"AB artillery figures variation." Topic

Hi everyone, in a reply to a post,at the beginning of this month, Mr Barton said he was gradually working his way through the range of infantry figures to add new variations. That is wonderful, I wish also we could have some love for the artillery figures. If you are going to field a large army with a dozen or more artillery batteries I can see it being a little boring having to use the few castings over and over again. How do you feel about that? With infantry it is possible to vary things a great deal more. I would love to have the equavilent set for the French moving the cannon as we have for the British among many other things. We can but dream.
Alan.

I'd like to see AB 1813-14 Prussian Cuirassiers in white kollet jackets- as they were ordered to wear on days when battle was expected. Von Winterfeldt found documentary evidence of this some time ago. This order of dress would be more accurate for how we mostly use wargame figures.

I would like some artillerymen evading and running away!

Both for my Napoleonic and mid 18th century forces.

Pretty please.

Try mixing in the Saxon artillery crews and some of the earlier French in bicornes. Regards Alan

I'm listening….
We just had our normally annual meeting, and there was much discussion of What To Make Next.
So all SENSIBLE suggestions welcome , given that all new figures do have to pay for themselves in the end.
AB

I would like to see Kingdom of Holland troops usable for the Peninsular campaign and 1809 (germany and Walcheren).
I know that it is a just a minor army.

I would like to see fewer artillery figures serving the guns with their backpacks on. Usually the packs were dropped while the guns were in action. Common sense suggests that the last thing you want is a heavy pack on your back while you are trying to push a gun around. If you look at photographs of artillerymen once they became available then I cannot think of any showing them wearing packs. Basic ammo pouches etc. yes, but not backpacks.

I would love to see engineers, pontonniers and more sappers and siege troops. Also officers for these units. The Guard Engineers would make an excellent addition. Also more staff sets – sitting at tables writing orders, waiting ADCs etc. A French medical ambulance would be great as well.

Finally I will make another plea for French hussars in full dress with pelisses. These could be used for a number of nationalities and also for the Gardes D'Honneur.

There all figures have to pay for themselves, then no suggestions from my side, I doubt the French Revolution is commercialy that successfull.

Hi Artilleryman, oops I just did a conversion to add a backpack! Something different I thought.I would like to see figures modelled in shirtsleeves could be used for so many nationallities.
Wargamorium, I think pontonniers are a must, the 1809 Danube campaign is a very popular period. A lot of what you are asking for I would love to see also but I think it falls into the catagory of battlefield diorama. My feeling is without some kind of Eureka 100 Club type effort they wouldn't be commercially viable, but I hope there could be sufficient interest. If we can have a officers wives baggage train why not more special sets?
Von Winterfield, good day, certainly the above 100 Club suggestion applies to you especially.
Finally Mr Barton, thanks for your reply, I am glad we can have this conversation, considering your recent 'What to make next' part of your meeting Iam glad to have raised the topic at this moment.
Thank you.
Alan.

I could see Sappers and Pioneers not making it as a whole large army only needs a dozen or so. Used Artillery men and cut off equipment.

Hi Tony.

Here is my wish-list. I believe that most of it would compliment your existing ranges, and finish off a few armies. How much of it is practicable I can only leave to you.

+1 for French Hussars in full dress, slung pelisse, pointed saddlecloth – the full works. These will also do for Baden, Bavaria, Poland, Saxony, Westphalia,

Saxon Chevauleger Regt Prinz Clement, with lances.

Italian Casseurs a cheval, in single breasted tunic, with braiding across the chest. The rest of the Kingdom of Italy army can be made from your excellent French range.

Baden troops (infantry in helmet), light dragoons

Hesse-Darmstadt chevauleger (cannot do the charge of death without these)

Westphalia – Chevauleger lancers

Prussia (1815) – 6th Uhlans in litewka's, 1/2 with shako, and 1/2 with czapka).
7th Uhlans (ex Hellwig's streifkorps (in dolman and czapka) and ex Von Schill's Hussars (in hussar uniform with busby))

Kingdom of Holland – infantry, with plumes/cockades on the left of their shakos.

France – Portugese Legion, inf and cav.

Sweden – anything between 1810-1814.

My own preferred additions would be the French Hussars, Saxon lt-horse lancers, and Italian lt-horse. These would finish off several of my armies, who are just waiting for these troops.

I love AB figures and am not going to change now but it makes me almost weep when I look at the Franznap range.About 6 different French pontoonier sets with 5 or 6 figures in each set. Not to mention equipment. Given that they are 1/72 scale the prices are pretty steep I don't know what sales are like for these special units but they must be viable. Anybody here use Franznap figures, perhaps to suppliment larger plastic armies? I dream of the AB range rivaling Franznap for sheer varity of figures, one can but dream.
Regards.
Alan.

