2011/2012 Membership Pack Arrived (1 Viewer)

[mestell]

Surprise, surprise! My W. Britain Collectors Club 2011/2012 Membership Pack arrived this afternoon along with my 2011 CC figure selection #50025C "1st Va Dismounted Confederate Cavalry Trooper 1861". My packet included my first $8 gift voucher, the 2011 Winter catalog, a 2011 Stock catalog, the latest Standard issue with a great article on the Redcoats by Ken Osen, new 2011 price list and release schedule, and info on the Wisconsin Veteran's Museum & W. Britain Civil War Day on May 7, 2011.

The dismounted Confederate cavalry trooper is very well done and surpasses my expectations. Jefman I think you will really like this figure - here's some photos . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[thebritfarmer]

Wow they are early this year!! That is a nice looking figure Mike. Time to renew my subscription me thinks.

 

[mestell]

Wow they are early this year!! That is a nice looking figure Mike. Time to renew my subscription me thinks.

That's why I was surprised Scott. It seems that in at least the last two years the CC packets and gift figure haven't come out until May.
:smile2: Mike

 

[WBritain]

Guys - after all the delays I thought it might be a nice surprise to FINALLY get you all something early for once! Lets hope this is the start of a beautiful new trend in 2011!!! I am sure going to try to keep it going - headed to China in 10 days for two weeks of intense inspections, reviews and discussions at our facilities.

Thank you for hanging in there.

Richard

 

[Jefman]

Mike: When I'm done posting this I'm on the phone to get mine. It was a long drought for some Rebel Cavalry. This 150 year anniversary piece is just perfect. If Richard and Ken can follow up with four or five more troopers to augment this figure it's a perfect display that can go with the continuation of the previously released ten 1st Virginia mounted troopers that WB rolled out in past years. Thanks Mike...2011 could shape up to be a good year for the gray clad horsemen. Richard: I just got off the phone with Angela in your office. They are going to ship my figure out Monday. Have a great visit to China. Half the fun to collect these figurines is the wait and then they adorn the shelf of the curio. This trooper will stand adjacent to the mounted troops as if they are pacing forward to supplement the dismounted trooper(s). Again all the best!

 

[Jefman]

After checking out pages 36 and 37 of the 2010 WB catalog, Britains rolled out six dismounted Union cavalry figures in addition to the Collectors Club dismounted officer and then paired five of the six with the previous years release of a trooper firing behind a horse casualty as well as with Union cavalry General John Buford in a clever diorama for the catalog. They just got the last of the six onto the market. I'm hoping to see a bounce back balancing of a great rollout of dismounted Confederates (1st Virginia?) to splice in with this splendid looking Collectors Club figure that hints (why make just one?) at additional releases either in the second, third or fourth of WB's new quarterly release installments for 2011. Dismounted Rebel Cavalry has never been depicted in any volume except for Guard Corps Ltd. line of glossy Confederates from ten or so years ago (I have now cobbled together a 15 figure set out of a possible 20 to 25 that I think comprised this line). KC's line (took too much creative license with all that taxi cab yellow trimming!) was limited from two years back and the rest of the industry has always depicted this branch in mounted variations or in occasional single figure snippets. Amazing that we got to this point as there is incredible supply and variation of all the other ACW branches depicted in multiple usage applications. WB being the most well known on the ACW collection charts has just tapped a great vein of under covered lore and knowing Ken's great sculpture and historical interpretation and Richard's exacting standards the writing is on the wall for a great release of troopers that should satisy us cavalry afficianados with extra dismounted and yes hopefully some extra mounted figures. I've got no problem with the 1st Virginia being the regiment of choice for a dismounted run as their look so well documented in a woodcut by noted artist Alfred Waud and published in Harpers Weekly 9-27-1862 basically captures the look of the south's most well known cavalry regiment at least through 1862. From there we can lobby for a more late ACW look for southern horseman. I'm just glad to get my hands a some more inventory. We take such a back seat to Union depictions or to our fellow infantry and artillery units that its just great to get some authentic non Hollywood looking troops (never an issue with WB) into the mainstream.

