"TAG versus Warlord TYW Swedish Cavalry" Topic

Putting aside price for the moment which of TAG or Warlord would you prefer when purchasing figures for TYW Swedish cavalry? I want the best looking figures. Any recommendations much appreciated.

From a strictly historical viewpoint the Warlord figures are not good at all, the supposedly "Swedish" helmets are not particularly true to the actual designs in use. Troopers have helmets but no body armour, a combination for which there is not evidence at all. Helmets were always issued together with breast & backplates or to men that already had body armour. If armour was discarded then the trooper dropped either the helmet or all of the armour. (The inventories are very clear on this point.)Last but not least the troopers are sculpted as wearing sashes despite there being no evidence for their use except possibly among officers. Hence the Swedish tradition of using sprigs of greenery or twisted straw to make field signs.

TAG are much better but do avoid the "Finnish" cavalry which are two sets of truly odd fantasy figures with the Finns being portrayed as entirely armed with sabres and dressed in Eastern fashion. Again an interpretation which is not supported by any historical sources. Rather both the muster rolls and the eyewitness accounts are quite clear that not only did the Finns have the same "western" style of clothing and equipment as the Swedes, their apperance was so similar that more than once onlookers could not tell them apart.

Last but not least the troopers are sculpted as wearing sashes despite there being no evidence for their use except possibly among officers.

I believe that is because they use the ECW torsos.

Thanks Daniel. Interesting observation about helmets and armour. Didn't know that.

I'll let Daniel comment on the accuracy of the figures, but I used a bunch of bicorne cuirassiers for TYW era mounted and they are gorgeous figures and great sculpts.

Yes, I thought Bicorne might make for some German cavalry.

You know…. I don't know whose figures I started with, but I ended with bicorne and wished I'd used them for the whole lot. Whatever I used, they blend pretty well with. It wasn't warlord, but I don't remember whose figs I used to begin with.

Could it be Renegade? Same sculptor.

1st Corps Thirty Years War Swedish Cavalry (28mm). Specified direct from the Brzezinski Osprey. Front rank in zischagge helmet and back and breast. Rear rank in soft hats, no armour. All wear riding coat attested to in the records. Ignoring the painting, the figures may or may not be to your taste, but they are a lot more historical than any other offering available.

Front

Rear

Nice looking figures Steve. Not a great fan of 1st Corp horses but these do look decent.

I think they look really nice too. And the painting is very good.