Line gendarmerie…….mounted and a pied….

British major-general of light dragoons…..Young Guard engineers……Lithuanian tartars…..

Dear Mr Barton – you have already filled in some things that were available from Fantassin. I would love to see Peninsular Dutch, Baden, but I have already finished my Fantassin figures. Your Spanish guerrillas are wonderful which means I now have a vast quantity. Perhaps they will get painted one day

I really like the Fantassin "Marie Louise"

How about Waterloo Hanoverian militia in caps?

Cantinieres?

I would love to see some of the artillery park manual laborers (there's a word and I forget it). Perhaps a vignette?

Mounted horse artillerymen. Nobody makes those, although there is perhaps a reason for that..

How about some civilians out watching the battle? Ladies on horseback could also double up as the special ADCs some generals had

Thank you for all your hard work – the more figures I paint, the more I appreciate your sculpting genius

John

I second the suggestion for line gendarmerie (horsed and on foot). They saw extensive action in Spain and in France in 1814. Alan

Those divisional generals who showed up in action after action, but never attained the rank or notoriety to rate a figure: Alten, Howard, Hay, Gerard, Duhesme, Sebastiani, Rielle, Roguet……and Junot in his full colonel-general of hussars get-up….

Eureka's by-the-figure sales would be perfect for Guard Engineers- Old or Young….

My suggestions:

Sweden – 1810-14 including infantry with kiwer and French shako headgear.

Denmark – 1813-14

I think both of these would be economically feasible provided you could provide a complete range (infantry, cavalry, artillery, command). Napoleonic gamers in particular seem to be averse to spending money on an incomplete range hoping the manufacturer might eventually complete it.

If you do a search you on TMP you will find a number of gamers expressing sincere interest many times over a period of years to another manufacturer asking when their partial range might be expanded and completed. Nothing has been added so it looks like the door is wide open.

My final request would be to expand the fledgling Ottoman range to include the rest of the troops including Anatolian sekhans and all cavalry types. While you can use Ottomans from other periods to proxy/fill in it would be nice to have an actual Ottoman Napoleonic range that was not based on the Napoleon's Egyptian campaign.

Civilians would be good

Its great to see Anthony Barton's participation here on TMP!

There are many good suggestions for future miniatures. Here are mine:

1. With AB's wonderful sculpting, I would love to see a Marechals series. I think AB is the only sculptor in this scale that can make specific persons that would be readily recognizable as THOSE persons [pose, uniform details and anatomy]. These would be desirable by both wargamers and collectors, IMO. Hell, do it as a monthly subscription service with crowd sources funding. Expand it to other Nationalties [Russian Borodino Generals, other French Generals/Corps commanders later wars]

2. French Eclaireurs of the Garde, Garde d'Honneurs, Krakus Cavalry and Lithuanian Tartars might be the only French & Allied cavalry not yet available.

2. Swediah & Danish/ Norwegian forces.

3. Hanoverians in schirmutze [British coats] [Just put a Prussian Landwehr head on British line figure?]

4. Expand Ottomans so the Russians have another nationality to fight.

5. French "Marie Louises"

Hopefully there is some fertile ground here for your consideration. Hopefully some of these might be financially viable especially if you consider a different model for funding?

I'd love to see/buy French gunners in greatcoat with bicorn and shako . That way all my AB figures for 1806-1807 winter campaign will be warm in their greatcoats

How about Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessières It should be easy as he wore the same uniform in the field till he died in 1813 Probably the only famous French Commander that AB hasn't produced. I'm not counting Murat as that would be insane as of the number of uniforms he wore throughout the wars. Besides someone else has done the multiple possible versions.

If he runs out of other ideas, there is always Pauline Bonaparte on the couch. Won't be hard to paint: nothing but flesh and black, you won't even need much pink, because she was clearly not the blushing type.

1. With AB's wonderful sculpting, I would love to see a Marechals series. I think AB is the only sculptor in this scale that can make specific persons that would be readily recognizable as THOSE persons [pose, uniform details and anatomy].

Though I absolutely agree that AB is a master sculptor I recommend to have a look at Sho Boki persons, they are in my view the bast personality miniatures regarding the outlook, his Kutusow is just wonderfull for example, or look at his numerous Murats.

Fortunately for us French Revolution buffs he will do quite a range of French Revolutionary and Vendean generals.

Here for example his Suvorov

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Fully agree with rmcaras about the marshals. Great idea.

What are French Marie Louises other than French infantry ein either old or Bardin uniform?

von Winterfeldt

What are French Marie Louises other than French infantry in either old or Bardin uniform?

