More napoleonics !!! (1 Viewer)

[Alex]

Some pictures (my photographic skills are non existent by the way).

Alex

 

[Alex]

Even more photos ...

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

There must be a story behind the headless horseman...cannon ball? In any case, you must be thrilled with these exquisitely crafted figures. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Alex]

even even more pictures ...

 

[Gebhard]

Alex ,
Great new additions , Welcome to the addiction you have it bad Since you seem to have a pretty good representation of what First Legion have on offer , could I ask if you have a Favorite edition of the ones you have . Happy collecting Gebhard

 

[Alex]

So around 30 FL figures. I hope these pictures will help other people on this forum. I like it a lot when people post pictures of their own FL figures. It's not that there's not plenty of informations and images on FL website but it gives you another perspective.

I would strongly recommand from this order : Colbert, the prussians, the flag bearers (the prussian one and the chasseur one are incredible), the russian artillery set and the Nassau figures. Some figures arrived with some damages and I find it sad since more often than not it's related to some packaging issue. Now since some of these figures have so intricated details, it's something that is bound to happen. Now I know that FL have an excellent customer service so I can strongly suggest people to buy or at least try one or two of their figures and you'll be hooked after. And you'll discover why FL beats hands down K&C and the like in terms of quality of sculpting, poses, painting, price vs quality ratio, low number of replicas of the same figure and customer service. I have no problems recommanding their products without any doubts and if someone is around Montreal, give me a call and I'm going to show them to you before you buy !

Cheers,

Alex

 

[Alex]

I would say in no particular order :

-french old imperial guards (the saper is wonderful)
-colbert
-russian Akhtyrsky hussar officer
-the prussian flag bearer
-the brit light dragoon officer

If I had to pick one up and if budget was limited I would take the brit light dragoon officer or the russian hussar officer.

But now since budget is not limited, I'm taking them all !

What I like a lot with FL is that even though their early releases were affected by some degree of damage related to packaging issue (some of the figures I've received in this order had some damage), the newest releases all seem ok. All the prussians I've received, the Nassau figures and the russian artillery set all arrived without any kind of damage (no paint chips, no bent pieces, no broken pieces) so that's pretty reassuring when you're ordering over the net. Now since Matt will take care personally of any kind of damage, you have that piece of mind when you're ordering and for me this was what made it for me : excellent quality coupled with excellent customer service.

Alex

 

[Alex]

There must be a story behind the headless horseman...cannon ball? In any case, you must be thrilled with these exquisitely crafted figures. Thanks for sharing.

Yes it was sad indeed to see that hussar with a loose head in the socket.. As I said to Matt, my french guys now have a real reason to fear the mighty russians )

 

[spartan71]

Thanks, for sharing Alex. everything looks great!!. Except for the BRoken pieces, IT is a Bummer though. But I do agree that Matt is great, in resolving issues.
My Plan was just to get strickly British pieces, But when I saw The Coulbert piece. I just had to get him. The only thing is We can not expand with him at all if we decide to. Because there are just. no Lancers for him to be with, Not unless we decide to get some K&C pieces to mix it up with. Which I am going to do, for now. And hope that Matt, Makes the Lancers Sonner than later.

 

[Alex]

Spartan,

I could add some katsup to the body of my hussar, flowing from his neck, as he was struck by a cannon ball... Then I could rename the piece the GORE Hussar

Colbert is so well done it will be a center piece in my collection and I will display him alone. I might do as well with all FL special edition figures and display them side by side.

Alex

 

[Spitfrnd]

Nice representative set of figures Alex. It is interesting to see the headless Hussar but it actually points out a nice feature of many of these figures. Since the heads are attached in that fashion, with some care and technique, you can add to the variety of your collection by mixing and matching some of them. The same can be said of the way the arms of many of these are attached. I also very much like the British Light Dragoon officer, as well as the NCO.

 

[Alex]

If you do collect the french chasseurs, the flag bearer is very nicely done and looks pretty unique among the flag bearers mainly because of the pose with one foot sitting on a rock. The flag is also wonderfully painted.

Alex

 

[Spitfrnd]

If you do collect the french chasseurs, the flag bearer is very nicely done and looks pretty unique among the flag bearers mainly because of the pose with one foot sitting on a rock. The flag is also wonderfully painted.

Alex

I quite agree, actually they are my largest contingent (42) now.

