"Elite company figures." Topic

Hi, something that niggles me. Has it ever bothered you at all that the exact same figures are sold to represent either grenadiers or voltiguers and therefore take no account of the idea that grenadiers would have been head and shoulders taller than their light company companions? Have you tried to remedy this by varing basing height or even using figures from another range which are smaller? I'm thinking of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito in the movie Twins ;)
Maybe after 1812 there might not have been the same criteria applied?

No, it has never bothered me. All men were issued the same kit and firearms so, will it bother you that your bigger figure may have a bigger backpack and musket than the center company man standing next to him?

At 6mm this has never been an issue

No

No. Unless you're playing with 54's, the difference would not be noticable.

Hi Joe(79thPA), thanks for your input, good point about possible disparity in equipment. I am thinking of using a base increment for the taller Grenadiers.

So how much would 6-12 real life inches translate the way down to 25mm?

Russ Dunaway

Saw a nice post by Von Winterfelt – "Les blancs 3e de linge 1793 Sho Boki/AB 18mm" (sorry I don't know how to embed the link.) where you can clearly see a pronounced height difference from man to man. If someone would help me and show the link I would be very grateful. Thanks. Alan.

These?
theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=515043
Yes, I sculpted intentionally figures with different height. Still do.

Thank you very much Sho for the link and for your efforts to show varying heights as in real life.

There are much more basic things to concern modellers than artificial height. Like actually getting correct uniforms of equipment in the first place.

I don't believe packs were adjusted at all, the straps yes, but big guys didn't get bigger packs!

After Austerlitz, him with the crazy eyes said in a review or post review that "the muskets should be issued relevant to the height of the men".
~d

Thanks SHaT1984,may I call you Dave?, for your imput. To me if we are going to spend considerable time and effort trying to get the uniform details as accurate as we can then why not actually try to show that these troops are the tallest and these other ones are the shortest?

Hi
If you're that concerned you will have to use shims to increase the heights.
Talk with some figure makers and see what difficulties they face just with general casting issues, let alone the myriads of variations that may or may not be important.

I've made my own variants for a unique army over the past 25 years, so I'm not talking from a hollow environment. I produce 1:1 ratio commanders AND I try and make every unit unique in some way.

I also use a variety of manufactuers whose figures are not 100% compatible, but I find a way.

While I do not count height variation as important, there are a thousand uniform variations I do address.
To each his own…

[Fr_1805] A few elites
TMP link

Allies – 1805-14
TMP link

cheers
d

Thanks Dave for your reply. I will have to do as you suggest and slightly raise the height of my Grenadiers and sink my Voltiguers a touch into the base. As well as using other ranges. Love your figures such a fantastic collection with a lot of custom work.
Thanks.
Alan.

Appreciate the compliments Alan, thanks and good luck!

[I am not 'wedded' to the models footprint that manfrs. create]- so turning figures AND trimming the lead base* to better suit the stand/ base IS a priority to me.

IE, protecting flags so they don't project over the edges… I habitually now create standard-bearers carrying their symbols in a passive pose, rather than all 'a flutter'.

I also use for example plastic cc as bases for taller figures rather than thicker pasteboard card, thereby reducing their overall height a little.

"Invoking" the THREE FOOT rule (also a model trains abstract) you do not notice the differences under a well sceniced base!

regards davew

*And this lead, like other trimmings, get reused/recycled for weighting other models or infill.
≠

Thanks Dave for your reply, fascinating that you trim the castings footprint! and even re-use the spare lead. Take care.
Alan

Gaming since the 70's. I'd be darned if I cared about that now. Its the fun…