KC v CS - Battle of the Scots Greys (1 Viewer)

[Gazza]

I say WBritain-have both new sets and they far surpass both companies in quality AND price. The sculpting is incredibly detailed, and the painting is great, and the price is in the range of $75...or 50 GBP...anyway, there are only two so far, so if I were making a similar display, I would definatly give them a chance....

I saw the Scots Grey's at the London Show and would disagree. I do not think the sculpting is as good as KC or CS; nor do I suspect they are compatible because they are smaller. As to price, at £64.99 in the UK, I do not think they represent as good value as CS.

Have a great Christmas

Gazza

 

[Napoleon1er]

Sorry about the price coversion-I guess they use some other price formula for conversions. I will post some picks when my forward Gordons arives. As to quality, I guess I buy WBritain because I think it is the best, and you buy what you buy for your own reasons. As to the scale, I am of the opinion that in real life people differ greatly in size Nd hight (and horses too) so from 1/28 to 1/34 there is an acceptable and even beneficial difference. So as they say, each to his own dragoon!

 

[jazzeum]

I am truly sorry for your early horse experience Brad. I know all to well how a childhood trauma can bias your perceptions for potentially your whole life. Ironically thanks to my parents' misguided efforts to make me ride as a pre-schooler, I didn't ride a horse until my mid 20s and only seriously 10 years later.

Bill, if truth be told, it was my own fault. When was 8 years old, we were living in Uruguay and I was friends with a Uruguayan family across the street. They had three daughters across the street and the youngest, Blanquita, was one of my playmates. Since that area of Montevideo wasn't that built up at that time, Mr. Rodriguez had a field next to the house where their pony roamed, undisturbed. Well, one day, I went over to pet it -- from the wrong side -- and guess what, he didn't like that, so he stuck out his hind leg and kicked me in the stomach. I can remember it like yesterday. I was more surprised than anything else, luckily, as I probably could have been hurt. Moral of the story: be careful with horses and don't pet them from the back side!

 

[Spitfrnd]

Bill, if truth be told, it was my own fault. When was 8 years old, we were living in Uruguay and I was friends with a Uruguayan family across the street. They had three daughters across the street and the youngest, Blanquita, was one of my playmates. Since that area of Montevideo wasn't that built up at that time, Mr. Rodriguez had a field next to the house where their pony roamed, undisturbed. Well, one day, I went over to pet it -- from the wrong side -- and guess what, he didn't like that, so he stuck out his hind leg and kicked me in the stomach. I can remember it like yesterday. I was more surprised than anything else, luckily, as I probably could have been hurt. Moral of the story: be careful with horses and don't pet them from the back side!

Well the moral you took from that is good advice but I have a couple of thoughts on the details. First horses in Uruguay are generally not raised the way ours are so they may be even more twitchy that usual. The second is that ponies are not horses and their temperment is on the more unforgiving side. Still it is good to be careful when approaching any horse you don't know and hence does not know you. They do treat the humans in their circle of friends differently and in any event need to know where you are to be comfortable.

 

[Napoleon1er]

Here are the photos:

 

[thebritfarmer]

Very nice Sandor, very Scottish !! Can I ask do you find the WB horses large when compared to the figures or is it just me?

 

[Mitch]

First thing your taught about any horse is not to walk upto it from behind. Never been kicked by one but whilst mucking out a stable had one stand on my foot that was enough. Fortunate it did not kill you!!
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

First thing your taught about any horse is not to walk upto it from behind. Never been kicked by one but whilst mucking out a stable had one stand on my foot that was enough. Fortunate it did not kill you!!
Mitch

You are so right mate. When we're all of eight years old we don't even think too much

 

[Spitfrnd]

You are so right mate. When we're all of eight years old we don't even think too much

Actually it depends on the horse and whether it knows you and it is not so much that you can't approach from behind but you can't approach horses that don't know you from behind and none of them unless they know you are there first.

 

[Napoleon1er]

Very nice Sandor, very Scottish !! Can I ask do you find the WB horses large when compared to the figures or is it just me?

