New Napoleonics? (1 Viewer)

[larso]

I was looking quite closely at the new French Line regt today. I know they've been out a little while and they're probably been discussed somewhere but they are a bit bigger than the other infantry releases. This and the fact they are a bit more weathered compared to the others makes it unlikely I'll get them. Weathered is pretty realistic obviously but the others managed to laundry themselves suitably and I think they'll jar too much alongside the others. My question though is (well my starting question, I have other things on my mind if the thread can survive amongst WW2), are other future Napoleonics figs going to be of this larger size and of a more weathered appearance?

 

[Obee]

I've only seen images of these latest troops, and I like the 'weathered' look.

Thats how soldiers look in the cold and the wet and the mud, and thats whats been represented.

They don't all wear parade uniform in the field, and I think its great to se the relaistic depiction of troops of that time.

I've got the Egyptian series, and Napoleon't soldiers in the desert also look like they have spent some time away from the parade ground, with ragged trousers and mis-matched uniforms.

Even today, have a look at many of our own Diggers serving in Afghanistan, and see the array of weathering on thier equipment.

Sorry can't comment on the size, as I don't have any comparison.

John

 

[OldDragon]

Except for the very first French voltigers ... I have most of the subsequent NAP releases. There are variation in sizes ... But it doesn't bother me now as much as it once used to. Most likely it's because it has become impossible to display all my NAPs in one shelf.

Even if I manage to one day lay all of them out on one table display .. I think the size and numbers will distract from the size variations. From a casual observation, even the new Gordons are a touch larger than the British Guards and certainly the early 71st Highlanders.

Have a nice day.

OD

 

[nysoldiers]

The last release of French line infantry were taller and stockier than previous ones. Usually I buy multiples but I declined this time due to the sizing. While the figures have good detailing and realistic uniforms they are not suited for multiples. I am waiting to see the new releases. I hope the size is back to the older versions. K&C has had size and proportion issues from time to time.

The Napoleon in Egypt series is my favorite right now and hopefully K&C will expand into fighting and marching poses.

 

[Obee]

I think they'll jar too much alongside the others.

I wouldn't be displaying the older Infantry along side these newer figures, because the uniforms are from different periods.

The first lot are pre-1812 and feature the open coat with wide lapels and a waitscoat, while the newer figures are post 1812, with the short jacket, no waistcoat.

Similarly with the British, where the Highland Light Infantry have white trousers from the early part of the Penninsualr Campaign, while the Coldstream Guards are 1812-15 with Belgic Shako and grey trousers.

Similarly you would want to put the NAPs in Egypt up with the new one.

All in all I like ALL of the troops, so bring on more

John

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I wouldn't be displaying the older Infantry along side these newer figures, because the uniforms are from different periods.

The first lot are pre-1812 and feature the open coat with wide lapels and a waitscoat, while the newer figures are post 1812, with the short jacket, no waistcoat.

Similarly with the British, where the Highland Light Infantry have white trousers from the early part of the Penninsualr Campaign, while the Coldstream Guards are 1812-15 with Belgic Shako and grey trousers.

Similarly you would want to put the NAPs in Egypt up with the new one.

All in all I like ALL of the troops, so bring on more

John

Thanks Obee. Not being an expert on NAP uniforms, that was an excellent and informative summary and really helpful. I was going to miss the newer sets from different eras.

The downside is that now it's going to cost me more money as I will now get some of the other era figues. Yes, thanks Obee :rolleyes2:{sm4}{sm4}

Terry

 

[MapleLeaf]

The difference in size because different sculptor

 

[larso]

Oh yes, of course the weathered/patched look is reality, any army with white uniforms in particular certainly needed as many of those camp-follower-washer-women as they could get. I just wonder whether the range will continue in this vein - no problem for those about to enter it but a little problematic for someone like me.

And yes, having had a another look, the new Gordons are a bit stouter than the Black Watch, especially in the legs. Not enough to bother me at all but evidence that ranges can vary in a variety of ways over time.

I think I read that there were plans for a new French Cav Regt this year - Grenadier Guards or something? From my modest reasearch at the time, they looked to wear green jackets and bearskins head-dress? I could easily be wrong but something like that would form a nice brigade with my Cuirassiers (the Dutch Lancers didn't quite fit the bill for me).

 

[Obee]

I think I read that there were plans for a new French Cav Regt this year - Grenadier Guards or something? From my modest reasearch at the time, they looked to wear green jackets and bearskins head-dress? I could easily be wrong but something like that would form a nice brigade with my Cuirassiers (the Dutch Lancers didn't quite fit the bill for me).