 

[mestell]

I agree Jefman. I am always campaigning with Richard and Ken for more cavalry, especailly mounted troopers. I am very much surprised that you don't care for taxi-cab yellow :tongue::wink2:^&grin - my sentiments again match yours . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[Jefman]

Mike: The Virginia cavalry regiments are terrrific examples of quality Confederate units from the ACW. In addition to the 1st Va. (commanded by Jeb Stuart, William Jones and Fitzhugh Lee). The 2nd Va. (commanded by Thomas Munford), the 4th Va. (commanded by Williams Wickham and later William Payne), the 5th Va. (commanded by Thomas Rosser), the 7th Va. (commanded by Turner Ashby and later William "Grumble" Jones), the 9th Va. (commanded by WHF "Rooney" Lee), the 11th Va (commanded by Lunsford Lomax) and the 13th Va. (commanded by John Chambliss) are also deserving of recognition to the cause. Obviously all of the above units along with the 1st were fighting the bulk of the Eastern Theatre conflict on their home turf. Being the most populated Confederate state, the Virginia units were comprised of the highest quality mounts and horsemen witness every one of the above mentioned commanders eventually being promoted from colonel of their regiment to the role of Brigadier General. The Virginians personifed the ACW on horse as they rode the back woods, scouted the countryside, fording the rivers streams and creeks, delaying the columns, raiding the supply lines, skirmishing the superior armed enemy, and executing quality service against great odds in their own backyard for the length of the conflict. The 1st was a great unit and did not rest on its initial success that July 1861 afternoon at 1st Manassas when they routed The NY Fire Zouaves. Jeb Stuart and Grumble Jones galavanized the 1st Va. into the epitome of the esprit d corps attitude needed by the Confederacy if they were to overcome the superior attributes of their northern foes. The 1st Va. was usually on the scene for the bulk of most major cavalry actions in the eastern theatre throughout the war. At Brandy Station they were not in a position to be of too much impact as Gen. Fitz Lee was ailing with rheumatism and Thomas Munford assumed command of his brigade for that fight...positioned miles away from the epic essence of the fight on Fleetwood Hill that June afternoon to make a difference. But the 1st was in the heat of the action at East Cavalry Field Day 3 at Gettysburg and had significant roles in the tremendous cavalry actions at Yellow Tavern and Trevilian Station in 1864. Quite simply the 1st Va. evolved from being the elite looking cavaliers resplendent in their black hats with ostrich plumes, black braided hussar style jackets and knee high riding boots into a reliable and trustworthy workhorse of the Army of Northern Virginia's Cavalry Corps. They survived the test of time and tribulations to gain a solid legacy in the ACW.Therefore, I think it would be a great addition to the WB line to see a few more 1st Virginians added to the inventory whether it be dismounted or even mounted form.

 

[mestell]

Exceptionally well said Jefman. Your writing skill is such that your post reads like a well writen history book. You are as impassioned about the Confederate cavalry as I am about the Iron Brigade and the Stonewall Brigade. I would definately welcome a WB line of 1st VA cavalry troopers, however I would prefer an 1863 persona rather than very early war. In any case, WB has neglected the cavalry arm of the Confederacy and, like you, I hope they soon rectify this overlook.
:smile2: Mike

 

[Jefman]

Mike: You are spot on in your seeking to see more circa 1863 onward Rebel mounted Cavalry.The Union naval blockade by 1863 was already having a significant impact on the commerce and hence ability of the Confederacy to feed, equip and attire its people and its armies. We mock on the taxi cab yellow facings and pipings that is popularized in depictions but is no where near reality as is the eventual disappearence of black (militia) trimmings that adorn for example the trooper you just received. Fact of the matter by 1863 the Confederacy's armies were clothing and arming itself primarily with procured Union products. Basically as the ACW wore on it faced increasing hardships trying to arm and attire the army and thus their look from 1863 onward was both tattered, extremely irregular and subject to bleached out Union blue or butternut dyed trousers and very plain shell jackets and frock coats. The blockade runners could only bring in a portion of replenishment with English manufactured Enfield rifles and carbines and wool jackets and trousers.I think we have yet to see a solid rollout from any manufacturer that gives us a fairly representative profile of Confederate Cavalry circa 1863-65 except for the well executed hodge podge of Guard Corps Ltd. dismounted gloss finished Rebels.It is not a WB issue as much as an industry wide chasm that eventually will be corrected. I think that in the near future Richard and Ken will grasp that the CSA Cavalry although now competing against a superior foe from a uniforms, weapons and manpower standpoint was still a potent fighting force and despite their tattered , mismatched look in weapons and uniforms needs to be depicted as relevent and worthy of late war consideration like what they have done in their infantry and artillery lines. The late war stuff is not ornate, not as colorful but this is how they looked and that is what WB does: executes thoughtful, truthful and plausible presentations. Our patience will be rewarded.

 

[Jagdpanther]

Thats a very nice figure Mike.

 

[Panzer Meyer]

Very nice .

 

[skeeterbuck]

Wow they are early this year!! That is a nice looking figure Mike. Time to renew my subscription me thinks.

Wow, {eek3} come to think about it, I don't remember ever receiving my notice to renew. I thinking I may have never received my last issue of "The Standard".

Anyone here have a pic of the issue with the renew notice included? Thanks!

 

[mikemiller1955]

Mike...a dapper looking fellow...kudos to you and WM Brit...