The Army of Frederick the Great (1 Viewer)

Here is my latest figure from the period of Frederick the Great ...

View attachment 204795

JW90-126 Grenadier, Potsdam Giant Grenadiers 1714

Its a 90mm figure that I bought from a UK eBay seller,, and when I saw him, he was not very well painted, see below:

View attachment 204796

I used paint stripper to clean off the old paint, removed the plastic base, then undercoated and repainted him.

Yes, I know that this figures wasn't from Fredrick the Great's reign, but from his father's but thought he would fit into this thread, so hope you like my work.

John


Very nice work, I thought I had ya on a technicality but upon reading your full post alles klar:salute:: :wink2:. regards Gebhard
 
I've been doing some maintenance in Photobucket, editing my photos to crop them, really cosmetic more than anything. I was worried that that might interfere with the linked images, but it looks like it does not. But if anyone sees a broken link, please just PM me and I'll update the thread.

I expect to finish a new batch of figures over Christmas, and get some new photos up.

Prost!
Brad
 
Here are my next 2 figures,

Pioneer 22nd Regt & Dragoon, 5th Regt (Bayreuth) both Ulrich Puchala kits that John Eden was selling recently.

ulpu1.jpg


I also bought another 6? so keep a lookout for more from this famous German sculptor.

Also coming will be a 5 man set by Hecker Goros of Fusiliers from the 40th Regiment, they are the guys wearing rose pink trousers that match their facings.
The kits were bought on my European 'adventure' in May from Berlin Zinnfiuren

In Kulmbach, in the Plassenburg at the Army Museum of Frederick the Great
Frederickmuseum.jpg

I saw an original 41st Regt Fusiliers hat as well as original equipment from that era,
41 fusiliers.jpg

so a most enjoyable visit that included the Deutsches Zinnfigurenmuseum that has the largest collection of tin figures in the world.
Founded in 1929, the museum now has more than 300,000 individual figures.

John
 
Hi John,
Great pics and information!
Need to add the Deutsches Zinnfigurenmuseum on the list!
Any pictures of some of the 300,000 figures? Were they mainly flats and from the Napoleonic Wars?
The Frederick the Great Museum must have been awsome also!
Cheers
Luiz

Here are my next 2 figures,

Pioneer 22nd Regt & Dragoon, 5th Regt (Bayreuth) both Ulrich Puchala kits that John Eden was selling recently.

ulpu1.jpg


I also bought another 6? so keep a lookout for more from this famous German sculptor.

Also coming will be a 5 man set by Hecker Goros of Fusiliers from the 40th Regiment, they are the guys wearing rose pink trousers that match their facings.
The kits were bought on my European 'adventure' in May from Berlin Zinnfiuren

In Kulmbach, in the Plassenburg at the Army Museum of Frederick the Great
View attachment 216736

I saw an original 41st Regt Fusiliers hat as well as original equipment from that era,
View attachment 216737

so a most enjoyable visit that included the Deutsches Zinnfigurenmuseum that has the largest collection of tin figures in the world.
Founded in 1929, the museum now has more than 300,000 individual figures.

John
 
Hi John,
Great pics and information!
Need to add the Deutsches Zinnfigurenmuseum on the list!
Any pictures of some of the 300,000 figures? Were they mainly flats and from the Napoleonic Wars?
The Frederick the Great Museum must have been awsome also!
Cheers
Luiz

Hi Luiz,

The best time to see those Museums is when the famous Kulmbach show is on.

Second weekend in August every "odd" year. Like 17, 19, 21

Yes, its on this year. Unfortunately, I won't be able to go this time. After 20 tears of nagging, one of the guys in our group is going, so I will be there in spirit. (I gave up nagging Obee years ago-- he has been to Kulmbach, but not for the show!)

I am planning on being there in 2019, we should make it a date. Warning: the show goes for 2 1/2 days (Fri, Sat, 1/2 Sun) The Museums are in the castle on the Hill behind the town, each one of them deserves a minimum of 1/2 a day. A stay of less than 4 days can't do it justice!

