Napoleonic Poll (1 Viewer)

[Scott]

With Napolenic, you also get Cantinieres. I love em'!

 

[Spitfrnd]

.....Collecting Napoleonic figures has been somewhat frustrating to me also. I love the colorful uniforms and the variety of nationalities represented, but, as others have stated, collecting Napoleonics seems like a bottomless black hole. In addition to there being an endless stream of collectible figures, one must collect numerous duplicates in order to develop a truly impressive display.
......

I think the Napoleonic Wars get an undeserved rap on this. In point of fact, collecting any period has similar frustrations and requires similar compromises. Certainly major battles from the other popular periods like the ACW, AWI, Roman Empire or Ancient Greece had as many, if not more, soldiers involved, as did the world wars. Moreover, while some Napoleonic battles like Leipzig, Dresden and Smolensk involved over 300,000 troops, most were much smaller and generally about the same size as ACW battles. Even notable battles like Waterloo and Borodino were similar to the size of Gettysburg. Certainly no Napoleonic battle could begin to rival the size and scope of Stalingrad, Kursk, the Bulge or D-Day.

The fact is that few if any collectors can amass more than a small fraction of the actual participants to represent these clashes in their actual displays. Yet few collectors are reluctant to attempt to convey the essence of these struggles with substantially less than full armies, brigades or even companies. Consider, if you will, the breathtaking representations posted here by UKReb. While he does admit to a rather substantial metal army, he does not have the 200,000 odd troops of Gettysburg or 130,000 of Sharpsburg yet none here would consider his displays less than truly impressive.

Yes it is true that many Napoleonic battles featured attacks by large columns but it is not necessary to show the whole of a column to create a compelling scene any more than it is necessary to show all the soldiers involved in Pickett's charge to present a spectacular display of that event. We do in fact have irrefutable proof of how well the latter can be done.

So in the end, I don't think you can hide behind numbers to avoid collecting this period. It is a simple matter of choice and preferences. I will never have enough Spartans, much less Persians to fully represent even Thermopylae, much less Plataea and Mycale, but that does not deter me from collecting the period. The same is true of the Napoleonics.

 

[nmrocks]

Pat,
I'd be happy to let you know, but this will be a casual move, I've ordered acoupkle of books and am doing on line searches. There's a lot out there though it seems to be primarily a european interest.
The dioramas and museums really fire the imagination though!
Ray

 

[nmrocks]

and more

 

[nmrocks]

naturally these are at the top end, but I still think manageable cost wise

 

[aujj65]

I love the Napoleonic era, trouble is I can't stand these one or two figure sets, the era is about massed formations and you have to be rich or absolutely committed to the era to get a real feel of what it was all about.
So I;m getting out of the era from the 60mm stand point.
i've always been curious about 30mm flats and am looking into that. hoping I can get the feel of the era without totallly breaking the bank and still get the beauty and the massed formations!
Ray

Hi Ray,

Collecting Napoleonic figures has been somewhat frustrating to me also. I love the colorful uniforms and the variety of nationalities represented, but, as others have stated, collecting Napoleonics seems like a bottomless black hole. In addition to there being an endless stream of collectible figures, one must collect numerous duplicates in order to develop a truly impressive display.

Your suggestion of collecting 30 mm flats may have much merit and discovering the outcome of your explorations of the flats will be very interesting to me. Will you consider sharing what you learn with us? I am sure others will also be interested in any information you might be able to share with us.

Warmest personals regards,

Pat

I agree the Napoleonic era is generally about massed formations and the smaller scale allows this without breaking the bank too much. I come from a wargaming background and the Napoleonic period was a favourite of mine, back then I had loads of 25mm scale 48 figure units, no way could I ever indulge in that sort of collection in 54/60mm - so I now have a representative attitude to collecting toy soldiers.

Jeff

 

[Spitfrnd]

I agree the Napoleonic era is generally about massed formations and the smaller scale allows this without breaking the bank too much. I come from a wargaming background and the Napoleonic period was a favourite of mine, back then I had loads of 25mm scale 48 figure units, no way could I ever indulge in that sort of collection in 54/60mm - so I now have a representative attitude to collecting toy soldiers.

