 | ||
| 40mm Grenadier of Napoleon III's Imperial Guard 1870 |
I did intend to finish up some more ACW figures before introducing the Franco Prussian War onto the blog. However I started to paint this 40mm figures from Gringo 40s Miniatures and, well, I could not stop. The chapter of Glover's book that has always grabbed my attention is "The Rise of Prussia" and lets face it, when it comes to European Wars of the 19th Century the FPW is "the big one".
 |
| The figure comes with 3 headgear variants... |
 |
| and the bathroom sink strapped to his back! |
I will not go into the amount of FPW collections I have started over the years but rooting round in the various boxes and biscuit tins that house the lead pile I found 10, 15, 20 and 28mm figures aplenty.
So it was crunch time, I want to go back and start collecting again. A choice had to be made. The smaller 10 or 15mm scale was the logical choice. The most complete ranges for the Imperial and Republican phases and small enough to recreate the huge battles of the war. 20mm is my generally favoured scale, it's patchy in places but with a little imagination all troops could be represented. Or should I go with the 28mm big boys? Costly, space consuming and with annoying gaps in the biggest of the ranges, Wargames Foundry.
The winner is...28mm of course!
More to follow in the coming months, but next up artillery. Mainly 20mm ACW but also the new French Guard Horse artillery released this month from Newline Designs.
very nice figure, I would have gone with 15mm, but that's my scale, looking forward to seeing what you do.
ReplyDeleteNice job on him Matt, I started mine we but unlike yourself have not finished him yet. I am very tempted by the forthcoming 28mm line from Footsore Miniatures. I sent Bill a fair bit of uniform info and net links.
ReplyDeleteFootsore look very promising!
DeleteHave you seen the Spencer Smith FPW figures in 25/28mm - very nice , Tony
ReplyDeleteIt was a close run thing with the Spencer Smiths. However I had more Foundry figures and they have limbers etc.
DeleteA lovely figure! My own vote would be for either 10mm, or (if HUGE battles weren't quite your thing) the Spencer Smith 30mm figures currently on offer.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
I plan on doing the ACW in 10mm so I decided against them, although Pendraken FPW 's are fantastic.
DeleteBeautiful job. FPW has always fascinated me for the uniforms alone. I am definitely going to get into the Footsore line!
ReplyDeleteFootsore look very promising!
DeleteThanks Dan, glad you like him.
ReplyDeleteExquisite brushwork on the French grenadier!
ReplyDeleteFor me, I went down the 15mm path for my 1859 project. I considered 6mm, 10mm, 15mm, and 25mm but settled upon 15mm. Why? At the time, Baccus made no 6mm Risorgimento or FPW figures. 10mm Pendraken samples I received had limited poses. 25mm wouldn't allow for the larger battles and ground scales I wanted to refight and finding Austrians and Sardinians in 25mm was not easy.
15mm allowed multiple manufacturers and figures with a variety of poses. Yes, I have convinced myself again. 15mm for me!