My English teacher (a lot of people farm where I live) has a Scottish horse that she uses for agility. She told me the breed is rare because they were used my the English cavalry. The horse, though, is HUGE. I mean I don't come up to its shoulders, and I am 5'11"! I think it might be the breed we are looking at! Here is the link:
http://books.google.com/books?id=my...eL5mJU10zJFge8Jp38k&hl=en&ei=-FoXTY-vMI-t8Aav
So the are rather big, but that might be normal

 

[Spitfrnd]

My English teacher (a lot of people farm where I live) has a Scottish horse that she uses for agility. She told me the breed is rare because they were used my the English cavalry. The horse, though, is HUGE. I mean I don't come up to its shoulders, and I am 5'11"! I think it might be the breed we are looking at! Here is the link:
http://books.google.com/books?id=my...eL5mJU10zJFge8Jp38k&hl=en&ei=-FoXTY-vMI-t8Aav
So the are rather big, but that might be normal

The Drum horse shown in that link is said to have been one of several breeds popular with British cavalry at some period. They are most often associated with the pre-Napoleonic war period but some could have been used later as well. The ones used as cavalry horses, even heavies, were most likely the lighter boned crosses since I doubt those fellows would have been very handy in cavalry exercises or charges. I have not seen a painting or account of the Greys that mentions the "feathers" that that a pure bred Drum has, as you can see from the photos at that link. They would have been a challenge to keep clean on campaign but it is well documented that the Freisians, another breed with feathers, were used by knights and later cavalry so who knows.

Looking at the breed standards, Drums could be 16 hands (64 inches) and greater in height. I don't know that breed but other draft or draft derived breeds can easily be 17 hands (68 inches) at the withers, which are the peak just above the shoulders. 18 hands horses (72 inches) are relatively unusual.

Thanks for posting the photos for the Britains Greys. The human part of the team looks nicely sculpted and painted and I like the Britains Napoleonic figure size myself. From these photos, I can't say the same about the horses. Just compare for yourself the horses' heads and facial features with any google results for real horses and I think you will see what I mean; they simply do not capture very well the beauty of these fine creatures.

 

[Martin Tabony]

Generaly cavalry horses are a type rather than a bread e.g. heavy hunter. All our horses face inwards in their stalls so they have to be aproached from the rear! We always talk to our horses and place a hand on the hind quaters first so they know where we are. Most people try to keep their distance when they have to pass a horse, horses have a longer reach than you'd think! Pass closely that way they can only push you rather than give a full double barrel kick. Of course they can bit as well. That's like a metal work vise closed very fast and that brings tears to your eyes, as dose having a Clydesdale stand on your toe!
Dappling or "coin marks" aren't just seen on greys they are common on blacks and chestnuts.

Martin

 

[Spitfrnd]

Generaly cavalry horses are a type rather than a bread e.g. heavy hunter. All our horses face inwards in their stalls so they have to be aproached from the rear! We always talk to our horses and place a hand on the hind quaters first so they know where we are. Most people try to keep their distance when they have to pass a horse, horses have a longer reach than you'd think! Pass closely that way they can only push you rather than give a full double barrel kick. Of course they can bit as well. That's like a metal work vise closed very fast and that brings tears to your eyes, as dose having a Clydesdale stand on your toe!
Dappling or "coin marks" aren't just seen on greys they are common on blacks and chestnuts.

Martin

I agree on the type versus breed Martin, at least for the Napoleonic wars which I know something about. That said, there were some popular breeds favored by various units. The French elite cavalry and Napoleon for instance, favored Holsteiners, which just happens to be the breed of my two.

You are also quite right on the push and kick part. Horses rarely bite humans in fear or anger but when they do it can be pretty ugly. I have only had it happen to me twice, with some borders rather unsocialable horses, but that was more than enough. Our own will occassionally play bite and it is amazing how carefully and delicate they can be, just pinching lightly.

Yes all colors can show dapples but that is a sign of good coat condition and appears and is different than the routine coloration dappling that occurs in greys and shown in the photo I posted.

 

[Martin Tabony]

I meant to say, that grey is a beauty!
Of course the other obviouse problem with greys is cleaning their back legs in the morning, the lighter the coat the more yellow they become!

Martin

 

[johnnybach]

I'm sorry - but I don't like either of them. They look far too "rocking-horse" for me. I think this shows why I much prefer to paint my own. Yes, I do admire the skills involved in the sculpture and design - but - sometimes the painting looks too "spotty" and mechanical in subjects such as this. Sorry 'bout that - but you did ask which one I preferred. If this sounds conceited - please forgive me - I don't mean to sound like that. It's just an honest opinion of what I prefer. johnnybach