If you do decide to go, book your accommodation early! (January 2019!!) this is one very popular show!

Glad to see you got the bulk of the Puchala's from John Eden, John. Also, thank you for not bidding on FR II playing his flute, and Jakob Keith.

"Kulmbach for ever!"

Happy Collecting,

Oberstinhaber (aka: Bob)
 
Hi Bob,
Thanks a lot for the detailed information on the Museums and Show! I was not aware of any of this before...
Will make a note as to 2019 event and see how the $forecast goes, if it all plays will make sure to reachout for lodging tips and what to do and were to go! My German is close to very little so will count on being able to fend through.....{sm4}{sm4}{sm4}
Cheers
Luiz

Hi Luiz,

The best time to see those Museums is when the famous Kulmbach show is on.

Second weekend in August every "odd" year. Like 17, 19, 21

Yes, its on this year. Unfortunately, I won't be able to go this time. After 20 tears of nagging, one of the guys in our group is going, so I will be there in spirit. (I gave up nagging Obee years ago-- he has been to Kulmbach, but not for the show!)

I am planning on being there in 2019, we should make it a date. Warning: the show goes for 2 1/2 days (Fri, Sat, 1/2 Sun) The Museums are in the castle on the Hill behind the town, each one of them deserves a minimum of 1/2 a day. A stay of less than 4 days can't do it justice!

If you do decide to go, book your accommodation early! (January 2019!!) this is one very popular show!

Glad to see you got the bulk of the Puchala's from John Eden, John. Also, thank you for not bidding on FR II playing his flute, and Jakob Keith.

"Kulmbach for ever!"

Happy Collecting,

Oberstinhaber (aka: Bob)
 
As you asked for more today Bob, here are the latest 5 troops of Frederick the Great, all made by Ulrich Puchala:

3upinf.jpg
Fusilier 41st Regt, NCO 1st Regt & Grenadier 18th Regt

up dresser.jpg
Officer dressing with batman 39th Regt & NCO 17th Regt

next lot will be Artillery crew and gun, but maybe that will be a month or two ....

John
 
Well, I finally finished the batch of figures I had mentioned some time ago. I think these have been sitting on my bench for two years.

These are all figures from Rylit, depicting five of Frederick's generals. Given that some of these have some very nicely sculpted faces, I experimented with applying some shadows with skin tones.

First up is Robert Scipio von Lentulus:



Lentulus belonged to a Swiss military family, and served first in the Austrian army, before seeking out the Prussian service before the Seven Years War. He commanded a regiment of cuirassiers, the "Leib-Regiment" (KR 3). This figure depicts him wearing the cavalry officer's white gala coat, instead of the field uniform.

Next is General Henri Auguste de la Motte Fouque:



Fouque's family were Hugenots who fled France after the Edict of Nantes was revoked. As a young man, he befriended Frederick when the latter was still Crown Prince, and remained one of his closest friends. From 1744, he commanded a regiment of fusiliers, Nr 33, whose uniform this figure depicts. He was an able and tenacious commander, though he was defeated and captured by the Austrians at Landeshut in 1760. He spent the last two years of the war as a prisoner, harassing his captors with an endless stream of legal petitions which forced them to tie up resources to address. After the war, he retired from active service and remained a friend and confidante of the King.

This figure depicts General Tauenzien in the uniform of the King's own bodyguard regiment, the Garde zu Fuss (IR 15):



Tauenzien was an able commander, and served most notably as commander of the Breslau garrison, which successfully resisted an Austrian siege in 1760. A story from that siege describes how the Austrians taunted the garrison, saying that they would sack the city and "pluck the babes from their mothers' wombs." Tauenzien is said to have stood on the battlements and replied, "I am not pregnant, neither are my soldiers."

This figure is General Hans Kaspar von Krockow, Chef of the 1st Cuirassier regiment:



Krockow commanded his regiment ably from 1745 until his death in 1759. He succumbed to wounds he received several months before in the Battle of Hochkirch.

