Charge of the Light Brigade (1 Viewer)

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

I have been sitting on this group of soldiers for a long while and have finally decided to get them out for some display time. I do suffer from a lack of space in my man cave but I managed to clear a space on top of a book case in the corner. It does sit directly infront of my Durbar display but I decided it was fine for the time being.

So I have put up a display that combines the old with the new. My only regret is not having the room for a shelf display that I could incorporate a gun position and some of my other Crimean figures from other companies.

So for now its just a small grouping but I hope you all enjoy seeing the old mixed with the new.

Dave

 

[wadepat]

Hi Dave,

Great display! It is very nice to finally see some of your Crimean War figures. However, now that you have posted some of your Crimean sets, I have to wonder what other surprises you have been hiding from us. Whatever they might be, I hope you will post them and I most certainly will look forward to viewing them!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[thebritfarmer]

Hi Dave,

Great display! It is very nice to finally see some of your Crimean War figures. However, now that you have posted some of your Crimean sets, I have to wonder what other surprises you have been hiding from us. Whatever they might be, I hope you will post them and I most certainly will look forward to viewing them!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

Yes indeed Pat, come on Dave bring out the treasures

Very nice Dave, thanks for sharing these with us. I do like the butcher Jack piece. Do you have the Scot's Grey duelling figure as well??

 

[glossman]

*
Hello Dave,

Thanks very much for sharing your collection of glossy Crimean War figures by William Britain.

I wish that more British Cavalry figures of the Light Brigade were produced.

The 13th Light Dragoon and 11th Hussar are also very fine sets.

The Treefrog Treasures shop has a vignette with 4 of the 5 British Cavalry sets (no 11th Hussar).

Kind Regards, Raymond.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

Yes I do have the Scots Grey's Duels the 11th Hussar. It will be displayed sometime down the road.

I too wish there would be more of the mounted Charge figures done. I dont have the Dragoon or the Hussar figure yet. On my list of to find.

I also would enjoy seeing some limited edition sets of 3 or 4 mounted figures to fill out the display but those sorts of sets are pretty expensive to make and dont sell that well so I guess we'll just have to be happy with onesies and twosies as they get made. Maybe the Britains Collectors Club will produce some in the not too distant future. I have several of the other sets and hope that we will continue to see more Highlanders from the "thin red line" Another set of mounted figures that would be great to see produced would be some of the French Chasseurs that were present and provided support for the Light Brigade to withdraw from the field. I am also giving Monarch Regalia a close look as they have a very good looking line of glossy figures for the Crimean. Other makers that produced some really nice glossy for the Crimean are Trophy and Frontline. I especially like Frontlines downed horses and troopers and they did some great looking Russian Cavalry as well. Any of you guys have these makes hidden in a storeroom? If you do please share your opinions etc.

Have a great day

Dave

 

[4th Hussar]

I have a small grouping of Frontline CLB figures and belive they are superior to WBs. Glossy and bright paint; varied poses and interesting characters. One problem is they are a bit large and do not really display well with other 54 mm figures. Another minor problem the weight and softness of the metal used- I have one lancer that keeps laying over because the horse slim soft legs can't support the weight of the trooper and mount.

All in all Frontline made some excellent glossies

 

[lancer]

I also have some of the FL CLB 11th Hussars and find them to be among my favorite glossies. They do not display well with the Britain Crimea VC series because of size, as 4th Hussar stated. I do have a few of the Britain CLB 17th Lancers and a single 11th Hussar (an excellent figure). They are a tick smaller in bulk than the FL. I have not had a problem with FL metal softness but my brother did. He visited London some years back and brought back 2 Cardigan figures, one for each of us. Over the years his Cardigan figure began leaning over and eventually went horizontal. Fearing he would break it, he never attempted to fix it. When in London on business last year, he returned, with the figure, to the dealer where he had purchased the Cardigans. The dealer replaced the figure right off, explaining that early FL figures had some metal softness issues. The dealer then proceeded to take the defective Cardigan and bent the figure back to an upright position with no paint loss or other damage. Evidently it is a process the dealer has had to repeat many times. As I said, though, I have had no such issues with my several figures. Wish I could find/afford more of the Britains and FL CLB figures. I really like them. -- lancer

 

[glossman]

*
Frontline Figures made a comprehensive range of sets for the Charge of the Light Brigade and Thin Red Line of the Crimean War.

There are some very nice FF sets with varied poses eg: wounded cavalry, collapsing horses and downed horses.

The sets are relatively heavy, but this is not a major issue.

However, the soft and malleable nature of the metal from which these sets are made, are not to my liking.

I have one cavalry set for which the horse's legs are buckling under. My Lord Cardigan is still upright.

William Britain made far fewer figures, but the quality and packing of the sets is by far superior.

Raymond.

