ACW Wish List (1 Viewer)

[Dragoon]

The people at Britains are doing a wonderful job at bringing the American Civil War to life with all their new figures. I hope in the next year we'll see some Union zouaves to add some color and varitity to our displays. A unit like the 9th New York, Hawkin's Zouaves, with their blue and red uniforms could represent a number of different zouave regiments throughout the duration of the war. I'd also like to see some Union troops in state issued shell jackets like that worn by many of the New York regiments.

This could be a very long wish list, but these are at the top of mine. What are some other units or ideas people would like to see Britains do to round out the War Between the States?

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

The list is long indeed...and I suppose we could just do ACW for years and still have several years more to cover the waterfront! Thanks for you kind comment about our new ACW range. Richard and I both have been studying this period for years and every time we check something off as being done, we add two or three more items so the list just seems to grow.
If you look at period images you will see many state issued shell jackets in both blue and grey. Volunteer units had been wearing these short jackets since the war of 1812, and as grey cloth was generally inexspensive, it was often the first choice in color. Just as many Northern units marched off to war wearing grey as Southern ones. There are images of the 1st, 2nd and 7th Michigan wearing these to name a few. Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, Ohio, Michigan and other states also supplied these short jackets in blue.
Thanks for your suggestions...we welcome them and take notes.
Ken Osen

 

[Tim Abbott]

There is a paucity of confederate NCOs available who are not carrying flags.
I'd love to see some of the kneeling poses on firing lines expanded (biting cartridges, ramming charges) for both armies. A confederate captain with all three bars on the collar. Flags of Western Armies (Polk and Hardie especially). A Pennsylvania pattern national standard. Union dead (inc NCO and officer).

Greatly looking forward to the cavalry. Downed horses (artillery and cav). Confederate mounted infantry.

1st ME Heavy Artillery charging at Petersburg, or 2nd CVT at Cold Harbor. 1st CT with siege guns. 15th or 50th NY Engineers with pontoon on wheels being pulled by draft animals.

I, too, yearn for an exquisite treatment of some of the Zouave units. With ancestors in the 5th, 9th and 146th NY I am especially partial to these, but would be thrilled to see 114th PA, 140th NY, and Wheat's Tigers as well. Union colored troops.

Maybe there is an opportunity here for single figures in partnership with Osprey as has just been done with the Matte finish with the new Zulu / Rorke's Drift range. This would work well with the early war militia uniforms, too, and those worn at Bull Run. I understand from previous discussions with Ken that some dealers think Zouaves don't sell (can't see it, myself) and this might be a way around that problem. However, I personally want dozens of them in several regiments.

Personalities: Burnside, Sheridan, Sherman, a mounted Stuart, Barlow (wounded, but w/o Gordon, with some of his NY troops in the 11th Corps); Warren, Ewell, Bragg)

An ambulance (sanitary commission).

Soldiers in winter garb (both sides, not Irish Brigade). It was cold at Stones River, too.

Walking wounded. An officer in a straw hat. Cavalry and infantry musicians. Veteran Reserve Corps. Soldiers without shoes. Prisoners under guard.

Scenics and Accessories: A damaged gin house. Cotton bales. A battle damaged clapboard house, or one of those from Fredericksburg.

Civilians.

 

[Peter Reuss]

Welcome aboard Tim -

That's an awesome list. My mind pictures a huge diorama after reading it...

 

[kilted vampire]

That is a great list. What is wrong with the Irish Brigade????

 

[Tim Abbott]

Love the Irish. But...
With the exception of Conte's offerings, every flag seems to be the 28th MA, and more to the point, the only matte finished greatcoated Union figures available were the few done by Soldier Gallery and the "Clear the Way" sets that Ken did for Britains in the late 1990s and they are all Irish Brigade, complete with boxwood sprigs in their kepis. I want winter soldiers who can storm Fort Stedman, or Missionary Ridge, or heaven forbid mud march with Burnside.

Except for Soldier Gallery, there are no confederates that I have found in high quality matte finish compatible with Britains wearing winter garb.