And the last figure is General Georg Wilhelm von Driesen, commander of the 7th Cuirassiers:



His greatest achievement as a commander was to lead the Prussian cavalry charge that scattered the Austrian cavalry which had threatened to outflank Frederick's infantry. Oddly, his fate was not to die in battle, but of complications from severe gout.

I've got more in the gray army, and I'm gradually working through them. Hopefully I'll finish more, as the days around here get shorter and colder, and I spend more time inside.

Thanks for looking!

Prost!
Brad
 
Well, I finally finished the batch of figures I had mentioned some time ago. I think these have been sitting on my bench for two years.

These are all figures from Rylit, depicting five of Frederick's generals. Given that some of these have some very nicely sculpted faces, I experimented with applying some shadows with skin tones.

First up is Robert Scipio von Lentulus:



Lentulus belonged to a Swiss military family, and served first in the Austrian army, before seeking out the Prussian service before the Seven Years War. He commanded a regiment of cuirassiers, the "Leib-Regiment" (KR 3). This figure depicts him wearing the cavalry officer's white gala coat, instead of the field uniform.

Next is General Henri Auguste de la Motte Fouque:



Fouque's family were Hugenots who fled France after the Edict of Nantes was revoked. As a young man, he befriended Frederick when the latter was still Crown Prince, and remained one of his closest friends. From 1744, he commanded a regiment of fusiliers, Nr 33, whose uniform this figure depicts. He was an able and tenacious commander, though he was defeated and captured by the Austrians at Landeshut in 1760. He spent the last two years of the war as a prisoner, harassing his captors with an endless stream of legal petitions which forced them to tie up resources to address. After the war, he retired from active service and remained a friend and confidante of the King.

This figure depicts General Tauenzien in the uniform of the King's own bodyguard regiment, the Garde zu Fuss (IR 15):



Tauenzien was an able commander, and served most notably as commander of the Breslau garrison, which successfully resisted an Austrian siege in 1760. A story from that siege describes how the Austrians taunted the garrison, saying that they would sack the city and "pluck the babes from their mothers' wombs." Tauenzien is said to have stood on the battlements and replied, "I am not pregnant, neither are my soldiers."

This figure is General Hans Kaspar von Krockow, Chef of the 1st Cuirassier regiment:



Krockow commanded his regiment ably from 1745 until his death in 1759. He succumbed to wounds he received several months before in the Battle of Hochkirch.

And the last figure is General Georg Wilhelm von Driesen, commander of the 7th Cuirassiers:



His greatest achievement as a commander was to lead the Prussian cavalry charge that scattered the Austrian cavalry which had threatened to outflank Frederick's infantry. Oddly, his fate was not to die in battle, but of complications from severe gout.

I've got more in the gray army, and I'm gradually working through them. Hopefully I'll finish more, as the days around here get shorter and colder, and I spend more time inside.

Thanks for looking!

Prost!
Brad


Dear Brad,

Really great, unusual subjects. A pleasure to behold! You have made my day!

You have driven me back to the paint shop!

I hope Obee sees this and is equally inspired!

Oberstinhaber
 
Another one finished, a Hauptmann of the Grenadier-Garde-Battalion, casting from Tradtion...



More to follow over the next week or so, as I work through my gray army...

Prost!
Brad
 
Like I promised in my last posting into this theme,
here is my painted set of Prussian Horse Artillery from kits by Ulrich Puchala.

upg1.jpg

upg2.jpg

upg3.jpg

Hope you like them as much I as did painting them,

John
 
This is the next set, 4 x 40th Fusilier Regiment, kits by Hecker & Goros.

40thregt.jpg

There is one more figure in this set, and I purchased him in May this year when I visited Berlin Zinnfiguren shop.
Unfortunately on opening the packet last week, I found that 2 parts were missing, so couldn't go ahead with that figure.

missing parts.jpg

The good news is that I contacted Berlin Zinnfiguren, showed then an image of the kit, and they have arranged fro Hecker & Goros to supply those parts,
so in a few weeks I expect to complete the figure, and the set.
How's that for 'After Sales Service' ?????