 

[Leadmen]

Raymond: About 10 years ago my friend had his Frontline Napoleonic horses collapse like you said. Frontline sent him all new horses and I think they are still standing . He did not mention any more problems with the mounted figures.

 

[Leadmen]

Nice collection Dave. Thanks for the pictures of your figures. John

 

[4th Hussar]

Raymond: About 10 years ago my friend had his Frontline Napoleonic horses collapse like you said. Frontline sent him all new horses and I think they are still standing . He did not mention any more problems with the mounted figures.

Wonder if they still will do that ?

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

Leadman thats an interesting problem to have with a mounted figure. I have not experienced this with the mounted ones that I own. I will say I did have the arms drop off of one of my infantry during a move but I reglued it with no worries so far. As for the question of will they repair/replace it now thats difficult to say since they are only producing matte as far as I know. Of course I am sure they probably still have molds and may have a horse that will work with which ever rider you have. I guess someone should ask them and let us know.

Dave

 

[4th Hussar]

The replace question was not serious. One bad Frontline figure out of 30 or so that I have is a minor aggravation.

 

[acw cavalry]

Hi Dave,

If you want mounted cavalry from the Crimean War then check out the ATS website at www.ats-uk.net. They have produced mounted figures of all the personalities from the Charge of the Light Brigade together with those of the Heavies. In addition to this they have also released examples of all of the mounted regiments that were involved inj the Crimean camapaign. The lastest release in this range was Lord Lucan's Command Group. All figures are in a true 54 mm scale and plans to increase the range in 2010 include, if they materialise, Chasseurs D'Afrique protecting as you say the retreat of the Lights and perhaps even some mounted figures depicted reaching the Russian Guns at the end of that fateful charge!

Kind Regards

Martin

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Martin,

They have some really great before the charge and after the charge sets. I will have to consider them. I would like to see them produce the figures in action. Maybe we'll get those eventually.

Dave

 

[glossman]

Hi Dave,

If you want mounted cavalry from the Crimean War then check out the ATS website at www.ats-uk.net. They have produced mounted figures of all the personalities from the Charge of the Light Brigade together with those of the Heavies. In addition to this they have also released examples of all of the mounted regiments that were involved inj the Crimean camapaign. The lastest release in this range was Lord Lucan's Command Group. All figures are in a true 54 mm scale and plans to increase the range in 2010 include, if they materialise, Chasseurs D'Afrique protecting as you say the retreat of the Lights and perhaps even some mounted figures depicted reaching the Russian Guns at the end of that fateful charge!

Kind Regards

Martin

As mentioned previously in another thread, here is a picture of BNPC052 Major General Ponsonby from the ATS website.

The colour of Ponsonby's rearing steed appears somewhat different from the expected grey/white.

Ponsonby was in command of the Union Brigade comprising of the 1st Royal Dragoons and 6th Inniskilling Dragoons in the first line and the 2nd Royal North British Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) in reserve.

I am not sure any other manufacturer has made Ponsonby either in gloss or matte.

Best Wishes, Raymond

 

[acw cavalry]

Hi Raymond,

I may have missed something here, but I am totally at a loss to know why you have posted a photo of a cavalry General form the Battle of Waterloo in a thread that is very much concerned with the Charge of the Light Brigade. The only relevant/consistent bit of information is that the figure is produced by ATS.

Kind Regards
Martin

 

[glossman]

Hi Raymond,

I may have missed something here, but I am totally at a loss to know why you have posted a photo of a cavalry General form the Battle of Waterloo in a thread that is very much concerned with the Charge of the Light Brigade. The only relevant/consistent bit of information is that the figure is produced by ATS.

Kind Regards
Martin

Hello Martin,

You are absolutely correct. This was a terrible mistake on my part.

What an aberration of history !! Unforgiveable.

My sincere apologies to all who have contributed to this thread.

I shall send a PM to Dave to see what can be done.

Best Wishes, Raymond.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

I think the error is fine since it opens the door to discuss this company a little more so if no one really objects I would enjoy a deeper discussion of ATS and their very nice looking glossy figures.

Dave

 

[trooper]

Hi Guys,

I think the error is fine since it opens the door to discuss this company a little more so if no one really objects I would enjoy a deeper discussion of ATS and their very nice looking glossy figures.

Dave

Dave, you might be interested to know that ATS's series of Napoleonics is possibly the largest on the market. Of particular note is Nik's coverage of The Duchess of Richmond's Ball, The retreat to Corunna and his landing parties of Marines in ship's cutters. He is also the owner of Lancer, which covers a much wider range of subjects including the Light and Heavy Cavalry Brigades, the extensive civilian range known as Newbury St.,a series of the world's police forces and a range of ACW. The Lancer series are all true 54mm while the ATS figures are all slightly larger, compatible with Little Legion, Tradition, Wilson Edwards etc. Another point to bear in mind is that his entire production is all still available, nothing is ever retired, one of the advantages of producing in house.