Civil War ! (1 Viewer)

[Capitolron]

Hey Guys

I just picked up this Confederate Infantry Officer (Advancing #2) 31013 - while in Gettysburg today !!

WOW ! This guy looks great ! I had to buy him today - what wonderful detail work - GREAT JOB KEN

I really do love these new figures and especially like the new plastic clamshell packaging.

Anyway - he is on his way to lead a Confederate CHARGE in WASHINGTON !!

 

[6th Wisconsin]

That is a nice figure. I think Britains is doing very nice work with its recent CW figures - a great improvement in the past couple of years.

 

[cantinetozzo]

Great!I've bought it too..i'm waiting for it!The jacket of this soldier is inspired by a real specimen , you can see the picture on page 114 of Echoes of Glory(conf. uniforms), if you haven't it it's time you buy it..i have bought my copy (used but in nearly mint condition) via Abebooks in Marietta , GA ,a long long trip to Locri , Italy..really good service..returning to the figure , i like the little details of WBritain Civ. War figures, i'm a great fan of K&C products and the civ . war is one of its best ranges , but i like the passion and drama that the WB figures transmit me, and the attention to details is outstanding, maybe is Ken Osen attention to details because i've seen in one of The Old Northwest Company last products (the tent scene), a particular cap that is drawn from a real item contained in one of Troiani's books.So..my compliments to Ken Osen & WBritain.

 

[HistoryfortheAges]

Yes, I have my eye on that figure too. Nice pose!

 

[6th Wisconsin]

you can see the picture on page 114 of Echoes of Glory(conf. uniforms), if you haven't it it's time you buy it.

That is such a great book, isn't it? I have the Union version too, but the Confederate one is more interesting because of the larger number of pages and the greater variety of weapons and accoutrements they used. I find the flag and uniform sections particularly fascinating.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Thanks all!
I have had a great deal of fun sculpting many of the figures for 1st Gear/W.Britain, and working with Richard Walker, another ACW fan on our staff.
The Civil War figures are almost second nature for me to do as I have been involved in black powder shooting and living history since I was sixteen, including full scale artillery.
We have all heard that the devil is in the details, and I feel pretty good when one of my fellow civil war enthusiasts that does not collect toy soldiers likes one of the figures.
I really think I could sculpt ACW pretty much full time and still never scratch the surface for diorama needs...but we have plenty of other ranges to keep going too. Between Alan Ball and I, we are keeping 12 ranges ( there are some new ones) fresh with new sculpts. Throw in some scenics and artillery and...well you get the idea.
The Time-Life 'Echos of Glory' is a must-have for anyone interested in the uniforms and equipment of the conflict. A fair number of the items pictured in these are from private collections and in some cases I have had the good fortune to inspect these first hand. The combination of first hand knowledge in how the uniforms and equipment feel when worn, and the close examination of the originals really help in designing and sculpting the patterns.
This year will see several additions to the W. Britain offerings, including support services, camp life and special units. many of these will be unveiled at the end of the first quarter. For those of you going to the West Coaster or the Gettysburg show...see you there!
Thanks again,
Ken

 

[marco55]

Alan Ball!Looks like Britains is aiming for that top spot again.
Mark

 

[cantinetozzo]

Ken let me tell you that your passion is all in the figures you create!And for the Echoes of Glory , yes it's really a wonderful book , the flag section is great in the Confederate volume, and there are sections concerning even the buttons, it's a great thing to look at this items reading maybe an Osprey book describing them !!!I'm trying to add the remaining 2 volumes of the trilogy , the Union Uniforms and the Atlas...

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

These will be well worth getting for your collection. These show up as used books in both hard bound and soft cover so shop around for a good price.
You might also want to pick up a copy of Don Troiani's Regiments and uniforms of the Civil War, or his four soft bound books on ACW uniforms printed by Stackpole.. In addition to Don's art there are a good many original items from his and other private collections in all five of these books. Between the Time-Life volumes and these you would have a pretty good visual representation of the military material culture from this period.
When we were in Connecticut visiting last month he mentioned starting work on a new ACW book soon, so be on the look out for that too.
All the Best!
Ken

 

[Jagdpanther]

Its a great figure indeed! I bought mine in Gettysburg also just yesterday the 4th. lol Nice to hear there is more coming Ken.

 

[cantinetozzo]

I own the Troiani books ..he is one of my favourite civil War artists with Mort Kunstler and Keith Rocco (unfortunately it's hard to find his books in Italy), the 4 books of Troiani are great , and i noted that few items contained in Echoes of Glory are in the Troiani's books, so there's a vast choice of inspiration for you ...personally i'd like to see some camp scene (as you've announced) and some particular item (for example i was always fascinated by the 19th Alabama bayonets reproduced in Don Troiani books ,or the canvas shoes of Colonel Cass of the 9th Massachussets Inf.http://www.old-picture.com/civil-war/Colonel-Cass-Mass-Inf.htm), i really wondered if in a next future some of this particulars could be included in the figures , i appreciated Colonel Chamberlain haversack details (who has this figure knows it).