Hope you like them,
John
 
Re: New Hope Design/ Osprey Men at Arms. 7YW Prussians

A little while ago I decided to paint up one of each pose of the NHD Prussian Infantry. For variety, I selected one from each of the 3 regiments represented ( ie IR Nr 6, IR Nr 15 and IR Nr 40)

Recently, I reached the stage where I was just about finished, and I would "dry- fit" the arms. I wasn't having mush luck with doing that, as some of the arms didn't seem to accord with my ideas of what "Make Ready" and "Attack March" looked like. No illustrations with the kits. Last night I remembered that there was an illustration in the catalogue.

So I printed that off this morning and went out to the workbench. Well, "Attention" works OK, but "Make Ready" as illustrated, bears no resemblance to the kit (pose, and arm positions) I can just make the arms hold the musket in a "Port Arms" type pose. There is no way I can get the "Attack March" figure to work at all.

Has anyone else encountered this problem, and, is there a solution (other than scratch building a new set of arms!)

On a positive note, I liked the figures, crisp casting, good detail. I have put them beside Hecker & Goros, Realmodel, and Puchala figures and they are compatible.

Happy Modelling,

Oberstinhaber
 
Hi Oberinstinhaber.

I have had similar problems with various NHD figures. They vary from sculptor to sculptor and don’t always match the illustrations they are based on. I have come across arms where the locator pins do not fit well into the sockets and have resorted to filing the pins off and just setting the arms into the correct position with Araldite.

I normally glue the arms in position before I paint them as the gaps often need filling.

I have bent some arms and hands with pliers to get a better fit as well. As I have restored quite a few of them with missing arms I have a collection of Historex/ Airfix spares that have been useful as well, although you need to modify them often to fit.

Hope that is of some help. Obee and Brad have made plenty of NHD as well and can probably add more.

Keep at them, they are rewarding figures when completed.

Some images may shed some more light as well.

Scott
 
Re: New Hope Design/ Osprey Men at Arms. 7YW Prussians

A little while ago I decided to paint up one of each pose of the NHD Prussian Infantry. For variety, I selected one from each of the 3 regiments represented ( ie IR Nr 6, IR Nr 15 and IR Nr 40)

Recently, I reached the stage where I was just about finished, and I would "dry- fit" the arms. I wasn't having mush luck with doing that, as some of the arms didn't seem to accord with my ideas of what "Make Ready" and "Attack March" looked like. No illustrations with the kits. Last night I remembered that there was an illustration in the catalogue.

So I printed that off this morning and went out to the workbench. Well, "Attention" works OK, but "Make Ready" as illustrated, bears no resemblance to the kit (pose, and arm positions) I can just make the arms hold the musket in a "Port Arms" type pose. There is no way I can get the "Attack March" figure to work at all.

Has anyone else encountered this problem, and, is there a solution (other than scratch building a new set of arms!)

On a positive note, I liked the figures, crisp casting, good detail. I have put them beside Hecker & Goros, Realmodel, and Puchala figures and they are compatible.

Happy Modelling,

Oberstinhaber

The short answer is yes. It's a frequently encountered problem, especially if, like me, you buy broken or incomplete models from e-bay.

The solution is to build up a supply of bits and pieces (such as various arms) and cut and fit them to the model as you want them.

I sometimes have to make several "cuts" from various arms to get it to the style/shape I want - for example - top of the shoulder - Epaulettes or not?/Then theres's the elbow, at what angle is it for the pose I want?? Then cuffs or no cuffs - and if I don't have one - can I model it in putty?? Gloves/gauntlets etcetera?? What weapon does he have in hand - if one at all??

If you have a good stock of arms - you can usually find the bits you want - and then pin and glue each part until you get it just as you want. I usually begin from the shoulder down, checking for fit as I go - and waiting for glue to dry before progressing to the next part. Small gaps can often be filled in with tiny pieces of putty. Only when complete, will I pin and glue it to the body - and often I paint it OFF the body first - so that I can get at body details easier. Some arms that I have done involve four to five parts - which is very time consuming - but when you achieve just what you want - it's incredibly satisfying.

