"ACW Sash and Saber 40mm diorama build review " Topic

Hi guys

A mate of mine (trailape) has asked if I would paint up a couple of 40mm ACW dio sets, so I thought I would do a build review for anyone interested in these products in the future, the 2 sets arrived in the post yesterday. I have an interest in the ACW but haven't ventured into this era before.
First look- I am doing 2 dio sets, I received 26 figures, including 9 casualties, 2 officers, 2 ensigns, 1 gun, a bag with some loose muscats and odds and sod's, 3 trees, and 2 resin bases.
the figures are of a very good wargaming quality, but with more mould lines (mostly very faint)than I would like, they have some nice poses and really give the feel of the era, the gun has a lot of small pieces, but looks good. the trees are soft metal and have bare limbs, the bases are nice but have a lot of small air bubbles, her are a couple of photos of what the kits should look like when finished.
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And some photos of the figures, not good photos but the light was going down
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gunnerswargamming.blogspot.com

I am very torn with these. I really like Sash & Sabre's sculpting, and their prices are VERY good. I don't know if the mold seam issue is with these diorama sets or not, as the regular minis I have from them don't exhibit this problem.

My main issue is whether to use their 25mm castings or the 40mm ones for my gaming. Mostly, it's an expense issue. My games won't be more than a division per side, and usually brigade-level. I realy LOVE the variety of poses with their 25mm sets, but I am drawn to the 40mm because of the extra detail potential for not just the minis, but buildings, etc.

What to do… what to do….

FWIW, I like those diorama sets. I might have to get them at some point.

Hi Dan
Looking forward to se what you can do with these two kits.
Both were obtained from Old Glory in the US.
Cheers

I am doing the Alamo in 40MM and really love the figures they have for that range. I find I am really liking this scale. This is the only period I am doing in 40MM right now though.

just to explain,the mould lines wouldn't be a problem for war gaming, but these are display models so they take a lot of cleaning up and some a so small they are easily missed.

I'd really like to see these when finished…..and WarWizards' Alamo stuff too.

hussarbob1746.webs.com

I have both kits and use them for wargame figures along side my other S&S 40mm figs. Love the wounded Artillery man, wish I could get about 20 of those for casualty markers. But they do not sell these indivdually.
VR
James Mattes

Hi guys

Have nearly finished the first 5 figs, ignore the gloss areas, some oil paint is still drying, as I said in the earlier post these figs are very good war gaming quality, but probably not so good for displays or dio's, there are a lot of fine mold lines and some of the detail is a little oversize (the bayonet for instance, which is fine for war gaming) let me know what you think.
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At the risk of upsetting the author, the barrel bands on the Enfield rifle-musket were blued steel, with only the butt plate, trigger guard, and nose cap of brass. The barrel should also be blued, and the lockplate a darkened steel (they were case hardened, and at this scale, would be better off blued like the barrel.

That's the way they were issued. SOME appeared with the bluing stripped away, which would mean bright steel barrels and bands. However, it is not known how many, if any, of this pattern were issued (bright steel, etc), as they all appear to have been refurbished by various arsenals, rather than appearing to have been done in the field like that.

As the 20th Maine (the subject of this diorama) was issued primarily with Enfields, then that would be the appropriate way to paint them.

Also, the Enfield bayonet for this rifle-musket also had the socket and shank blued, with only the triangular blade being in the bright.

Respects,

TKindred
Thanks for the comments, (Dan is building the Dios for me).
Given the 20th Main was a "Veteran" unit by the time of Gettysburg I'm happy with the way they are at present, and dan is working to a deadline, (they are presentation peices), I'm satisfied.
trailape.blogspot.com

Oh, by all means they are wonderfully painted, and if both you and the customer are satisfied, then that always over-rides anything else. I apologize if I seem like I'm being overly harsh, or anything such as that. It's not what i intended, and if my remarks came off in such a manner, then my apologies to you.

I've spent the better part of 40 years studying ACW ephemera, weapons, clothing, etc, and sometimes it just gets the better of me..

You've got a great deal of telent, and it works very well with those miniatures.

Respects,

Thanks TKindred

I appreciate any helpful comments, I'm afraid though I am interested in the ACW I'm not as familiar with it as the Napoleonic or WWII which are my favoured eras, I will do the rest as you suggested, but will leave these 4 riflemen as is. all comments are welcome.

Hi TKindred
Like Dan said, all comments welcomed, (especially informed ones)
;o)
Cheers

Coming along very nicely

hussarbob1746.webs.com

I notice you've gone with a medium blue for the coats. Was this a concious decision? I know some folks like that color, but I prefer a more "realistic" color, more of a navy blue with a lighter blue used as highlights only. If you look at most origiginal and recreated Union uniforms they are mostly that dark color.