I agree with the points in regards to WB depicting the ACW. I also agree with Mike that FL is making a nice run at making nice ACW albeit at prices close to double that of WB's.There Confederate infantry is particularly outstanding. Over on the diodramas thread UK Reb just modified some FL dismounted Union Cavalry by re painting the trousers (eliminating the yellow stripes off the troops except for non-coms), reducing the number of figures wearing slouch hats, shaving off the regulation brass sabres, letters and numbers off the hats to reflect a more weathered and authentic look, cutting down on the number of troops depicted with pistols (used more by troops in a mounted action) that adulterated the authenticity of deployed dismounted cavalry and modified the boots at least slide away from the decidedly expensive private purchase high kneed boots that dominated every figure in the line gravitating the look with just shin high boots which is a better compensation considering that ankle high brogans were the standard issue. You never have to make those types of critical observations with WB figures. Richard and Ken get it right and that will be a focal point for FL going forward if they wish to be consistent, credible ACW players. They got it right with Rebel infantry and then had to wrestle with issues on Buford's cavalry starting with later war issue Spencer repeating carbines w/Blakeslee boxes depicted on the prototypes to the above mentioned details that were just a bit too contrived and basically non historically supported to justify the $55 price tag. To FL's credit there figures are shaded...the high quality paint jobs are for the most part what is driving the price upward. WB's figures are not shaded. But they are consistently high quality and historically spot on.Therefore in paying $20-$26 per dismounted figure vs $55 it is significant while mounted figures at $65 trump the $139 + that FL gets. It is a worthy comparison in the scheme of things.
WB has made a nice strategy shift on a couple of fronts. The recently released Pennsylvania Zouave line is much more comprehensive in terms of rollouts that are worthy of what collectors are looking for. In other words the collectors do not necessarily want just three or four figures to display or place in a diorama or diodrama depiction. The stakes are higher, the demand is greater for depth and quantity, more highly numbered various posed yet unit specific of consistent looking figures that make the overall depictions more plausible, more realistic, more enriching. FL for example did a 15 figure rollout for its 8th Illinois Cavalry and over 20 figures for there 55th Confederate North Carolina Infantry. There AWI British infantry redcoat line is most impressive: the essence of the sweet spot for what I believe makes this hobby so much fun. You want to purchase, gather and depict the figures to basically tell a story: to make the rollouts in the curio cabinet to be a conversation centerpiece of the den, basement or man cave.Why do you think Ken's Hudson and Allen spinoff is such an incredible amenity to the overall hobby? The scenery enhances the look of historically accurate figures. It is about the total package.
WB has circled back and gotten it right with ACW. For example there Union Infantry and then a splinter into the wildly popular and justifiably so Iron Brigade figures. They have take Union and Confederate artillery up a notch with more crews, unit specific guidons and lots of accessories to create six and four gun Union and Confederate battery's respectfully almost to fruition. Yet there is much more work to do. In the world of manufacturers wanting to be jack of all conflicts master of none the hobby is speaking out: You are now producing in an era of specialization: If you want to do the ACW then do it: Do it well, do it comprehensively and don't just emphasize one or two branches. You can only go so long neglecting the cavalry. We need more mounted troops for both Union and most importantly Confederate depictions, we need to get a gathering of figures to supplement that splendid dismounted 1st Virginia Cavalry trooper that was rolled out for the collectors club in 2011 and we need to get more unit specific Union and Confederate cavalry into both early and late war motifs. So as good as WB is they can still give us even more and candidily I think they are up to the task.