A very reasonable comment – it's an "impression" of a French conscript 1813/1814 who didn't get a complete uniform or is wearing his father's old one or something. There is a nice picture in the Osprey book on French line of a poor soul carrying potatoes in his shako. So historical accuracy is questionable

John

1. Saxons 1809 are necessary, and Hessians 1809 (bicornes and backpacks) as well. And Baden troops…

2. French Revolution Wars (1st and 2nd Coalitions), both allies and French armies. Currently only Austrians and some French are available. BOKI miniatures are excellent, but I would like to add more variety using AB miniatures as well.

3. Danish and Swedish troops.

4. Skirmishers poses (Russians 1805, Württemberg,…)

Armed Ottoman peasant infantry.

Ottoman gunners.

Wahhabist Arabs riding two per camel – OK that might just be me.

David F Brown

Dear Mr Barton

No change to what I asked for at Salute in 2017 and 2018:

1>Vistula Legion (French shako with sunrise plate).
2>Von Lützow Free Corps, in Litewkas
3>As JB Webster asked for.. Waterloo Hanoverian militia in caps
4> French cavalry in capes, same figures different heads for the various types of Cavalry?

Thank you for:
Brunswick Lancers
Baggage Train I only asked for one and you gave us two, so double thanks
The vignettes
Spanish Guerrillas

Thank you
Christian

he wouldn't wear his father's old uniform, maybe in case he would be an officers – but Marie Louises, other than being very young fragile men – would look like typical French infantry in campaign dress, beware of modern interpretations.

Hi, I started this thread about artillery figures and limited poses and now I would like to ask Mr Barton if he could add missing manes to some of the horse team models? in the meantime I will have fun with trying to add these with greenstuff. Some limber/caisson team horse casualties would be great too.
Regards.
Alan.

Von Winterfeldt, I do have most of the Sho Boki Russian Borodino Commanders, as well as the Murat series. Sho, at one time had planned to produce all the Borodino commanders of both sides. He has recently produced the Russian Cavalry Corps Commanders and I will be ordering them next. No word on the French side.

My mental impression of Marie Louise's would be ragged, poorly uniformed and equipped soldiers. Wooden sabots would be a nice touch for some of the figures. Maybe the odd fellow in a mix of civilian & military dress? Again this is just an impression I have for the 1814 campaign that there was little time to properly outfit the troops raised quickly. I could be persuaded that image is wrong.

In my opinion this is an image shaped by modern illustrations, for example Leopold Beyer, who very well shows the French infantry of 1813, shows no wooden shows, mostly French infantry in greatcoats and shako in cover and yes quite ragged and worn out soldiers, for 1814 I don't know contemporary images and an even more makeshift dress could well be possible.

Any of the following
Young Guard squadrons for the grenadiers and dragoons
French/Polish elite company lancers
Polish Guard chevau-legere (before they became lancers)
1809 Imperial Guard foot artillery with plumed shako, epaulettes and cut away lapels
Kalmucks and Bashkirs
Kingdom of Holland infantry and cavalry
Allied cavalry casulties
A set of Imperial Guard personalities (Colbert, Arrighi, Wathier, Roguet, Bessieres, Mortier)
Austerlitz Russian personalities (Alexander, Constantine, Buxhowden, Langeron, Miloradovich)
Austerlitz Austrian Personalities (Liechenstein, Kienmayer, Kollowrath)
Portugese Legion
Bavarian limbers

Now everyone has said their piece, I should say that quite a large proportion of the figures mentioned are on my to-do list already.
Some, like the Kingdom of Holland figures for Spain are even actually made, though not yet in production at the factory .

To itemise in more detail:~

I like the OPs idea of more artillerymen, and I am also looking quite hard at some of the artillery pieces at present, because most of our French equipment was made 30 years back, and we have rather more detailed information available now. I'm rebuilding the howitzers, which are more complex than I thought originally.

Gendarmerie for Spain to oppose the new guerillas are underway.

Mounted Horse artillery would be an easy conversionof Light Cavalry for most nations.

Hesse-Darmstadt Chevau-legers are on my list.

That the Hanoverian militia at Waterloo wore shakos and NOT caps has I believe now been established.

Garde Engineers in that splendid helmet : a relatively easy conversion, though they were of course only one company.

Garde Scout Lancers are on my desk.

Westphalian Grenadiers in bearskin caps will be catered for by converting the forthcoming Dutch Grenadiers.

Vistula Legion in the sunburst plate shako are also on the list, along with Badeners.

Of course we already have quite a good selection of Spencer-wearing infantry with shako covers which can be used for almost any Confederation armies.

Artillery for the Saxons and Bavarians particularly….

I am already dipping my toe in the Revolutionary period, but there is so much there to do that I think for the present it's best to concentrate on the core period after 1800.