Larso,

just about right with the uniforms, but its a dark blue jacket with the bearskin hat.

Yes, being heavy cavalry, they will sure fit in with the Cuiassiers, which are some of the best action poses.

Bring on the charge........

John

 

[OldDragon]

Since we are on the subject of comparing newer K&C NAPs with their earlier releases ... here's another observation to share.

Early releases like the 71st, the French Grenadier infantry, the French Dragoons, the Cuirassiers and the Scots Greys were substantially, what I would consider as co-ordinated pieces. Every piece within each groups were generally in concert with each other. The Dragoons, Cuirassiers & the Greys were all in charge poses. The 71st were in defence and the french infantry in attack.

Newer NAPs such as the Coldstream Guards, the dismounted Dragoons, the Gordons, the new french infantry and the Dutch lancers were released in divided group of poses. The Coldstream are in marching and in defence modes. The dismounted Dragoons are in parade and in defence poses. The Gordons are in attack and in defence (kneeling, ready to repel). Again the latest French infantry, casual marching with apple and then in defense. The Durch lancers had 3 or 4 in charging poses and another 3 or 4 in march mode.

As a NAP collector .. I like the troops to be in mass formation, be them at rest, marching, defending or attacking. Since K&C NAP releases are typically between a dozen or so poses, splitting the poses dilutes the mass effect that a collector can achieve.

.. please do Not suggest getting multiples. Getting multiples work best and a display becomes more realistic if there were a few underlying poses to start with. For instance, a firing line with a dozen figures of only one basic standing & firing, will not look as good as a dozen figure firing line with 3 or 4 variations of standing & firing.

What do fellow K&C NAP collectors prefer ? ... the older grouping of poses in concert ... or the newer split group of poses ?

OD

 

[OldDragon]

....

Yes, being heavy cavalry, they will sure fit in with the Cuiassiers, which are some of the best action poses.

Bring on the charge........

John

For the reasons expressed in my preceeding post, I hope these new Horse Grenadiers of the Guard, would all be in attack, charging & melee poses. There would be disappointment .. if for instance 4 or 5 pieces were in attack and another 4 or 5 were parade pieces {eek3}

If in parade, then all inspection and parade pieces please.

OD

 

[Jack]

I have just started collecting King and Country's Napoleonic figures. Due to having owned a collection of Airfix Imperial Guards as a child, I began with them.

Any suggestion of where to go next? If a figure is retired do I rush to get it or do I have plenty of time? Will there be new releases regularly to keep me involved?

 

[Obee]

I have just started collecting King and Country's Napoleonic figures. Due to having owned a collection of Airfix Imperial Guards as a child, I began with them.

Any suggestion of where to go next? If a figure is retired do I rush to get it or do I have plenty of time? Will there be new releases regularly to keep me involved?

Jack,

like you I grew up with Airfix and painted lots of them to fill my ranks.

Yes, if something is being retired, GRAB IT, because in a month or so it could be gone, and you will them have to try and get on EBay or from one of the 'gentlemen' here on the Forum who decide to sell some.

Thats what I have been doing over the past few years, but it can get a bit expensive, so stick to budget, or onlt figures your eally want.

Yes, new releases come up all regularly, maybe every 3 months for NAPs, and that WILL keep you involved.

The main thing is enjoy our hobby, and keep a check on posts here on the Forum for all the news and view.

Good to see another Aussie 'on board'

John

 

[larso]

Welcome 'Jack'.

My collecting of Naps is 1/3 (the biggest third) of a project to collect/display the British army from 1745 through to the 1880s. To do it all on a limited budget, I can only really get a few figures per regiment - generally 4 for infantry, or 2 or 3 for a cavalry one. This allows me to cherry pick the poses that are needed for each section of the diorama. For instance I have the 4 Black Watch ones in the repelling stances vs a couple of suitably attacking Cuirassiers. This hopefully means I can have a sample of most of the releases as they come. Long way of saying, I don't mind if regiments are split in terms of their activity. This said, I have pretty much all of the French Grenadiers, one group of 8 advancing and the other 'receiving' the Scots Grays and Gordons. Overall, I have ended up getting quite a few more than I'd planned....

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Since we are on the subject of comparing newer K&C NAPs with their earlier releases ... here's another observation to share.

Early releases like the 71st, the French Grenadier infantry, the French Dragoons, the Cuirassiers and the Scots Greys were substantially, what I would consider as co-ordinated pieces. Every piece within each groups were generally in concert with each other. The Dragoons, Cuirassiers & the Greys were all in charge poses. The 71st were in defence and the french infantry in attack.

