will be an extensive quality range of Napoleonics available in 10mm and will be prepared for a bit of a wait.

[Chad]

Would that be 1806 Prussians? I live in hope!!!

[Dave Fielder]

Will Pendraken please stop producing such fantastic figures? I already have a large supply of painted figures that I now want to sell and start again because of this. Thank you! 

[Leon]

Will Pendraken please stop producing such fantastic figures? I already have a large supply of painted figures that I now want to sell and start again because of this. Thank you! 

[Coracero]

Good stuff!, it's worth the waiting.

On the command set I aslo prefer it in separate packs... I do 1:60.

BTW are all the horses going to be the in the same pose?, this thing detracted me from some lines in the past... I hope for at least two variants. 

[Aart Brouwer]

Good stuff!, it's worth the waiting.

My sentiment exactly. Love the great coats. 

The NCO's could do with more defined spontoons though. 

Cheers,
Aart

[Leon]

Good stuff!, it's worth the waiting.

On the command set I aslo prefer it in separate packs... I do 1:60.

BTW are all the horses going to be the in the same pose?, this thing detracted me from some lines in the past... I hope for at least two variants. 

I would guess at just the one pose unfortunately.  To provide two means either sculpting two separate figures, which doubles the costs, or sculpting the rider and putting him on two different horses, which then doubles the moulding required.  Either way, it's not really practical.  The command could have different horses though.

[nikharwood]

A simple trick I use with cavalry for variety is to (carefully) alter the horse's tail to different angles as well as staggering the placement on bases [even if in line] - this will provide a bit of visual break-up and with a nice variety of colouring amongst your gee-gees [including manes & tails & blazes etc] the 'sameness' drops out on the table. And with command being different it works double-well too. Simples. 

[CATenWolde]

I'm curious why you don't use separate horse and rider figures - too difficult to produce?

[Coracero]

Thanks for the tricks nikharwood!, I have to think about it.

Offtopic: Any news on French Revolution range...? 

Cheers