It's all just practice really - once you have the parts.

My stock of "spares" frequently come from several suppliers here in the UK - and the ones I use most frequently come from Dorset Model Soldiers - who have a huge supply of (online) casting bits and pieces. My other source sometimes is from broken figures which are beyond easy repair - so then become donor figures for spare parts.

Hope that helps jb
 
Re: The Army of Frederick the Great-my earlier images may get blocked

I got email from Photobucket today to tell me that my paid account has expired. I'm not renewing, because I'm not paying $400 a year just to host my files. So, my earlier images may go bad. PB won't even let you access the files, if you don't pay. But since I have all my photos stored locally as well, it's not an issue. Last year, I started using Postimage for free web hosting, so my more recent images won't be affected.

Prost!
Brad
 
Re: The Army of Frederick the Great-regarding New Hope Designs figures

Re: New Hope Design/ Osprey Men at Arms. 7YW Prussians

A little while ago I decided to paint up one of each pose of the NHD Prussian Infantry. For variety, I selected one from each of the 3 regiments represented ( ie IR Nr 6, IR Nr 15 and IR Nr 40)

Recently, I reached the stage where I was just about finished, and I would "dry- fit" the arms. I wasn't having mush luck with doing that, as some of the arms didn't seem to accord with my ideas of what "Make Ready" and "Attack March" looked like. No illustrations with the kits. Last night I remembered that there was an illustration in the catalogue.

So I printed that off this morning and went out to the workbench. Well, "Attention" works OK, but "Make Ready" as illustrated, bears no resemblance to the kit (pose, and arm positions) I can just make the arms hold the musket in a "Port Arms" type pose. There is no way I can get the "Attack March" figure to work at all.

Has anyone else encountered this problem, and, is there a solution (other than scratch building a new set of arms!)

On a positive note, I liked the figures, crisp casting, good detail. I have put them beside Hecker & Goros, Realmodel, and Puchala figures and they are compatible.

Happy Modelling,

Oberstinhaber

I haven't had quite the same trouble as you ran into, but you're probably in the right track.

First, with New Hope Designs figures, as with any kit figures, I test-fit, which you also do. This isn't particular to our part of the hobby, either; it's a general step, whether in scale modeling, model railroading, carpentry, etc. It's akin to "Measure twice, cut once". Anyway, test-fitting can reveal problem areas, as you've found.

The next step is assembly. I prefer to pin the joins on these kits, or on Imrie-Risley kits, even though those have small lugs for arms to fit into the shoulders, for example. I am more confident with a good pin to strengthen a join, as opposed to a simple butt-join. For shoulder joins, I drill all the way through the arm and into the shoulder. I use wire salvaged from Chinese takeout containers for this. It's a good gauge, it's as strong as brass rod, and it's free, or rather, I'd just throw it out, otherwise.

As far as glue goes, I prefer to use 2-part epoxy for the major joins. It is stronger than CA glue (ie, super glue), particularly in providing shear strength perpendicular or at other angles to the join. I currently use a 15-minute epoxy, which gives me plenty of time to make adjustments while it cures. But I will switch to a faster-curing formula, when I use up what I have. Whether you use epoxy or CA glue, it has an additional benefit of filling any gaps in that join.

Once the join has cured, I'll grind or file down the ends of any pins that protrude (usually this is just on the shoulder joins). If anything needs filling, I often reach for my sculpting putties-Milliput, or Aves Apoxie Sculpt. You can use whatever you want.

Then I move on to priming.

Now, to your specific problem of the arms' pose, you could try repositioning them to the desired pose. It might be as simple as making a couple of cuts placed strategically to allow you to bend them, or as complex as cutting them apart and then reattaching them and pinning them with wire, to get the desired pose. Fill any cuts or gaps as described above. This is the same technique for repositioning plastic figures, by the way; it's just that the materials and adhesives are different.

If you can't use the kit parts at all, then yeah, you'll need to find a substitute or scratchbuild one. But I think you can modify the kit part sufficiently to be used.

Hope that helps!

Prost!
Brad
 

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