"The Copplestone Clock is Ticking!" Topic

For those waiting in anticipation, or just looking for ways to spend those HUGE tax refund and economic stimulus checks (insert irony here US gamers), the clock is now officially ticking on the release of the new Copplestone "Glory Of The Sun" range.

The site now has an icon, or radio button for web geeks like me, for the range with three lovely painted troops, and there is a new heading down the left side product line menu. No actual content yet and an "Under Construction" header if you click through, but the scrolling banner at the top of the page says tomorrow's the day, (April 20, 2009).

Enticingly, if you click through the radio button for the range and land on what will be the feature page, there is a nice little additional button (or icon) at the top labeled "For information about the armies and campaigns of the period, click here". It will be interesting to see who Mark links to or what information he provides on the period.

By the way, most of us have seen the very well-painted musketeer of the Carignan-Saliéres Regiment painted by Legatus that was linked to the other day. Very "workmanlike" in his plain brown uniform for colonial service. Here's a rather different take on the subject from the Steve Dean Forum, a French officer in all of his sartorial splendor, painted by "Captain Blood" with several excellent views.

link

I think we might be seeing a lot of these figures show up in RPG and skirmish games, and in vignettes and dioramas, as well as the multitude of glorious new armies marching "Beneath the Lilly Banners". Enjoy the eye candy!

Bill

Very cool this is a range that I'm very excited about. 1600-1720 didn't get much love for a long time, it seems almost all at once over the last few years to be getting the attention it deserves.

Donald~

I love everything Copplestone does. Always a pleasure to paint.

Bill:

Many thanks for the inspiration, I have been waiting decades to do this period. Now _the_ figures have arrived.

"sartorial splendor"? Looks like he's wearing his wife's underwear to me. :) With that big old halberd I guess he can wear whatever he likes… (And yes, I shall be buying loads of them.)

These figures are going to bankrupt me…!

Legatus,

After seeing your Carignan-Saliéres figure, its money well spent. I'll testify before the bankruptcy court if you like ;-)

I think one of the real tests of a range like this is that it can be used to depict a workman-like uniform like Carignan-Saliéres and an officer like the one painted by "Captain Blood", and both look equally good.

Now if some talented sculptor would just take this on in 15mm I could have my own "Happy Ending". I just don't have the table space for 25/28mm, or I would also be going into serious debt with Mr. Copplestone! As it is I will probably use a few in dioramas or as collector's pieces.

Bill

adster;

Anyone with the panache to dress like this has to have his wife shop for her delicates at Victoria's Secret! And that's only if she's not one of their models already ;-)

Bill

Thanks! I'm working on a European one in grey at the moment…

Is it nearly here yet? Is it nearly here yet? Is it nearly hear yet? :-)

Can anyone recommend some painting references that are reasonably easy to get hold of and don't require a mortgae please?

thanks

Shootmenow;

Probably the "best" inexpensive reference is Osprey's "Louis XIV's Army" by René Chartrand, the problem is that Mark's figures are supposed to be of the "early" uniformed period (the Wars of Devolution and the Dutch Wars) and only one plate truly covers this period, Plate A. However, Plates B and C pick up right at the end of this period and would still be applicable.

Also, from either On Military Matters, Caliver Books or a search on Yahoo, there were several Almark books on British and Scottish uniforms and standards that began in 1660, well worth looking for and usually not too expensive ($5 to $20 USD range usually).

Unfortunately, C.S. Grant's books (the earlier WRG one from 1685 to 1720 and the later 2-volume set on the wars of Marlborough) cover a later period, although most of the information for the French line regiments, especially the "Vieux Corps" will still apply.

Robert Hall's excellent series is available on CD from On Military Matters or directly from Dan Schorr through his Northern Wars web site. This covers the French from 1688 and much would apply. And by the way, Dan's web site is a mine of information as well, with other CD's and plates available, as well as several good articles and links.

northernwars.com

Your least expensive alternative is the Wonderful Worldwide Web. Bookmark any of these sites that apply to your interests:

The Vinkhuijzen Collection of military art from the New York Public Library, just select the nation and then the sub-period that applies and browse to your heart's content

link

The Knötel Uniformenkunde collection has a few plates from the late 17th century here

link

French flags can be found here, along with information on the date of the regiment's incorporation, which is valuable for the older regiments of the Maison du Roi and the Vieux Corps, just scroll down on the landing page and click on "France" then "Ancien Régime", then the regiment you're researching

drapeaux.org/Accueil.htm

I would also recommend browsing the gallery at Barry Hilton's League of Augsburg site as some of the painted troops and standards there are really very good and he includes British, Dutch, Danes, Germans and others as well as French.

link

Here's a translated version of Jean Vial's "Nec Pluribus Impar" site that features some plates and articles on the Ancien Régime, just scroll to the bottom after entering the site and select Access to Archives, then select the country from the top of the page.

link

There is a blog site that deals specifically with the late 17th century and Louis XIV, which I humbly (and shamelessly) direct you towards. You'll find much on Monmouth's Rebellion, some Dutch information, and a lot of French:

warsoflouisxiv.blogspot.com

And finally (but I'm sure not the last site available), there is the excellent site done by Dr. Pierre Picouet called "The Spanish "Tercios" 1525 – 1704", which actually includes a great deal of information on all of the nations at this period, including the Ottoman's (a rarity!). His site also has a separate section on battles of the period with excellent situational maps, although there is only one battle specifically from this period, that being Seneffe in 1674.

