"1/72 French Lancers" Topic

I've read Marc the Plastics Fan about using Zvezda Saxon Cuirassier heads for French lancers – a great idea, especially in view of the fact that I have two sets and only need one for Saxony.

But what about the rest of the figure? I can use any French light cavalry set for horses, but what about the bodies of the men? I can't think of any 1/72 figures who fit this bill. I really don't want to use HaT French Lancers, who wouldn't require any conversion. They are very early figures and just don't measure up. Any suggestions?

Go Newline.
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The best you can find in 1/72 (although Newline is quite nice, but in 20mm) is by Francesco Messori aka Franznap:

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Bill, the conversion I saw used the Italeri light cavalry set, with the Saxon heads, on Italeri hussar bodies. I shall try and find the link…

Bill – this is the guy

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I haven't had the time to find the actual page where he shows the conversion, but it's a good blog anyway. The link here is to his take on Franznap (which I like as well…)

Incidentally, if beheaded with care the headless riders and their horses would make a good base for 18th C. cuirassiers.

Yes, that is my plan for my imaginations – had not made the mental link yet – doh!

Marc,

Not sure I'm understanding your post. Italeri hussar horses, maybe. But not bodies. Italeri light cavalry set – which set? I could see maybe HaT British Lt. Dragoons for the bodies?

Sorry bill, I was too lazy to find the thread. He uses the new italeri french light cavalry, hussar horses, saxon heads and replaces swords with lances. They end up looking quite good and a good size without the massive horses of the new set. Hope that's cleareo.

Set 6080 I think

The 6080 set has the early chasseur uniform with pointed lapels and exposed waistcoat – not the plastron lapels worn by the lancers. If that's what he used, there's a big problem with accuracy.

I really loved that Italeri set, UNTIL I GOT A SET. Then I found they were waaaay too big, had the wrong shabraques. Big disappointment, as they would have been very useful in any number of ways – like Guard Chasseurs in service uniform, Guard Horse Artillery, etc.

I guess he lived with the inaccuracies and went for the look of the thing. To be honest all I saw was the helmet and lance – easy to please me :-)

Sorry fellas, I haven't made converted lancers using Italeri chasseurs as the base. All I did was change the heads of the chasseurs using Zvezda voltiguers and then mounting them on Italeri hussar horses.

I have seen lancers made using Italeri dragoons bodies and italeri carabinier heads on italeri hussar horses. They still didn't have the plastron facing that Widowson rightly points out is corrrect, but until Franznap's offerings hit the market, were the best attempts at lancers in 1/72 I'd seen.

This is my first time,so be gentle with me,but I would say have a look on Youtube at "French line lancer conversions 1/72",by "blucher1815red",I think he's very good,but seems to have gone to 28mm now.

Oops my bad wrong guy – but both of you do lovely work and great blogs and etc. sorry for wrong steer

So I'm still thinking that British Light Dragoons with the Zvezda Saxon Cuirassier heads and Italeri hussar horses. That would do it in plastic 1/72, but that's a LOT of extra, unusable parts.

Sorry, it's KGL Light Dragoons, by HaT, but they have sashes around their waists which don't fit, and long trousers, whereas the preference would be breeches and hussar boots. Hmmm . . .