 

[spartan71]

Spartan,

I could add some katsup to the body of my hussar, flowing from his neck, as he was struck by a cannon ball... Then I could rename the piece the GORE Hussar

Colbert is so well done it will be a center piece in my collection and I will display him alone. I might do as well with all FL special edition figures and display them side by side.

Alex

LOL, It is definitely would be an option with the Hussar.
I am also thinking The same way with having Colbert Be the Centerpiece, Of My now Forming French army, I am just hoping That The Red Lancers that K&C has, will match the color scheme that FL has, with not too much retouching in paints. I have washes and inks, plus glazes. I hope it will be enough.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I think that matching the paints from one manufacturer to another is a common concern, but keep this in mind, with so little industrialization during the Napoleonic era, dye lots were often irregular, so that units in the same companies often did not match. You will notice that some painters even intentionally uniform their troops irregularly (pardon the paradox there). I know when it comes to French infantry, I rarely have two identical figures in a company, and trousers are often non-issue.

Generally speaking, I think you will find the K&C colors will be a bit more vivid while the FL figures have had a heavier treatment of wash, so may appear more muted. Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it, both companies produce lovely figures worthy of appreciating for their unique character. What a great dilemma to have!

LOL, It is definitely would be an option with the Hussar.
I am also thinking The same way with having Colbert Be the Centerpiece, Of My now Forming French army, I am just hoping That The Red Lancers that K&C has, will match the color scheme that FL has, with not too much retouching in paints. I have washes and inks, plus glazes. I hope it will be enough.

 

[VIRIATO]

Spartan,



Colbert is so well done it will be a center piece in my collection and I will display him alone. I might do as well with all FL special edition figures and display them side by side.

Alex

It is isn't it? I now have one in my shelf and find your idea of displaying these special figures separately a very good one.
Great photos that do justice to great figures.The flags look spectacular.

Thanks for sharing,
Paulo

 

[Spitfrnd]

I think that matching the paints from one manufacturer to another is a common concern, but keep this in mind, with so little industrialization during the Napoleonic era, dye lots were often irregular, so that units in the same companies often did not match. You will notice that some painters even intentionally uniform their troops irregularly (pardon the paradox there). I know when it comes to French infantry, I rarely have two identical figures in a company, and trousers are often non-issue.

That is a good point on the colors. Moreover, once in the field, the wear and tear and fading from sun and rain and whatever passed for laundry would have produced even further variations in shade and color.

Generally speaking, I think you will find the K&C colors will be a bit more vivid while the FL figures have had a heavier treatment of wash, so may appear more muted. Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it, both companies produce lovely figures worthy of appreciating for their unique character. What a great dilemma to have!

I would agree in general with the K&C colors appearing more parade ground or even overly bright. They are indeed unique and mixing is often a challenge given the differences in sculpting and style. I think the Britains figures fit in better with FL but I have mixed some in from both, but only the mounted figures from K&C.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

That is a good point on the colors. Moreover, once in the field, the wear and tear and fading from sun and rain and whatever passed for laundry would have produced even further variations in shade and color.

Right! I know some folks here have these books, but if you don't and you have a concern about the uniform inconsistencies, see if you can get your hands on Brassey's History of Uniforms Napoleonic Wars Napoleon's Army (by Rene Chartrand) and Brassey's History of Uniforms, Napoleonic Wars Wellington's Army (by Ian Fletcher). Both of these books give you a sense of just how much variety there was and why. I thought the text on Wellington's Army, in particular, demonstrated why uniforms were often bearly distinguishable in the Penninsula and what modifications troops often employed on their own with the absence of regular refitting. I know both these books changed the way I paint Napoleonic units, looking now for opportiunities to distinguish a single figure with a unique look (even as minor as a cartridge box cover).

 

[Spitfrnd]

Right! I know some folks here have these books, but if you don't and you have a concern about the uniform inconsistencies, see if you can get your hands on Brassey's History of Uniforms Napoleonic Wars Napoleon's Army (by Rene Chartrand) and Brassey's History of Uniforms, Napoleonic Wars Wellington's Army (by Ian Fletcher). Both of these books give you a sense of just how much variety there was and why. I thought the text on Wellington's Army, in particular, demonstrated why uniforms were often bearly distinguishable in the Penninsula and what modifications troops often employed on their own with the absence of regular refitting. I know both these books changed the way I paint Napoleonic units, looking now for opportiunities to distinguish a single figure with a unique look (even as minor as a cartridge box cover).

Great book suggestions; I just ordered the pair.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Great book suggestions; I just ordered the pair.

You won't be disappointed. You'll be painting Highlanders in brown trousers in no time!