"Hat 1806 Prussian Musketeers" Topic

I was considering building an 1806 Prussian Army using Hat figures, but found most suppliers out of stock for the above.

Does Hat regularly re manufacture and restock their lines or are collectors relegated to hunting on the secondary market?

Yes, they restock. Please contact HaT directly to mention this to them (their contact address is on the website) – H is a great guy to deal with, and teh more we tell him we want these, the sooner they will move up the pile.

Remember, HaT make over 200 separate boxes of figures, all made in a factory, then packed in the hundreds, then shipped in a huge container. SO there is a lead time, unlike a guy in his shed making a new cast of a figure.

So please do let H know you want these – I will ask again, and eventually the groundswell will get them back on the shelves.

Have you also posted on the HaT forum? H reads that as well, and others will join in the call.

Marc

I also want to see this re-release. My early Russians need friends. And whatever happened to the promised set of Early Russian command figures? I've asked for this repeatedly on the HaT forum. Most say they will never be made because that particular sculptor (and his distinct style) is gone and cannot be reproduced. Poppycock!

For that matter, the kiver "modern" Russian sets seem stalled at the gate, as well.

Marc

I contacted Hat and was very impressed by their response. They responded on the Hat forum and emailed me regarding the product number for follow up.

With such a response I need to definitely consider building that army. In plastic everything is there for afresh and Prussian.

I have 15mm armies but some of my friends have a hard time seeing them. 28mm on the other hand crowds the table. This seems to be the best compromise.

Well Dan, I'm biased, but I do think it is a great scale for Naps. I tried 15s – ABs. Great figures for photos but less so for me on the table. Whereas 28s were getting pricey for me.

If the ranges now were available in the 70s and 80s I reckon it would have dominated.

But that is just me

And HaT are a great bunch. I personally think they don't get enough recognition for the amazing range they produce

And Bill. Let's ask again on the HaT forum for thos Russians. I remember they were to get a greatcoat set as well

Ok, I have posted it on HaT forum. If anyone else is interested from TMP land please join in – HaT need to make money so they need to see some levelk of interest to make these.

Thanks

I agree. I still like 28mm for skirmish or small battles like AWI. However, cost aside, Napoleonics is about maneuver. When I play Shako 2, the same game is very different just because of figure size. Smaller figures require more thought on movement.

After reading this I gave Hat an email myself. I want them to have the same guy who sculpted the Light Infantry do the exact same thing with some 1809 or 1812 French line. The Light are perfect and 1/72 needs a perfect set of French Line. I'm not gonna hold my breath though…

FMS – HaT have aome new French coming out that look very nicebin master form. So they may compare very favourably with the lights

Marc- they emailed me back and confirmed the same. I told them they should do a set of Line by the same guy who did the Light and they emailed back saying that they had such masters and planned to make them, but there is no release date set yet. So no telling how far in the future that might be. Do you have any idea what that might mean? Or any pics of those masters?

Also, I've been working on my 1/72 experimental samurai- I haven't had any serious problems with the paint using polyshade and Tamiya dull coat. Looking forward to getting my hands on the napoleonics!

FMS

link

These are the next French Naps to be released. HaT have learnt not to give release dates as they are subject toi so many vagaries. For anyone used to normal wargames figure production, the making of a set of plastic toy soldieres is eye opening.

H himself does not "make" the figures. he commissions them. So a sculptor will make them to a brief. They go through revisions – all at the whim of the sculptor, who is freelance and works on many projects, not just HaT and sometimes not just toy soldiers. Anyway, this takes a while.

They then have to be turned into steel moulds. This is done by another company. This takes ages to get right.

Then they have to be made – by another company.

When made, boxes need to be designed (with artwork) and then made – all different people.

then shipping – on a big crate, in a big boat, at the mercy of Chinese offiials, pirates, customs and the high seas.

All these stages involve lots of different people and organisations. ANd things get held up/changed/lost.

So from H's many explantions, it is clear why he is so reluctant to confirm a date to then disappoint people.

But take heart. From my discussions with him "off line", I believe that they are in the queue, and a long waay down the progress route. I am not confident enough to say they are in his next release (I am not privy to that information), but there seems to be signs that they are near the top of the pile. This year, hmmm. Soon, yes.

So all I can really add is to be patient – I have seen the production test figures for the British dragoons (lights and heavies) so I know sets continue to move up the line.

And also, remember that sometimes figures get lost – one of the French command sets (the bardin uniforms) have suffered that fate, as did the Spartans years ago. hard to imagine that happeneing to Foundry, or Perrys, or Elite. but for a plastic toy soldier company, dealing with so many disparate aspects of production, it can happen.

Anyway, I hope that helps slightly. I am still waiting for these, and will buy big when they arrive. But untilk then, I have lots of other stuff to paint, so i will carry on waiting.

All the best

marc

Tarleton?
Hmm… maybe just 3 of those per 50 figure box?
Otherwise that set is exactly what I was always hoping to see. Especially if they match it with an elites box, an action box, command, etc, like the lights. Wow, I definitely picked the right moment to get in. Until then there are plenty of codes to mix and match. And plenty of caissons to paint up- no more excuses for sub-standard arty units!

Thanks for the rundown on the 1/72 production system. I know they deal with much, much bigger volume and sales than all war games put together. Plus, the figures aren't their biggest sellers.

Have you tried eBay?

Seem to be a few boxes of Fusiliers on eBay UK at the moment, and postage isn't that pricey.

in case you like to paint a breath taking Prussian 1806 army, the AB range is unbeatable – the artillery alone with the horse teams, a dream

Fusileers yes, musketeers no

And whilst AB are lovely, they are far too small. Micro men

I still can't figure why the new French infantry set shown has ONE figure in gaiters. What am I supposed to do with that? Entire units should be in gaiters or trousers, not individuals.

But I'd be pretty happy if they came out at all.

I also sent an email re early Prussians and Russians.

I guess we will get several in a box, so several boxes to a unit. I must admit I prefer parade dress, so would have preferred less in trousers. But if they arrive I won't be upset

The AB range is fairly complete as well, even Scharfschützen, in case one is not put off by the scale 18 mm – it is for me by far the best range for Prussian army of 1806 and not surpassed by any other manufacturer in any other scale

Agreed vW – ABs are lovely and his early figures and choices of range show that.

But still prefer my 1/72s