"28mm French Dragoons - Offensive and Perry" Topic

Ordered a few Perry and Offensive Miniatures French Dragoons so as to check their compatibility. Offensive offer horses without sheepskin and separate muskets in "boots". There are a few minor differences between the Perrys and Offensives but nothing serious, in my opinion. E.g, the Offensive saddlecloths and porte-manteaux are a bit smaller than those of the Perrys and have two straps over both porte-manteau and cloak when they should have three over the porte-manteau. No problem, the third strap can be painted on. Conversely, the Perrys have three straps over porte-manteau and cloak when there should be only two over the cloak. So the third one has to be carved away or painted over.

But please, judge for yourself. The picture below shows, from left to right, a Perry dragoon on an Offensive horse, an Offensive dragoon on an Offensive horse, a Perry dragoon on a Perry horse, an Offensive dragoon on a Perry horse. In front, Offensive muskets in "boots".

What a useful posting. But a rarity

How I would love to see far more of such comparisons…………

Funny, my logo seems to have migrated into your posting…if so apologies!

Hi Scharnachthal,

As "deadhead" says how very useful.

Gotta get them all as I don't have nearly enough French Dragoon regiments!

Cheers,

Paul

I agree, great post. Thanks!

I'd say the most striking difference is in the sculpting of the horses.

I've added another 6 pics which hopefully will help to recognize even better the main differences. In my opinion, a skillful hobbyist will be able to cope with them – or else just be lenient and ignore them… You see, from left to right, alternately a Perry and an Offensive horse. On each Perry horse you see an Offensive trooper and vice versa. The most striking difference probably is the difference in size of the porte-manteaux with cloaks, and of the saddlecloths. Please note that the Perry bases are slightly thicker…

The horses and troopers at centre:

If I didn't have 3 regiments already, I'd certainly go for these.

thanks – very usufull – I admit – I like the Perrys horses much better

Totally agree. There are so many companies releasing horses that are far to slender in the rear, bodies too short and legs too long. The Offensive riders, in contrast….look great!

Totally disagree. Can't see what's wrong about the Offensive horses. Neither are the rears to slender nor are the bodies too short, nor are the legs too long, in my opinion. For comparison here a few pics from the German edition of Caroline Silver's "Guide to the horses of the World":

Horses, side views. Look at the length of the legs.

Horse, from above. Quite slender. If the Offensives are to slender at the rear, then the Perrys are to thick in the middle.

Western European horses, three examples:

An Anglo-Norman

A Hanoverian

A Mecklenburger

You may well be right…and personal taste counts for much. I am being a bit too critical I admit.

But you are relying on drawings here rather than photographs. Even then, I thought your larger four drawings almost support the idea of better proportions on the Perry horse. They are at least better than Front Rank anyway

I think these drawings are made from photographs. Anyway, I just don't think that the Offensive horses are that bad that they deserve to be qualified as noticeably out of proportion. Sorry if you disagree but I stick with my opinion.

Hi Scharnachthal,

Very useful information and particularly good for me as, based on the illustration of the Hannoveraner horse I shall give the Westfalia Miniatures Saxon artillery horses some white socks!

Cheers,

Paul

Now those Saxon horses from Westfalia…as was anyway…….they are what I call artillery horses…

They look like they could seriously pull some heavy stuff.

No harm in some disagreement, frankly. The Offensive horses are far better than many an offering and the riders look excellent

I hope that I won't be crucified for adding another range of French dragoons for comparison with the Perrys and Offensive but I thought that those who are always eager for variety might be interested.

Mirliton has a nice range of French dragoons/cuirassiers, too. They appear to be slightly smaller than the Perrys and Offensive but really hardly noticeable, in my opinion. The legs of the riders have to be slightly spread apart in order to make them sit comfortably on the Perry and Offensive horses (actually, the legs of the Mirliton riders appear to have been sculpted a bit too short) but this is not really a problem. Mirliton saddles (covered with sheepskin) with porte-manteaux and cloaks come separately from the horse but, to me, the porte-manteaux with cloaks are the best proportioned. Also, their horses are not as slender as the Offensives in the rear and not as thick at centre as the Perrys…But please, form an opinion for yourself.

From the left: Mirliton – Offensive – Perry:

Horses: Mirliton – Perry – Offensive:

Horses from above: Mirliton – Perry – Offensive:

Offensive trooper and horse, Perry officer on Mirliton horse, Offensive trooper on Mirliton horse:

Mirliton bandsman on Mirliton horse, Perry trumpeter on Perry horse, Offensive trooper on Offensive horse:

Perry trumpeter on Perry horse, Mirliton bandsman on Offensive horse, Mirliton bandsman on Perry horse:

Looking nice indeed, now one has to see them painted and surley they would mix well.

A mounted band?????????????

How did I miss these? Just what I have long wanted. Many thanks indeed.

How did I miss these?

Actually, you didn't…

TMP link

Entries of 08 August 11:26 a.m. (mine), 11:43 a.m. (yours).

But perhaps you didn't realize they are 25/28mm, not 1/72 or 15/18mm…?

And they are not from Germany but from Italy…

Whatever, must have been the hot August sun…

I did indeed assume they were 1/72 and had completely forgotten them……..

It is not the hot August sun, is the liquid taken to rehydrate that does the damage to the recall……..

Excellent helpful posting, many thanks!