"What is your opinion of Funcken’s accuracy?" Topic

I've used The Lace Wars for my Plains of Abraham project, both French and British.
One thing I noted was how COMPLETE it was. There are very few French regiments whose cuff and button patterns aren't shown. Ditto flags.
Same applies to British Grenadier caps.

I used the American Revolution period books for my Hessian uniforms and flags.

Later on, I started to notice some sources who disputed some of the German Grenadiers having bearskin caps.
Primary sources cast suspicion on some of the Hessian flags.

I began to suspect that as complete as Funcken was, that it sometimes came at the price of accuracy.

Any thoughts?

It's better than my painting accuracy, so I've gone back to Funcken (& the Blandford Books) as my main references.

Note, I have deliberately left out Napoleonics. Friends have asked me to paint some Nappies for them and told me to follow page 77. Ok. I know nothing, so I'll follow your instructions.
But are there problems there also?

Note that I've never repainted anything I've thought to be in error. You don't do that to veterans who have served you well on the tabletop.

Have sets on my shelves – always my first go to

It's okay, but dated these days. The British stuff for F&I is probably largely based on the Morier paintings. Some might just be speculation – depending on the level of detail you are looking for.

Not sure I recall the Rev War book. I think I have a soft back version though that might show both periods for the British.

For Hessians, the new Osprey book is out (Vol 1) and pretty good.

Frankly, the Funcken's ARE dated--in some cases, extremely so. The boner of the Egyptian shield with a window in it is still a classic.

I have the full Napoleonic set and the "All Times," but now they gather dust. I relied on heavily forty years ago, but collecting more uniform books--and using the Internet!--has relegated them to places harder and harder to reach.

Mind, I'd rather have them than not, for when I can't find what I'm looking for, they're still a "go to" resource.

TVAG

Back in the 1970s there was not much else about.
They were much prized.
These days maybe more for the collectors?

martin

I only have the American uniforms set. I don't use it often, but sometimes if I'm at my wit's end and can't make use of anything else.

I really love the WWII set. Four volumes covering just about everything. I picked one volume about 2 years ago in Texas because it covered the Rumania forces and ended up searching down the other 3 volumes.

Definitely not the final source, however, a great resource all the same.

So, expert opinion seems to be that they are dated, and this is probably true. I am to lazy to pull them out, but I remember in the preface to one of them, they give a very broad reference to sources, and I remember this includes Knotel and Viskavatov. In any case, the uniform pictures are beautiful – and inspiring. The ones on the 1700's are the best IMO.

Good basic scource.

Yeah I have all 20 or so volumes of them. On my list to dispose of as I cull my ACW/Napoleonic/Painting reference books in anticipation of downsizing out of a 5 bedroom.

I used them back 50 years ago, but I find I reach for other sources these days [when I infrequently put brush to metal].

Note that I've never repainted anything I've thought to be in error. You don't do that to veterans who have served you well on the tabletop.

+1 for John on this. My 4th TX infantry was painted back in the 1980s, and they still have the incorrect red and white Confederate flag from the Osprey. They fought too many good fights under it to be replaced.

I have some of them and would never get rid of them even though other references might be more accurate.

My favorite is the Les Soldats de la Revolution Francaise. It is excellent and very well done.

Back in the early 70s Virginia Water library had both volumes of Arms & Uniforms: I had them out on near permanent loan for most of that time! When I saw copies for sale a few years ago I had to snap them up. The accuracy is quite variable, but I can still see why they totally hooked me.

As an aside, the Airfix Romans were based on a very dodgy Funcken illustration from volume 1.

I don't think I would touch paint to a fig until I had consulted (bought) most of the principle uniform guides on the relevant period.

I have a fair few Funckens, mostly on the notion that buying figures is a purchase. Buying books is an investment. Its not so much a matter of cross proofing as hoping that each source will contribute some additional detail the others didn't include. Funckens, Blandfords and Uniformtaffels are all valuable jumping off points. Verify twice and paint once.

I have the 17 French text volumes and they are awesome. I purchased the napoleonic set when I was 14. Those books are the reason that I started painting. As I have now two sons, I purchased a second place collection. In term of accuracy, I find them accurate. Always hard to say which source is the most accurate but for me they are the best resources for a single collection of books.

"The British stuff for F&I is probably largely based on the Morier paintings. Some might just be speculation – depending on the level of detail you are looking for"

It's always interesting to see how successive illustrators over the years have interpreted the descriptions of light infantry and others' uniform adjustments for bush fighting in America- seeing as we have little in the way of reliable images. Kannick, Funken, Embleton, Macgregor….

I always enjoy Prebel Kannick's impression of British LI during the 7YW/F&IW, resembling a Victorian gentleman out for a partridge shoot.

Macgregor's illustrations for Mollo's books always seem to me the most persuasive because of his photographic style imitating oil paintings.

I used F&F when I did Napoleon era. Then I was rehabbed and now I have very few Nappys. And, I can quit anytime. I now do SYW. F&F are just another source book. Although the Summerfield books are my fav for SYW. I have many source books, and do a bit of cross-checking, I go with the majority. Once a figure hits the table-top, it doesn't get repainted.

I have to thank OFM for bringing the subject up. It motivated me to get my selection of Funcken out as I have not used them for quite awhile, with the exception of the volume on the troops of the French Revolution, mentioned above.

Overall I have 10 volumes (in both French and German) and now will probably purchase some more, espicially the three on the middle ages.

Again, thanks very much.

You're welcome, Kevin.