Jeff

I don't know Jeff but I think it is no more about massed formations than the wars of Ancient Greece, Alexander, Rome or certainly the ACW. The French originated the column attack, which like most French early war tactics, was copied by other European nations but recognized its limitations and begin using mixed line/column formations. Even before that it was common for the columns to deploy to line to fire. The British almost exclusively used the line. Like the ACW, the basic Napoleonic infantry tactic was fire a few volleys and charge with bayonets. The artillery tactics were basically the same for both and likely the cavalry was most different with a much greater use of dismounted cavalry. Of course even that was foreshadowed by the Dragoons and the charge was common to both wars. Perhaps the diverse and colorful uniform schemes of the Napoleonic period encourages one to show more of a battle than the others since by numbers alone, it is hardly unique in the size of the battles or the concentration of its forces.

Those are some nice looking figures you showed Ray . What are they?

 

[Saber]

Napoleonics are my favorite TS to collect, both matte and glossy. (I'm biased as well as I am an American but lived in Europe for 16 years). The range of nations and campaigns is somewhat overwhelming but no more so than the WW II range, IMHO. Strangely enough I don't have any ACW figures even though I've studied many of the battles and visited several of the battlefields, even had several ancestors who fought in it.

 

[aujj65]

I agree the Napoleonic era is generally about massed formations and the smaller scale allows this without breaking the bank too much. I come from a wargaming background and the Napoleonic period was a favourite of mine, back then I had loads of 25mm scale 48 figure units, no way could I ever indulge in that sort of collection in 54/60mm - so I now have a representative attitude to collecting toy soldiers.

Jeff

I don't know Jeff but I think it is no more about massed formations than the wars of Ancient Greece, Alexander, Rome or certainly the ACW. The French originated the column attack, which like most French early war tactics, was copied by other European nations but recognized its limitations and begin using mixed line/column formations. Even before that it was common for the columns to deploy to line to fire. The British almost exclusively used the line. Like the ACW, the basic Napoleonic infantry tactic was fire a few volleys and charge with bayonets. The artillery tactics were basically the same for both and likely the cavalry was most different with a much greater use of dismounted cavalry. Of course even that was foreshadowed by the Dragoons and the charge was common to both wars. Perhaps the diverse and colorful uniform schemes of the Napoleonic period encourages one to show more of a battle than the others since by numbers alone, it is hardly unique in the size of the battles or the concentration of its forces.

Those are some nice looking figures you showed Ray . What are they?

Sorry, this is just my opinion and I am in general agreement with Ray and Pat on the subject of collecting Napoleonics.

Thanks.

Jeff

 

[thebritfarmer]

Sorry, this is just my opinion and I am in general agreement with Ray and Pat on the subject of collecting Napoleonics.

Thanks.

Jeff

I agree also, I think the Napoleonics just give the impression that you need more than you could collect comfortably (in space or price) at least that is the way I have seen it.

 

[nmrocks]

Spitfrnd,
Those are all 30mm flats, pictures taken from various sites and museum displays (once again mostly in europe)
when there done as well as these they really look 3 dimensional!
Ray

I don't know Jeff but I think it is no more about massed formations than the wars of Ancient Greece, Alexander, Rome or certainly the ACW. The French originated the column attack, which like most French early war tactics, was copied by other European nations but recognized its limitations and begin using mixed line/column formations. Even before that it was common for the columns to deploy to line to fire. The British almost exclusively used the line. Like the ACW, the basic Napoleonic infantry tactic was fire a few volleys and charge with bayonets. The artillery tactics were basically the same for both and likely the cavalry was most different with a much greater use of dismounted cavalry. Of course even that was foreshadowed by the Dragoons and the charge was common to both wars. Perhaps the diverse and colorful uniform schemes of the Napoleonic period encourages one to show more of a battle than the others since by numbers alone, it is hardly unique in the size of the battles or the concentration of its forces.

Those are some nice looking figures you showed Ray . What are they?

