My historical and figure interests run toward the “Horse and Musket” period, being loosely defined as 1700 – 1900, with an emphasis on North America.

In other words, French & Indian War (“FIW” usually, to comply with maximum acronym usage regulations), American Revolution (AWI), Napoleonic Wars and their N. American cousin, the War of 1812, a little Texas Independence and Mexican War thrown in for flavor, and the American Civil War (ACW). Early WW1 gets a look occasionally, as does Vikings and Imperial Romans. Knights in armor are dead to me, as are Samuri, Biblical Wars, and all that crap during the Renaissance (100 Years Wars, 30 Years Wars, Burgundian Wars, League of Ausburg – all that stuff). Also much of the fantasy/GamesWorkshop/40K stuff – please. (But I like the ForgeWorld stuff – why?) Plains Indians are a non-starter, but Woodland Indians are very cool. I don’t try to figure it out, I just know what I like, and what things are bound to catch my eye.

Regarding the FIW, there are three new figures which were “must haves” while at the recent MFCA Show. In addition, I came away with a brand new AWI Hessian Jaeger and the Perry boxes of Hussars and Zouaves, but more about them later.

The first, by the Italian maker Pegaso, is a striking Iroquois Indian wearing a British regimental coat with a Brown Bess over his shoulder. As the Iroquois were generally allies of the British, the possession of the coat and gun does not necessarily suggest spoils of war – at least not to me. (Given the striding pose, one holds out hope that companion figures are planned – a Ranger, perhaps, or a Highlander??) OTOH (on the other hand), more than a few painters will envision this as a Huron with a captured coat, making necessary alterations to hair, feathers, warpaint and weapons as needed.

Staying with the British theme, Romeo Models has produced a Grenadier in the 1751 Warrant uniform. Based on some comments on the forii (in this case, planetFigure and TimeLines), this uniform was standard for the British troops serving in NA in the 1755-63 timeframe. The boxart portrays the 18th Regiment (Royal Irish), with dark blue facings, small clothes and hat, which did not serve in NA according to the fifeanddrum website, but it seems likely that other regiments could be depicted. Some hat details might have to be altered (I always knew these drawings of the grenadier mitres would be useful!), but the uniforms were largely the same until the issuing of the 1768 Warrant.

Both the Grenadier and the Iroquois are in the growing-more-popular 75mm size (approx. 1/xxth scale, but let’s not open that box just yet…), and MIGHT, with some imagination, be posed together. The Iroquois got its Grey Army Draft Notice, and is assembled, pinned and primed, awaiting its place in the Painting Queue. The Grenadier will most likely be a Long Island Show purchase in November.

The third FIW figure is a young George Washington as an officer of the Virginia Regiment, presumably with Braddock at Monongahela during 1755. I am an unabashed fan of Alan Ball’s sculpting, and this 75mm figure is another gem. This version was painted by Rhodes Davis of the National Capital Model Soldier Society (NCMSS). Proceeds from the sale of the figure are being used by the club to support their show. At US$34 a copy ($29+$5 shipping), the figure represents exceptional value-for-money, and would have received a Draft Notice regardless of the price point.