Unknown Manufacturer and Army (1 Viewer)

[Fort-Stamford]

I need help in identifying what army these toy soldiers are representing, and also manufacturer? They appear to be from the Seven Year War (Prussian, Austrian, or Swedes...can not ID the flag). They are 40mm in height and are semi-round. They are nicely painted in gloss enamel. There are two sets: an Artillery crew of 4 with Cannon, and Infantry of Grenadiers (?) consisting of 19 figures (Officer, NCO with pike, NCO Flag bearer, and 16 advancing Grenadier (?) troopers).

Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Charles

 

[theBaron]

Hi, Charles!

Your figures are 40mm homecasts, made with molds by Prins August, Macroom, Ireland. The molds are sold for hobbyists to use to cast their own toy soldiers. I have a number of the molds from this range myself. They're very good for casting a tabletop army for wargaming, and can be used to cast soldiers from pretty much any European army from the early to middle 18th century.

Hope that helps, prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

Oh, and sorry, I forgot to say anything about which army they represent. The white coats suggests Austrians or Hungarians, though the regimental color does not. The various Italian states and the Spanish also had many regiments wearing white coats, which started as undyed wool, which was gray, and eventually was colored with a wash of water and ground chalk as a whitening. They're definitely not Prussians, British, Hannoverian or Russian. I'll have to do some more research.

Prost!
Brad

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Charles,

They are great looking but I too agree they were likely homecasts. The uniforms look to be good for the Wars of the 1740s but I am not 100% sure of units or army. My guess was Austrian at first due to the White Jackets but the yellow or buff breaches just dont go with anything I am sure of. The maker may also have painted them as none specific units. The Blue Colours sort of remind me of Swedish ones but again I am going with a gut reaction. Sorry I cant be more helpful but I am sure one of our uniform nuts here will pipe in... Because I would like to know as well.

Dave

 

[theBaron]

They're very nicely done, to be sure.

The blue-coated artillerymen could be from the same army as the musketeers and grenadiers. Many armies clothed their artillerymen in darker colors, since they tended to get dirty.

The flag may be the key to solving this one.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Fort-Stamford]

Hi, Charles!

Your figures are 40mm homecasts, made with molds by Prins August, Macroom, Ireland. The molds are sold for hobbyists to use to cast their own toy soldiers. I have a number of the molds from this range myself. They're very good for casting a tabletop army for wargaming, and can be used to cast soldiers from pretty much any European army from the early to middle 18th century.

Hope that helps, prost!
Brad

Brad,

Many thanks for the ID being from home cast molds by Prins August, Macroom, Ireland. Whom ever did the casting and painting did a beautiful job. Next is to ID the Army and War Period; hopefully correct in colors selected for the Uniform and Regimental Flag. I thought the unit could be the 'Prinz Anton' Infantry Regiment from Saxony, circa 1740, but the pant color should be white not yellow (unless correct for the Grenadiers), and the flag appears to be wrong for Saxony (should have central cypher 'FA' under a crown, instead of an Eagle).

Charles

 

[theBaron]

Brad,

Many thanks for the ID being from home cast molds by Prins August, Macroom, Ireland. Whom ever did the casting and painting did a beautiful job. Next is to ID the Army and War Period; hopefully correct in colors selected for the Uniform and Regimental Flag. I thought the unit could be the 'Prinz Anton' Infantry Regiment from Saxony, circa 1740, but the pant color should be white not yellow (unless correct for the Grenadiers), and the flag appears to be wrong for Saxony (should have central cypher 'FA' under a crown, instead of an Eagle).

Charles

Ah, yes, the Saxons, good point, I forgot about them! You may be right. The Saxon line infantry did wear white coats, for most of the 18th century. I have some Prins August 54mm figures that I cast years ago, and painted as musketeers of the regiment "Prinz Xaver" (light blue waistcoat, breeches, and cuffs).

I have a copy of Wolfgang Friedrich's "The Uniforms of the Electoral Saxon Army, 1683-1763", which may prove useful, though unfortunately, it doesn't include illustrations of the colors. I will check and see if I can find a reference.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Hazebrouck]

Charles,

They are nicely painted and definitely Prinz August as Brad has confirmed. I had the kit containing the moulds for the flag bearer and the officer when I was a kid, which I used to cast with my Dad from wheel weights and sinkers and the tender use of a small blow torch.

