"Front Rank Releases Guard Uhlans" Topic

Sorry for any repeat posts.

Front Rank has released Guard Uhlans.

link

They also have Curiassiers, Dragoons, Line Uhlans and Landwehr cavalry.

Maybe my Prussians are not finished?

Front Rank has always produced beautiful figures, but their most recent releases have been even better.

Their recent releases, in any range, do show better anatomical proportions.

Their castings, mouldings, have always been superb. The modelling notoriously Hobbit like. The horses, truly, belong to the 1970s as so puny.

They are all potentially world beaters. The same poses are repeated in every range, but I can forgive that……..

Glad to see Prussians in the range at last, even if the same poses yet again…slightly altered to allow for a covered shako etc.

There is just that lack of imagination and ambition in this range….. a range of superb, outstanding, quality of finish. But lacking animation……….

@Deadhead – define 'Hobbit like' please.

Well say anything else you like but here is a guy who lays out a plan of what he is going to release and sticks to it. No jumping from range to range like a demented butterfly, no range left half finished, and no 'kickstarter' malarkey.

His figures are better cast than just about anyone else in the trade and have an innate attraction that I really like.

Could not agree more.

Vast range, superb moulding and casting quality and a joy to paint. The newer figures are better proportioned and I do accept that the stumpy look may be appropriate for the wargamer's view, on high and gazing down.

The horses really do need updating as even the heavy cavalry mounts are tiny. Cavalry figures tend to suffer from a right arm thicker than their thigh, long enough to reach mid calf but, above all, articulating with the side of the rib cage not the shoulder.

For example;

The new Prussian cavalry are far better modelled, with the right arm infinitely than shown above

Lacking animation, I take back. They can be very enthusiastic indeed. I did not mean that, I meant some characteristic poses are carried over to every range.

@Deadhead – I know what you mean but I think the 'characteristic pose' accusation could be aimed at most designers including the Perries. I think it simply seems more obvious with Front Rank because of the relatively small variations available.

Oh again I agree…and I am being unduly harsh on what are almost world beaters…..and are getting better. I notice how much "slimmer" are the limbs on the new line Uhlans.

I have a bunch of Front Rank Carabiniers a Cheval (later cuirasse version) which I do get out every so often and think I really must do something with them. I sit them on tiny ponies, that might be appropriate for late in The Retreat. I see them leaning back at a daft angle, watching for Stukas, and put them away again. But the moulding and casting is superb and I did choose the best poses from the range.

"Hobbit Like"? I guess I mean ultra stocky.

Short in the leg, especially hip to knee, thick chested, broad shouldered, but almost no pelvis below the waist (see the two Grenadiers above). Arms thicker than thighs (admit only applies to right arm above), huge hands and arms so long he is able to scratch his calves without stooping. Otherwise the proportions are fine……..

I have always given Front Rank a miss because of the 'stockiness' of their figures, and for me the main problem is that the limbs often look too thick and the figures generally overfed – which I'm guessing the typical Napoleonic soldier would not have been. However I've recently picked up some Russian infantry and Belgian Carabiniers on eBay and agree the casting is excellent. I just wish they weren't quite so stout.

Gentlemen,
I agree that FR are thicker than most other figures but not so sure about the horses being small.
Agreed the right arm is somewhat thicker than the left on cavalry, but I would surmise that mat be so that it is more sturdy, made for rough handling on a wargaming table.

See the images below.

Left to right:
Front Rank, Calpe, Foundry and Elite
I didn't paint the FR Lancers.

Rear view:

The FR horses are stocky compared the all the rest, but certainly not smaller. I really like the size and heft of the FR figures.

Would the FR riders fit the Calpe horses and vice versa? I know the most recent Prussians have the saddle moulded on the horse unlike previous iterations but that would add some variation.

I had not realised that they were now producing these with the saddle moulded onto the horse. That works far better I feel.

Going back to the website I also now see why the right arm looks far better proportioned on most. It is separately cast to allow a variety of poses now.

I did enjoy wrgmr1's comparison photo…….. wish we could see more of such. Calpe Uhlans do have the edge for me anyway

Mes Amis,

Lots of constructive comments and ideas.

I too favour Calpe but like to have some of each.

I've been trying to vary horses between manufacturers but it's not always that easy as some are stouter in the body than others etc which makes widening the riders' legs necessary.

Worth throwing into the mix Black Hussar (ex Westfalia) who do excellent horses for their Saxons which other manufacturers rides fit well.

I do love to have units from different manufacturers though e.g. painting "Black Hussar" light cavalry, artillery and infantry myself; having Elite French and Italian infantry and cavalry plus Front Rank Line "Italians" and Perry Light Infantry being painted for me.

Now need to add some Front Rank Prussian cavalry and Calpe Saxons into the mix as well!

Cheers,

Paul

Littlearmies,
Foundry and Calpe are fairly interchangeable however Goundry are a tad shorter in the legs. FR are thicker in the body and as you say would require the legs to be spread.
Elite are narrower and the legs shorter than the others.
I have various infantry as well if anyone is interested in a comparison photo?

Always interested in such. Yes please

deadhead – as requested.

Left to Right
Elite Miniatures French, Prussian Warlord Landwehr, Calp, Prussian Landwehr, Prussian Calpe Line, Front Rank Young Guard, Foundry Line painted as Westphalians, Old Glory Austrian Landwehr, Sash and Sabre Austrian Line.

As you can see the first four are of a size the last three similar.

Not the best of photos, sorry.

Command Stands:

I'm surprised the Calpe & Warlord plastic Landwehr look so similar together – I have both and the Warlord plastics looked smaller (although the metals worked). I got some of the Perry Prussians to pimp my plastic Warlords and they are shorter as well as slimmer.

The Front Rank Prussian Landwher works very well with the Calpe figures.

The Warlord Prussian Landwehr are thinner than the Calpe, but approximately the same height. You notice a difference in the size of feldmutz (cap).

But I am surprised frankly at how well the Warlord figures mixed in.

I think these kind of comparison photos are absolutely invaluable………..and rare.

Many thanks

You are most welcome.
I do notice that the Warlord drum is quite large compared to the others.

I'd be interested in seeing late Warlord French alongside their Calpe / Front Rank equivalents. I think the Warlord figures are fine as 'cannon fodder' but need a leavening of other figures to add variety (particularly in command figures).

Littlearmies,
I have some unpainted French Calpe and FR YG in photo above but no Warlord French.

Does the Warlord drum look large because the drummer seems smaller than the other figures, maybe representing a youth?

JM, possibly that is what the sculptor was trying to do, but the drum itself is larger than the Calpe.

I also notice my painting has gotten better over the years. Austrians and French Elite Miniatures 9 years ago, Calpe and YG in the last 2 years. I attribute part of it to starting using 3.0 reading glasses approximately 4 years ago.

Littlearmies,
I have some unpainted French Calpe and FR YG in photo above but no Warlord French.

Wrgmr1 – one of the many issues with Warlord's output is that, despite them using digital sculptors, some of their ranges differ in size and proportion from one another. The Landwehr being a case in point. So, before pulling the trigger on what is just an idea at the moment I'd like to see some side by side piccies.