Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Genre/Period Discussion => Firelocks to Maxims (1680 - 1900) => Topic started by: Obsidian23 on 24 June 2022, 02:33:07 PM

Title: Armies in the 1700s
Post by: Obsidian23 on 24 June 2022, 02:33:07 PM
A question for the group.   Yes, sorry its been a couple of years!  Covid, University, work, life etc etc

So I have a Malburian Army from the folks at Pendraken that has sat in my cupboard for about 3 years. So my question is this...

I want to paint up 2 different sides.  Thinking of doing the French and Indian Wars to start, then some of the factions in Europe.  Therefore can the generic Malburian uniforms be used for anyone or are the nation specific?  If I wnated to add to what I have, which selection would be a best match, F&I war, WSS, 7 Years War?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Armies in the 1700s
Post by: FierceKitty on 24 June 2022, 02:35:59 PM
Your "French and Indian Wars" - how far back do they go?
Title: Re: Armies in the 1700s
Post by: Ithoriel on 24 June 2022, 02:43:20 PM
Quote from: FierceKitty on 24 June 2022, 02:35:59 PMYour "French and Indian Wars" - how far back do they go?

"The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War" - Wikipedia

So I'm guessing 1754?
Title: Re: Armies in the 1700s
Post by: fsn on 24 June 2022, 02:54:03 PM
War of the Spanish Succession
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/19/e8/2a/19e82a32fda366b46946dca076af0713.jpg)(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/48/89/bf/4889bfc20001ef61125c98917d58c8ae.jpg)

7 Years War
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/dc/34/db/dc34db721c6edc320091a19aabd7b5c6.jpg)(https://www.britishbattles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/3-AAA-infantry-24-schwerin-800.jpg)

You can see that in 50 years they changed the way they wore the coat. If you have an Army of Marlborough, I'd be thinking Prince Eugene rather than the Old Fritz.
Title: Re: Armies in the 1700s
Post by: jimduncanuk on 24 June 2022, 02:59:13 PM
I have an absolute ton of Pendraken 7YW figures, British, French and Russian.

I have almost as many Marlburian figures.

I use them all together in a big game now an again. I see no problem.
Title: Re: Armies in the 1700s
Post by: Antioch on 24 June 2022, 04:45:42 PM
To a pureist is almost a travesty..however yes in 10 mm most would not notice.  Personally I have both, in different scales.  My preference would be WSS... fought in 3-4 European theatres (depending on year) France/Bavaria against almost everyone elese. A fascinating period that often gets overlooked.

Nick Dorrell has done some great work & published a book on the Spanish front...probably one of the least understood ones...well balanced gaming. (And some outrageously coloured uniforms)

French-Indian wars also can be fun but as a Canadian its mostly infantry in a few major set piece battles & a lot of frontier raiding. Armies moved mostly on the waterways & led to forts in very strategic places on rivers & lakes. And yes french -indian wars in the 1750-54 period.

Wishing you well whatever way you elect to go.

Bob
Title: Re: Armies in the 1700s
Post by: fred. on 24 June 2022, 04:50:15 PM
In WSS there was little difference between uniforms of line infantry for most countries. Grenadiers used a variety of different hats - which do link to nationalities. 

Cavalry tended to vary between jackets and tricorns, or helmets with or without buff coats. Which again varied on national lines. 

While units were uniform in the appearance - this was much less the case for whole armies. Whilst the French where predominately in grey, they had red, blue, brown, or yellow jacketed units too. 

What this means is if you have removable flags your troops can work well across a wide variety of battles and sides!
Title: Re: Armies in the 1700s
Post by: fsn on 24 June 2022, 06:09:28 PM
My personal preference is for WSS. The 7YW is a bit fussy for me.

I like Fred's idea of changing flags.  :) 
Title: Re: Armies in the 1700s
Post by: sunjester on 25 June 2022, 07:37:40 AM
I would also go for WSS in the Spanish Peninsula, French and Spanish (who had some superbly coloured uniforms) vs British/Portuguese/Catalan/Dutch/Germans. Plus you can refight a battle where the British and allies were commanded by a Frenchman and the French/Spanish army was led by a Brit!