Newer NAPs such as the Coldstream Guards, the dismounted Dragoons, the Gordons, the new french infantry and the Dutch lancers were released in divided group of poses. The Coldstream are in marching and in defence modes. The dismounted Dragoons are in parade and in defence poses. The Gordons are in attack and in defence (kneeling, ready to repel). Again the latest French infantry, casual marching with apple and then in defense. The Durch lancers had 3 or 4 in charging poses and another 3 or 4 in march mode.

As a NAP collector .. I like the troops to be in mass formation, be them at rest, marching, defending or attacking. Since K&C NAP releases are typically between a dozen or so poses, splitting the poses dilutes the mass effect that a collector can achieve.

.. please do Not suggest getting multiples. Getting multiples work best and a display becomes more realistic if there were a few underlying poses to start with. For instance, a firing line with a dozen figures of only one basic standing & firing, will not look as good as a dozen figure firing line with 3 or 4 variations of standing & firing.

What do fellow K&C NAP collectors prefer ? ... the older grouping of poses in concert ... or the newer split group of poses ?

OD

Since I collect only samples (4 -6) of NAP regiments and do not do massed formations, the effect on my collecting isn't too great. But I certainly see your point. Even the small samples of a regiment I collect are consistent in type of pose within each regiment. If I collected more than 4 - 6 figures of each regiment, I would run into the problem of duplicates. However, the split between parade, marching, fighting poses lets me have each regiment in a different set of poses - one regiment marching, a different regiment fighting, etc.

Terry

 

[The Military Workshop]

Larso,
Would I be correct in my guess that you and I know "Jack"?.{sm4}
Regards
Brett

 

[damian]

Since we are on the subject of comparing newer K&C NAPs with their earlier releases ... here's another observation to share.

Early releases like the 71st, the French Grenadier infantry, the French Dragoons, the Cuirassiers and the Scots Greys were substantially, what I would consider as co-ordinated pieces. Every piece within each groups were generally in concert with each other. The Dragoons, Cuirassiers & the Greys were all in charge poses. The 71st were in defence and the french infantry in attack.

Newer NAPs such as the Coldstream Guards, the dismounted Dragoons, the Gordons, the new french infantry and the Dutch lancers were released in divided group of poses. The Coldstream are in marching and in defence modes. The dismounted Dragoons are in parade and in defence poses. The Gordons are in attack and in defence (kneeling, ready to repel). Again the latest French infantry, casual marching with apple and then in defense. The Durch lancers had 3 or 4 in charging poses and another 3 or 4 in march mode.

As a NAP collector .. I like the troops to be in mass formation, be them at rest, marching, defending or attacking. Since K&C NAP releases are typically between a dozen or so poses, splitting the poses dilutes the mass effect that a collector can achieve.

.. please do Not suggest getting multiples. Getting multiples work best and a display becomes more realistic if there were a few underlying poses to start with. For instance, a firing line with a dozen figures of only one basic standing & firing, will not look as good as a dozen figure firing line with 3 or 4 variations of standing & firing.

What do fellow K&C NAP collectors prefer ? ... the older grouping of poses in concert ... or the newer split group of poses ?

OD

That is why the Collectors Showcase cavalry are really helpful
Combine the K and C Scots Greys with the CS Scots Greys and you have a great display.
I agree either all attacking or all parading.

 

[Jack]

John

Thanks for your advice - and I did laugh at the use of the word gentlemen in inverted commas! Off to the shop then I go!




Jack,

like you I grew up with Airfix and painted lots of them to fill my ranks.

Yes, if something is being retired, GRAB IT, because in a month or so it could be gone, and you will them have to try and get on EBay or from one of the 'gentlemen' here on the Forum who decide to sell some.

Thats what I have been doing over the past few years, but it can get a bit expensive, so stick to budget, or onlt figures your eally want.

Yes, new releases come up all regularly, maybe every 3 months for NAPs, and that WILL keep you involved.

The main thing is enjoy our hobby, and keep a check on posts here on the Forum for all the news and view.

Good to see another Aussie 'on board'

John[/QUOTE]

 

[Jack]

Larso,
Would I be correct in my guess that you and I know "Jack"?.{sm4}
Regards
Brett

Must be a pretty small community in Brisbane if you can ascertain my identity even when I use a nickname!

Hold those French Infantry for me - I will be in soon!

 

[larso]

"Larso,
Would I be correct in my guess that you and I know "Jack"?.
Regards
Brett"

Yes, in that same sense as someone being 'known to the police'.

Well I am off to the coast now, where I will replace all images in my head of over-costumed soldiers with some of a very under-costumed type.

John