New Draft Notices To Be Issued

A quick peek at planetFigure and TimeLines today revealed a couple new figures that will undoubtedly find their way onto the Shopping List!

The first is a new ACW Union Cavalryman by Romeo Models. This mounted 54mm white metal kit, no. RM-103, was sculpted by Gianni LaRocca, and the boxart was painted by Francesco Sapienza. The relaxed pose is probably more representative of this trooper’s time than an all-out charge-type pose. The painting looks exceptionally well done, and on that alone, plus the subject matter, I think I’d like to have a go at something like this. [Romeo Models image]

A new poster on the Planet, who seems to know a great deal about horses, has commented that the eyes are too big, the ears are not right, and one or two other things. The eyes do look a bit big, I suppose, but I have no way of knowing if she is right, or not. What I DO know is that if sculptors don’t sculpt, this painter will have nothing to paint! The kit looks GREAT to me, and that’s really all I care about. 

The second apparently was unveiled this past weekend at the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Show by Jason Green, who painted the boxart copy. The bust is of British General Charles Cornwallis, and was sculpted by the talented and speedy Carl Reid. (I’m waiting for the Interweb to ultimately confirm that “Carl” is REALLY a Hong Kong sweatshop full of scrawny sculptors, churning out masters in return for rice and gruel!)   

There is a noticeable lack of busts of AWI British Generals. Only the dated Verlinden bust of Tarleton comes to mind. When I first saw this figure, I immediately assumed this would be a RevWar Cornwallis – alas, no such luck.

Jason’s nameplate contains the date c. 1795, nearly 15 years after the Southern Campaigns and/or Yorktown. The jowls and paunch, plus the facings/collar and the massive award on his breast, all suggest a man much older than the able AWI commander.  [J Green image]

None of which takes one iota away from either the sculpt or the paintjob. Jason paints in acrylics, and his blending is . . . well, perfect. So good that it looks like oils. He says the lighting washed out the reds a bit. They look incredible to me – I can’t imagine how they could be better when viewed in the flesh, but I’ll have to take his word for it, at least until I’m lucky enough to see this for myself!

United Empire will reportedly be bringing this sculpt to market in the near future, presumably cast in resin. I, for one, can’t wait!

Recent Figures on the Grey Army Draft List

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.