General site: link

Battle site: link

That should be at least enough information to get you in trouble, and keep you painting for awhile. By the way, Venexia's site also includes some information on the French and the Savoyards of the period which is good.

Bill

Still nothing on the site……………..

the suspense is terribly delicious!

And the first codes are now posted online:

link

for some plates goto
geheugenvannederland.nl

type in
louis xiv and push "zoeken" (=search)

Duc;

Another great online source for sure, many thanks! It should be pointed out though that these are the plates by Alesandré de Marbot from his "LES UNIFORMES DE L'ARMEE FRANCAISE:V1 & V2", which is available for purchase through Caliver and On Military Matters, either in a bound vintage print (very expensive) or in a newer (I believe abridged) reprint from Phil Cranz (about $18 USD at OMM). Most of them are also included in the Vinkhuijzen Collection from the NYPL site, but many of them have been cropped and are missing the artist's detail in the margins, which this set does include. So, I will definitely add them to my bookmarked sites, along with the Vinkhuijzen Collection.

One advantage that I've found to Marbot's plates is that small details are represented more accurately than in many sources. The uniform coats for the early period are the fuller, pre-justacorps style with smaller and higher cuffs. The French drummers properly carry their drums higher and at a very acute angle compared to many drummers of other countries, they were played with the drum head almost perpendicular to the ground rather than parallel. The only other uniform artist who I believe always depicted the style of coat and the small details correctly is Eugene de Leliepvre, whose plates are available from Le Cimier in France. Most artists, and most figure designers, have a tendency to depict the tighter-fitting later justacorps and to make their drummers more "generic" with only a slight angle on the drum.

It appears that Mark has gotten it right on the uniforms and most of the small details, but where are the sashes? The familiar white cravatte was not officially added to French standards until after Louis XIV's ascension in 1661, and even then wasn't widely recognized until the later League of Augsburg era, 1680 officially I believe. The sash, however, was the accepted "field sign" of all western European armies from the later Thirty Years War (and ECW) through the end of the century. They were worn by all officers and sergeants and by many rankers as well. A small detail to be sure, but one that shouldn't be left to the painter or modeler to correct, not at well over a £1.00 GBP a figure (just my humble opinion).

Bill

Thanks for the info Bill. That should keep me busy for a while!

well they have arrived

I with there were perry style firing poses for the muskets though. Not sure I like those but all very well sculpted of course..

Think ill give this one a miss but very happy to see them all the same.

>>>I with there were perry style firing poses for the muskets though.<<<

Yes, I agree, I've always preferred the image of a firing line that already delivered the first couple of "synchronized" volleys and is now in the "firing at will" mode.

A couple of more musketeer poses would do it. Say, "priming the lock" and "ramming the charge". Along with the "ready" (bringing the musket up after loading) and actually "firing" this would nicely create this effect "a la Perry".

One's man's preference, I know.

Bill,
with the plates is mentioned "David, Gustav" as the painter/maker so not Marbot as you mentioned. I don't know what is correct so maybe You can look it up?

The artist has made more paintings, also of earlier periods.
If you click on a picture and then go to "Toon alle objecten uit deze serie" (or goto all objects in this series) then all the paintings will pop up

Duc,

I'm as puzzled as you are by the listing of "Maker: David, Gustav". But, they also list a publisher, designer, colorist, etc. Just using the illustration of a Polish Light Cavalryman from the 1650's (and a babel translation):

Title: 1650. Louis XIV. Cavalry Etrangère: Cravate; Polaque
Maker: David, Gustave
designer: Noirmont, D.
the publisher: Lenient
publisher: Gambart, Junin & Assistant
busilyer: Lemercier

Then, to the right of this information, they list the original source, which is Marbot's 1st volume

Costumes militaires francais depuis 1439 jusqu''en 1789 / A. de Marbot : 1

You can verify that this is, at best, a copy of Marbot's original plate by comparing to two cropped images in the Vinkhuijzen Collection

link

link

And comparing both of the above sources to the Marbot original, previewed from the Fredericus-Rex CD on Caliver's web site here:

link

Now, while this doesn't diminish the value of the site as a uniform source for gamer's and painter's, it does duplicate other sources and would appear to be either copies or restorations of the originals. Perhaps this is a series of prints of the originals, similar to Le Cimier's reproductions of plates by Roussellot and Eugene de Leliepvre. Maybe that is where the terms "maker" and "publisher" enter the picture. It would be interesting to compare the copyright terms of Cranz, Fredericus-Rex and this series. One can only assume that all have been licensed in some form.

Bill

Lovely figures (as with the recent Front Rank range), but I think the problem with this period – and the later WSS – in 28mm is the huge numbers of cavalry required to field armies that are historically accurate/balanced.

Am looking forward to seeing some of this new range and see how deep the temptation bites!

hussarbob1746.webs.com