 

[6th Wisconsin]

What I would really love to see is a full 69th Pennsylvania flag set, including regimental, for those many of us with Pickett's Charge dioramas. Keep up the great work Ken!!

As for Don Troiani, I collect some CW items, and I drool whenever I see his collection online or in the books!

 

[7th OVI]

I also agree on all accounts on the latest Britains, Don T.'s collection, Time Life and so on. ACW Collector's have used a number of books over time as reference starting with Lord's Encyclopedia's, Todd's on Military Equipage, Phillip's on Corps Badges, Edwards on Firearms to name a few old ones as well as magazines such as Military Images, North/South Trader, Company of Military Historians and so on. The Time Life and Troiani's books are the most recent and are just stunning in the way they are presented and photographed. Don's paintings are extremely detailed (the address in one of the officer's hats in "Give Them Cold Steel" is taken from an original label). I just love them. Britain's figures follow in that same approach in presentation as well as attention to detail. On a selfish note, does anyone know if Britains has any plans to come out with a National Flag to match the 7th's regimental flag figure to finish the set?

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Hi There!
It isn't a selfish question at all! The one thing we struggle with is doing specific units flags. With that said...We do and always will, but whatever we do there are a hundred requests to do a different one.
The interesting note on National colours is that some of them never had a unit designation placed on them in wartime, and in some very notable cases, never got one applied at all.
This is true of the Twentieth Maine flag carried at Gettysburg. When Don was doing the research for his two paintings of Little Roundtop it was pointed out that the National Colour still survives. Upon inspection it was discovered that it had no unit designation painted on it.
This may have been the case with other Depot issued flags and we are thoughtful about this when deciding which one to do next.
The next go around really should have the rest of the Iron Brigade flags, Some new Confederate variations, and colours for the Artillery, Cavalry and a Zouave unit.
Thanks for the kind comments and remember that we always take note of requests.
Ken

 

[7th OVI]

Ken, thanks for getting back to me on the colors. Unfortunately the 7th did have a unit designation on their National colors. I have attached a copy from the OHS web site in case you are interested. If you could get a plain Cincinnati depot National flag out at some point in time than I could take care of the rest. If you have any ideas on how to modify any of the current releases, I am also interested in giving it a try. I am anxiously looking forward to the 2009 catalog and figures.

Thx again.

Chris

 

[RHoegermeyer]

Hi Chris (Ken),
Funny you should ask Ken about painting regimental unit designations on the flags. I have just finished painting a real beauty for Britains of a Union standard bearer. I asked Ken to let me do a specific standard but his and Richard's logic is sound. I would do a regiment that someone wouldn't want and it might lock out or turn off some collectors. A generic flag is best. boo hoo....

But wait, there may be a solution ! Ken, what about doing a Hudson and Allen decal set that represents some of the more famous Union or even Confederate units. To keep it simple and workable, could it be done with dry press on decals (rub on) like Woodland Scenics makes? Some food for thought......

 

[thebritfarmer]

Hi Chris (Ken),
Funny you should ask Ken about painting regimental unit designations on the flags. I have just finished painting a real beauty for Britains of a Union standard bearer. I asked Ken to let me do a specific standard but his and Richard's logic is sound. I would do a regiment that someone wouldn't want and it might lock out or turn off some collectors. A generic flag is best. boo hoo....

But wait, there may be a solution ! Ken, what about doing a Hudson and Allen decal set that represents some of the more famous Union or even Confederate units. To keep it simple and workable, could it be done with dry press on decals (rub on) like Woodland Scenics makes? Some food for thought......

That would be a great idea and would give the customer options and flexibility.

 

[Capitolron]

How about a set of Metal or Resign Flags which you could buy with several unit colors and you could slide into the flagbearer's hands - make the soldier a generic figure and have like four or five different flags to choose from.

Maybe make them - Battle specific - like units at Antietam or Gettysburg ?

How about that ?

 

[6th Wisconsin]

How about a set of Metal or Resign Flags which you could buy with several unit colors and you could slide into the flagbearer's hands - make the soldier a generic figure and have like four or five different flags to choose from.

Maybe make them - Battle specific - like units at Antietam or Gettysburg ?

How about that ?

I am not sure about this on the manufacturer's end, but I sure would love it!! The decal idea would be great too.

 

[7th OVI]

Any of those options would work, decals, metal or resin replacements. Whatever the answer, it needs to be a "win, win" for the collector and the manufacturer. Being an Army of the Potomac fan, I also like the Antietam and Gettysburg options. You could even just make an example from each depot style and leave the numbering and wording as an option.

All of that would work for me.

Thx