Anyway I had a look under the house this morning and found the kit with the painting guide which I have posted below. Also, two figures cast about thirty years ago- I really need to get around to painting them!

Yes the white coated men are Austrians according to the guide.

Scott

 

[Obee]

Prince August website has a similar image of a standard bearer from the Karoliner Wars

and this one Swedish uniform 1709

Maybe check them out too http://www.princeaugust.ie/ for more 'inspiration'

I have painted the same figures as British 7 Years War


John

 

[Fort-Stamford]

Prince August website has a similar image of a standard bearer from the Karoliner Wars

and this one Swedish uniform 1709

Maybe check them out too http://www.princeaugust.ie/ for more 'inspiration'

I have painted the same figures as British 7 Years War

View attachment 95257
John

I really appriciate all this info. It is amazing that uniform styles also came into fashion for certain periods, it makes the modellers life a little easier, since research can be limited to general Uniform color, facings, and flags. You did a wonderful paint job on the British. I'll check out the Prince August site. Thanks, Charles

 

[theBaron]

Looking more closely at the flag in your photo, I'm not sure it's intended to represent an actual regiment. The design appears to be loosely based on the Prussian pattern. It looks like an eagle ascending, clutching a sword in his one talon, and surrounded by a wreath, which would have been laurels on the original. But the colors are more or less made up, and there are no wreaths in the corners with the royal monogram. Plus, as we've noted, the uniforms look Austrian. I think someone just had fun painting them

Prost!
Brad

 

[Fort-Stamford]

Looking more closely at the flag in your photo, I'm not sure it's intended to represent an actual regiment. The design appears to be loosely based on the Prussian pattern. It looks like an eagle ascending, clutching a sword in his one talon, and surrounded by a wreath, which would have been laurels on the original. But the colors are more or less made up, and there are no wreaths in the corners with the royal monogram. Plus, as we've noted, the uniforms look Austrian. I think someone just had fun painting them

Prost!
Brad

Brad,
I believe you are right. As for myself, I sometimes spend more on the research material then the model soldier kit or unpainted toy soldiers or Flats I purchased, I order to get the colors right on the uniform. Charles

 

[ucla1967]

Brad,

Many thanks for the ID being from home cast molds by Prins August, Macroom, Ireland. Whom ever did the casting and painting did a beautiful job. Next is to ID the Army and War Period; hopefully correct in colors selected for the Uniform and Regimental Flag. I thought the unit could be the 'Prinz Anton' Infantry Regiment from Saxony, circa 1740, but the pant color should be white not yellow (unless correct for the Grenadiers), and the flag appears to be wrong for Saxony (should have central cypher 'FA' under a crown, instead of an Eagle).

Charles

Here is a photo of my Napoleonic era Saxons from Frontline Figures. It is the Grenadier Company of the Rechten Regiment.

 

[Artillery_crazy]

To get a new set and add it to our collections is fantastic....to purchase them on a cast stage, do historical research as to the campaigns they took part, what Regiments were on site and then decide what they will look like when finished is even more challenging and exciting......more even so if you:

(1) Fortunate to tap into a situation where casts are still sold.....With all this China mass market stuff, getting nice casts or ask the casts to be set in certain fashion are as rare as a Dodo bird...
(2) If you have the painting skills.....Great! Better still if you have a friend who has the skill.....you keep the friendship flowing, discuss with him on the outcome of the project and see the final master piece!

Do you guys know who cast these sets? I bought as casts and they came without a box or a clear indication of manufacturer, could they still be in production?

Attached are samples of my last acquisitions that came in as un assembled castings and my good friend Obee applied his master skills and gave them life!!

 

[Artillery_crazy]

To get a new set and add it to our collections is fantastic....to purchase them on a cast stage, do historical research as to the campaigns they took part, what Regiments were on site and then decide what they will look like when finished is even more challenging and exciting......more even so if you:

(1) Fortunate to tap into a situation where casts are still sold.....With all this China mass market stuff, getting nice casts or ask the casts to be set in certain fashion are as rare as a Dodo bird...
(2) If you have the painting skills.....Great! Better still if you have a friend who has the skill.....you keep the friendship flowing, discuss with him on the outcome of the project and see the final master piece!

Do you guys know who cast these sets? I bought as casts and they came without a box or a clear indication of manufacturer, could they still be in production?

Attached are samples of my last acquisitions that came in as un assembled castings and my good friend Obee applied his master skills and gave them life!!

A few more.....