Guys I'm planning my next period for after my GNW one, and it's going to be Marlburian.

I really love the league of Augsberg range, and so I'm wondering can I use them alongside the marlburian one.

Basically, when did they start phasing out hats for tricornes?

Some nations were already starting to introduce tricorns by the end of the 9 Years War, so I personally do not think they are appropriate for the WSS (which is a shame because the LoA range are superb).

However, there are still some of the LOA range that are suitable for the WSS
The French Dragoons in caps are ideal for most nationalities (such as French and Spanish) where the dragoons were still wearing the stocking caps rather than tricorns.
The various command packs in tricorns will make great general officers (just as well as that is a lack of generals in the MAL range).
The cuirassiers are suitable for Imperialist or Bavarian armies

I used the French LoA dragoon's for WSS, and have mixed and matched various officers between both, as well as slipping in a few of the later 7YW personalities. The generic standard bearer may also have done sterling service across various periods...

I must confess I've just transported my WSS French whole sale into the LoA period, but I do have a pack of LoA pikemen I need to sort and pop on small bases to go behind the musketeers to give them a bit more of an in period look!

But how well cocked would a hat be in the field?

Campaign wear is probably far more floppy than cocked

The complaints from French troops in the Revolutionary Wars/Early Nappies are very supportive of that, Zippee - a bicorne apparently is very jaunty and useful to start with then after a week in the field it's like a droopy, mangled croissant except less water and weather proof!

This is purely from an AWI re-enactment stand point  - having a turn-up on the right side is helpful when you are handing a musket ramrod but a tricorne is not very good at keeping rain and sun off. From what I remember from reading, after eight years of war in NA, British solidiers seemed to be favoring wide brims for comfort reasons, at least in the field (they could always stitch them back up to meet regs). 

In any period, I suppose, much depends on what the officers will allow when on campaign.

Quote from: d_Guy on 18 February 2018, 01:07:39 AM

In any period, I suppose, much depends on what the officers will allow when on campaign.

...or can enforce...

I have seen LOA figures used in WSS armies, but they tend to be for second rate French
Regiments or militia units where they look excellent.   I would also tend to use units
composed of LOA pike figures for the hastily raised early war French army in the Danube
campaign.

There is, however, probably a significant difference between our expectations (must be
tricornes for WSS !) and reality, bearing in mind the short four year gap between the LOA
and WSS wars and the impact of field conditions / weather etc.

I am building a 10mm WSS army myself and am using tricorne figures for the allies but will
add some LOA figures to the French second line units.


Phil

That's a pretty good plan Phil - gives a nice excuse to salt some lovely figures in. The "spot and polish" Brigades can be all nicely outfitted and smartly drilled, the old salts or greenhorns in somewhat motley gear

Thanks guys. I'm also thinking that the superb LoA sculpts need to be used, and I'm veering towards using them in some units, especially the cavalry which are much better figures than in the malburian range.

>>That's a pretty good plan Phil - gives a nice excuse to salt some lovely figures in. The "spot and polish" Brigades can be all nicely outfitted and smartly drilled, the old salts or greenhorns in somewhat motley gear

Thank you.   I just love those LOA figures and will take any excuse to add some into my
growing WSS army !

I saw a display at last year's WMMS with a sprinkling of LOA used as militia which really looked
the business.   I do like your idea, though, to add a unit of two of LOA figures as veterans.
Perhaps the Navarre Regiment featured in this month's Wargames Illustrated.

Cheers,


Phil

It can be notoriously difficult to winkle troops out of old habits and kit

Sometimes you can force them over for inspections then soon as your back's turned in the field...

The tricorne hat was little more than an ordinary hat with the brim hooked up on three sides.  If you look at contemporary pictures of English infantry during the 1745 Culloden campaign they are all depicted with their tricornes unhooked.  The same goes for their coat turnbacks too.

Lindybeige did something on "hats" on youtube.

Most enlightening.

Quote from: John Cook on 20 February 2018, 11:07:37 AM
The tricorne hat was little more than an ordinary hat with the brim hooked up on three sides.  If you look at contemporary pictures of English infantry during the 1745 Culloden campaign they are all depicted with their tricornes unhooked.  The same goes for their coat turnbacks too.

I believe "The Penicuik Drawings" are the source for this information - contemporary drawings by an unknown artist whose style is a tad caricaturistic.  Nor can we be sure that the artist was drawing only the look of the English contingent within the Hanoverian Army (remember, this was a British Army with Scottish and Irish regiments also). Here's a link to government troops with floppy hats.

https://jacobitereenactors.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/jacobite-19.jpeg