 

[Spitfrnd]

I agree also, I think the Napoleonics just give the impression that you need more than you could collect comfortably (in space or price) at least that is the way I have seen it.

Well of course your opinions are up to you but I really don't understand why for this one. To me any battle could be more completely displayed with smaller figures for obvious space and financial reasons but why that is more that case for Napoleonics escapes me. I do agree more is better but so are more Spartans, more Romans, more Rebs, more Yanks etc. How many of you ACW collectors have full Regiments or even Companies displayed against each other, must less Divisions or Corps? Yet mostly they engauged with multiple regiments and even Divisions.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Spitfrnd,
Those are all 30mm flats, pictures taken from various sites and museum displays (once again mostly in europe)
when there done as well as these they really look 3 dimensional!
Ray

Ray they are indeed impressive, even in just these photos. Are any of these available for sale any where? I would be interested in any links.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Well of course your opinions are up to you but I really don't understand why for this one. To me any battle could be more completely displayed with smaller figures for obvious space and financial reasons but why that is more that case for Napoleonics escapes me. I do agree more is better but so are more Spartans, more Romans, more Rebs, more Yanks etc. How many of you ACW collectors have full Regiments or even Companies displayed against each other, must less Divisions or Corps? Yet mostly they engauged with multiple regiments and even Divisions.

I agree and thats why I don't collect any of those ranges either, but we are not talking about ACW, Spartans etc, we are talking about Napoleonics and for that reason that is why I said what I said.

 

[marco55]

Michigan Toy Soldier advertises a company called Two Trees that are 30mm flats but it doesn't state if they are painted or not.If anybody checks into that let us know.Their not that cheap either.
Mark

 

[Spitfrnd]

I agree and thats why I don't collect any of those ranges either, but we are not talking about ACW, Spartans etc, we are talking about Napoleonics and for that reason that is why I said what I said.

That may be true but I have never heard that reason applied here to anything but Napoleonics, hence my puzzlement.

 

[theBaron]

Just a couple of observations, as I was getting caught up on this thread...

With Napolenic, you also get Cantinieres. I love em'!

Actually, you have them in the Seven Years War and before, too.

...The French originated the column attack...

I think it's more accurate to say that they employed it to a degree that no other army had used before the French revolutionary wars. The Austrians used column attacks already in the Seven Years War (eg, their attack on the Prussians at Hochkirch), and Prince Henry copied the tactic from them towards the end of that war.

Prost!
Brad

 

[aujj65]

That may be true but I have never heard that reason applied here to anything but Napoleonics, hence my puzzlement.

Sorry, this is just my opinion and I am in general agreement with Ray and Pat on the subject of collecting Napoleonics.

Thanks.

Jeff

I agree also, I think the Napoleonics just give the impression that you need more than you could collect comfortably (in space or price) at least that is the way I have seen it.

I agree and thats why I don't collect any of those ranges either, but we are not talking about ACW, Spartans etc, we are talking about Napoleonics and for that reason that is why I said what I said.

I’m sorry that you find other members opinions a puzzlement, I’m sure that your theory applies to many periods not just the ones you have listed but I think you’ll find we were just trying to stick to the topic of the thread – Napoleonic’s.

Jeff

 

[aujj65]

I love the Napoleonic era, trouble is I can't stand these one or two figure sets, the era is about massed formations and you have to be rich or absolutely committed to the era to get a real feel of what it was all about.
So I;m getting out of the era from the 60mm stand point.
i've always been curious about 30mm flats and am looking into that. hoping I can get the feel of the era without totallly breaking the bank and still get the beauty and the massed formations!
Ray

Michigan Toy Soldier advertises a company called Two Trees that are 30mm flats but it doesn't state if they are painted or not.If anybody checks into that let us know.Their not that cheap either.
Mark

Try this link -

http://www.michtoy.com/MTSCnewSite/newmetal_folder/two_trees/two_trees.html

Jeff

 

[damian]

Ray they are indeed impressive, even in just these photos. Are any of these available for sale any where? I would be interested in any links.

MST and Arquebus sell flats.