Hougoumont (1 Viewer)

wellington

wellington

First Sergeant
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Just wondering if anyone has noticed if the new figures for the older HOUGOUMONT set are the same quality as the old. I have looked at the pictures in the 2006 catelog and they appear to be of the same quality. I was saving my money to get the older sets but am now wondering if I should just buy the new sets...any suggestion....:)


Cheers
WELLINGTON
 
wellington said:
Just wondering if anyone has noticed if the new figures for the older HOUGOUMONT set are the same quality as the old. I have looked at the pictures in the 2006 catelog and they appear to be of the same quality. I was saving my money to get the older sets but am now wondering if I should just buy the new sets...any suggestion....:)


Cheers
WELLINGTON
Click to expand...

Hi there! I would never tell you not to buy anything out of production as a collector, I even have this set and I have no plans on letting in go. But I will promise you that the new sets will be of a superior quality, and a tad larger than the ones I sculpted in 1998. Ask some of the members that have the new ACW figures.The production work under 1st Gear is better than anything else W. Britain has produced in years. The castings are good and the painting is clean, shaded, weathered and correct. There are twice as many figures in this range as you see in the 2006 second half catalog...and a special collectors club figure made for this grouping that will make it worth joining the club just to get this figure if you like this range. I guessing that you will like Napoleonics eh? There will be an upgraded north gate, wall add ons, the well and small scenics for 2007 first half. Ken
 
Ken thanks for your response...the new figures are very nice and to be honest I found the older figures have a poor paint job, I really am caught up on what to do. I just bought the older North wall set and almost feel like I should complete it ..but... then again if the quality isn't there then will they ever be a hard set to obtain? I am not a collector of retired items but more a collector of quality.......:rolleyes:

I am also getting the feeling that the new set will only devalue the old set if its of such better quality...what are your thoughts on that Ken or any other Forum member?

Cheers
WELLINGTON
 
Last edited:
Hi Wellington,

I would get the older sets if you can swing it because they look like they will go pretty well together. I often have to make these choices so I understand that sometimes its more prudent to get the one that is out of production and is getting more difficult to find. As I have found with a couple of the durbar sets that elluded me when they were in production. Tough choice.

Dave
 
DMNamiot said:
Hi Wellington,

I would get the older sets if you can swing it because they look like they will go pretty well together. I often have to make these choices so I understand that sometimes its more prudent to get the one that is out of production and is getting more difficult to find. As I have found with a couple of the durbar sets that elluded me when they were in production. Tough choice.

Dave
Click to expand...

Well I hope this helps...The first set was based on the famous Robert Gibb painting of the closing of the gates. This set forced me to make choices about the uniforms that I knew modern research proved wrong. Two obvious things are the grey trousers and the 'trotter' packs worn. The lights of the second were wearing the white summer weight trousers and most of the Victorian period paintings show the frame version of the trotter pack which is really a post war pack. The other obvious point is that in the defense of a fixed position it is highly unlikly they would be wearing the packs at all. The new figures have a scattering of canteens and haversacks, but no packs. A few also have the oilskin covers on the Belgic caps as it had rained.
Dennis Deighton for British, and Carle Vernet for the French are the best period primary sources in addition to written accounts. I usually follow their images unless I have read something different, or have examined an original item that differs from the image. The 100 days is always a challage, added to the latitude allowed on campaign in the first quarter of the 19th century.
With all of that stated however, it is a very nice stand alone set, and in 1998 it was first rate. Every figure company has come a long way since then. This crossed our minds when we came back to revisit this topic too, so we have focased on the fight that occured inside after the French broke in, and before the moment in the Gibbs painting.
Belive it or not...I had to track one down to get it and I paid a premium price for it. I display it near my framed print of the Gibb painting and a repro Belgic cap...it is a pretty nice display.
 
Thanks Ken for being honest about the whole thing...I agree it is a very nice set that is why I bought it...I guess if I buy the wall I should buy the small sets that go with it...I bought the Nelson series and love it just because of the small cut scenes on HMS Victory and the LACK of any Napoleonic Navy stuff....:)

Also I ment to add Ken that the sculpting is excellent it was the quality of paint that I was referring to.

I also wanted to ask why some sets have a book and some don't and is the book a nice book and worth the extra money?

WELLINGTON
 
There were a limited number with the Osprey book with a special cover for that set. This is the set I have. If you don't have that book already it is worth getting the set with it.
There is another "must have" book 'Hougoumont, The key to victory at Waterloo' by Julian Paget & Derek Saunders, you should get a copy. Ken
 
Ken there is somethig else I want to point out about Britains.....I am primarily a K&C collector...but...I have to say that the sets you put out with a back drop such as the North wall with some figures included as well as add on figures and building etc are EXCELLENT and I don't think any other company as of yet have even come close to this idea. Not only is it much more fun collecting these than static scenes but it gains the interrset of the collector and entices them to buy the add ons....GOOD JOB. Something other companies need to take notice of....:D

Cheers
WELLINGTON

Ken what is the name of the book that is included?
 
Looking at the old Northgate figures and the illustrations for the new I would say that the newer figures seem to be more vibrant and better detailed. Can't say for sure because obviously I haven't seen them in person.
 
I think my question was more directed towards should I buy the older set or the newer one and would the older set be reduced in value as a result of the
newer one being released?

Cheers
WELLINGTON
 
Wellington, I bought the original set at otsn back in 2003.To me it is a nice set, the British Gaurds { both fron this set and the 3 figure sets} are very nice.Better sculpted than much of the rest of the Napoleonic line, probably because they were sculpted by Ken Osen.
I don't know what this older retired set would go for these days. I think I paid $80.00 which to me was a bargain but then again I bought at least 25 sets from the same dealer so maybe it was a discount.They do pop up on ebay from time to time but I don't watch to see what happens.

FubArRRrRRrRr
 
I know about the three piece sets but the two piece sets do these go with the wall or is it just the 3 piece sets? I thought the whole set was from 00148-00153.

Cheers
WELLINGTON
 
Hi Again,

I was looking at my Britains Catalog's from 2002 and the sets are all shown together and would compliment the wall set. I think you may want to see if there is any reference to this set in the 2001 catalog (I'm missing this one) and see if they set them all together in a display. I think they would go very well and if you add a couple of the casualties sets (17298 & 17299) you could add some more interest to the display. I also think there should be more French Infantry in the display. I will see if I can find anymore information but I hope this is helpful. You might also look for the Britains magazine The Standard and see what they had for information because they always have very detailed articles with reference to their sets as well as what actually happened in a particular battle.

Dave
 
Thanks Dave for the info...I will try and do this...just wondering if anyoen has a 2001 catelog of Britains with this wall displayed, if so I have alot of K@C books that I would be will to trade for the book if you are interrested.

Cheers
WELLINGTON....:)
 
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