Why does TSSD do ZERO prone/crawling poses? (8 Viewers)

[Ragnar]

Fubar your CW conversions are rather good looks like you carved up some of the flagbearer's.
I was thinking of doing the same as im going to end up with a big bag of flag guys .
I was thinking of using the arms from the Reb Casualty to make some "Right shoulder shift" poses just to build up the numbers.
Not sure if it will work but i will give it a try.

 

[Scott]

I've made TSSD Confederate flag bearers into artillery men or replaced the small plastic flag with a bigger printed paper one.

I've done the same with The Union flag bearers.

 

[Scott]

Here you see the TSSD infantry stabbing 'round the corner figures with some different legs. The TSSD CSA flagbearer turned artilleryman is in the upper right.

With a LOT of conversion, the TSSD Union Flagbearer is now loading.

 

[Beau]

Excellent job on the loading figure! Looks perfect! What did you make the ramrod out of?

Beau

 

[Scott]

Thank you!

I'll wait for a TSSD loading figure to be issued before I convert another one. I used Evergreen Scale Models 3/64 rod. A common pin will work as well if out want to paint it dull metal color. I just "color code" my troops as it's easier to store them in bins w/o worrying about a nice paint job.

 

[eborris]

Here you see the TSSD infantry stabbing 'round the corner figures with some different legs. The TSSD CSA flagbearer turned artilleryman is in the upper right.

With a LOT of conversion, the TSSD Union Flagbearer is now loading.

Stabbing around the corner figures? What does that mean?

 

[Scott]

The Union TSSD figure that is running and thrusting to the left is the "stabbing 'round the corner guy". A line of figures like this woild look "strange". I've changed the legs on a number of them to have them defending or thrusting forward. A better pose for advancing would have the figure holding his musket further back on his hip, the lock about where his percusion cap box would be. It's in the manuals.

 

[eborris]

The Union TSSD figure that is running and thrusting to the left is the "stabbing 'round the corner guy". A line of figures like this woild look "strange". I've changed the legs on a number of them to have them defending or thrusting forward. A better pose for advancing would have the figure holding his musket further back on his hip, the lock about where his percusion cap box would be. It's in the manuals.

I just think the manuals just might go out the window in the heat of combat, you do what you have to do to win.

 

[Scott]

Troops still had to load and fire the same way peculiar to the muzzle loader. The manual trained the men to load in detail so that they could load quickly w/o thinking about it. Under stress men did forget to withdraw ramrods or cap the percussion locks, but the training was to get men to take up little space in ranks.
Officers and NCO file closers were charged with keeping the men in ranks and closed up as the second rank man could easily injure the front rank man when firing, unless intervals were maintained. In advance, troops came in at the shoulder until charge bayonets was commanded. (forget the scene in Glory) Unless in skirmish order, CW units moved and fired in tight ranks throughout the war. In defense they did of course take cover. But stayed in close order. Casualties could destroy of course the order units. Skirmish tactics for screening a unit in advance were in open order but supervised by officers and NCOs. Troops worked in groups of four, with each two men working in teams.

The set ups and figures I like recreate the unit "look" and actual drill positions. I've done the drills in reenacting which is not "real" but gives one the idea that there was a reason for stepping to the right if you're firing in the rear rank or staying in step and ranks so that the unit gets from one place to another together. Some things were dropped if the unit was poorly trained and the unit would usually suffered for it. Some drill was streamlined as officers and men "got it." Hardee's and Casey's manuals taught first "loading in nine times" then "loading in four times", blending the moves as the soldier became familiar with it. Sorry if you are already familiar with all this. I'm hoping for CW figures that can recreate units rather than small actions. Conte comes pretty close. I'd like to see TSSD do the same.

The original post was about firing prone figures. A prone infantryman in the CW lies straight on, rolling on his back to reload. (Fun to do) A WW II soldier dealing with a bolt action or clip lies in a different way. I think the old Marx CW prone soldier was designed by a sculpter thinking WW II.

A good very readable book on CW combat that I just finished is by Paddy Griffin.

Battle Tactics of the Civil War (Paperback)
by Mr. Paddy Griffith

http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Tactics-Civil-Yale-Nota/dp/0300084617/ref=ed_oe_p

 

[CrawlingGuy]

I am not hoping for entire sets of prone figures, but if one takes a look at Marx, Airfix, Conte and even King and Country, they all have or had numerous crawling/prone poses and they have not suffered (from what I can tell) in the marketplace (at least due to the inclusion of such figures).

Looking at paintings by Charles Schreyvogel (Indian Wars "skirmish line", "stockade defense" [sorry, I don't know the precise name of each painting]), Tom Lea (paintings of the USMC assault on Peleliu), Tom Lovell (Berdan's Sharpshooters-Second Day of Gettysburg). Each depicts cavalry troopers, Civil War and WWII era troops in prone/crawling positions.

The lack of a base (typically) and the arms and legs typically being molded free of the trunk/body make them a good source of parts for conversions.

Crawling figures also do nicely when posed climbing (e.g. ladders, stockades, walls, out of a trench).

TSSD is doing amazing stuff these days, their sculpts and creativity are outstanding.

I'll keep buying, regardless. I just miss the dynamic posing possibilities of crawling/prone figures and their value in conversions.

 

[Scott]

Thanks for reminding me of the artists of paintings I've always liked. Tom Lea's artwork is very vivid! Lovell's CW works illustrate the old National Geographic CW book and Life Magazine's CW Centennial issues from the 1960s. He was a magazine illustrator and "pulp" artist which I think made his military art more dramatic and popular. He also did illustrations for the Church of Latter day Saints.

His painting of the VMI Cadets at New Market is striking!

 

[Fubar]

For ACW A breach loaders set with several prone, kneeling and other keepin low poses might work.
Having one prone fig to a bag of muzzle loaders probably wouldnt. Most will say great figs, but what do I do with this prone guy?

 

[eborris]

For ACW A breach loaders set with several prone, kneeling and other keepin low poses might work.
Having one prone fig to a bag of muzzle loaders probably wouldnt. Most will say great figs, but what do I do with this prone guy?

See that's why I like my prone guys dead, no worries about what to do with him.