So, given that I have to spend quite a lot of my time making WW2 figures as well, I hope people can see that most of the obvious gaps are being plugged. Very small elite Garde units like the Lithuanian Tartars are something of a niche market : there are always one or two people wanting them ( I was once pursued relentlessly by a man convinced I had somehow wronged him by not making him a 13th c. Tibetan Army ) but in the nature of things they have relatively low priority.

Personalities are always fun, if quite a lot of work. Bessieres and Murat are made and on their way…
Vignettes involving personalities are tempting ; and vivandieres and so forth.
I try not to get too distracted by such things when there are still Line units to make, but temptation sometimes wins.

I have just made a rough count, and including all the variants ( increasing all the time ) at present we have somewhere around 2500 different Naploleonic figures in production, not counting horses ( over 60 ) and guns and vehicles .

I will try to make most these things mentioned, but I never make promises:
I am over 70 now, and age has a habit of intervening in one's plans.

rmcaras: "Krakus Cavalry and Lithuanian Tartars might be the only French cavalry not yet available."

Are you sure?

Tony

Thank you for your response.

I am very happy to find that some of my wish-list is already made, and that others have made the 'to-do' list.

I would add one further request for Confederation of the Rhine troops in single breasted tunic.

We are all hoping that you stay fit and healthy, both for your sake, and for the fact that we would like more models producing.

Mr Baton, thank you so much for taking time away from your work to compose this very detailed and hopeful reply. I am very grateful that you responded to my howitzer query and aslo that there is hope of more variation in the gun crews. I am reluctanly going to suggest you add a French 4 pounder which is very necesary. At the moment there are not any Voltiguers kneeling firing and firing prone would be great. I think skirmish games like Sharp Practise have become very popular and whilst larger figures perhaps dominate your sculpting gives do much character and often surpases 28mm in detail. I would like to suggest light cavarly figures skirmishing, firing on foot etc. Whilst there are plenty of greatcoated infantry, I,personally, would purchase mounted figures in capes. For viginettes various personalities on foot and even seated would be great too. Please keep giving in to temptation and inspiration as long as you can.
Very best wishes.
Alan.

Tony,

Wow, that is a lot of Napoleonic goodies on the sculpting block.

I know it's the wrong century but since you mentioned WW2, are there any plans for American Paras? I've mentioned Falschirmjager tank riders and I wouldnt say no to American tank riders either.

Impressive list of new AB additions- there are many that I would like. Shame about Prussian Cuirassiers dressed in kollets for battle, as I think they would look more attractive. Hopefully they might be added to the end of the list at some point- but I can see it's quite a long list……

Sho Boki ….I mean in terms of AB catalog. I bet those units might exist in another brand (Mini-fig seemed to cover pretty much everything). But those are not AB.

I have your Krakus unit, and my next order will be for the Lithuanian Tartars (along with the Russian Cavalry Generals). I have you send my orders directly to Ukraine for painting.

Now that we have your attention, where are we on the Borodino theme Generals? Still contemplated?

I think it is fantastic that a manufacturer of Tony Barton's standard takes the effort to reply to this posting, more than once as well!

I could weep when I see his Dragoons of the Guard and Grenadiers a Cheval in 18mm in the lapelled coat from AB. I so wanted them in 28mm. Now I would kill for them in 1/72 (not my favourite scale but…) for Waterloo Remodelled.

Two iconic units that no-one does in larger scales to a decent standard. I do mean no-one. Incredible

Huzzah for the gendarmerie! And thanks for paying attention to all of us crazy old randos.

I am a big fan of the way Eureka sells figures, because for those of us with an abiding interest in the Peninsular, they're a great way to get really nice looking composite units. I have a composite regiment, sixteen AB figures of four different types of Guard cavalry (horse grenadiers, chasseurs a cheval, Mamelukes and Polish lancers) for the regiment that went to Albuera in 1811, but didn't do much. It's nice to be able to mix and match figures of such quality in units like that.

Tell you what, if you make Pauline on the couch, I will drop my vote for the Tartars.

"..where are we on the Borodino theme Generals? Still contemplated?"

Russians are done. May be the drunk Platov will be added on some day.
And all these must be resculpted for my new horses.
AB have the most of famous French ones – Napoleon, Davout, Ney, Poniatowski.. plus lot of universal Generals.
It is for sure that I will do one mould with the lesser French commanders for Borodino on some day, as planned, but right now I have to do already paid French Revolutionary Generals.

Tony,

Might there be a possibility of Portuguese and Spanish limbers, riders and horse/mule teams? I'm imagining some Spanish guns might have been hauled by mules.

If British and French light cavalry ever skirmished firing from the saddle then a couple of those would be fabulous as well.

I won't ask for Cuesta in his coach though as I doubt such a set would be a huge money spinner!

How about Russian mounted chasseurs for 1813-1814 campaigns. They're in just about every battle but no one makes them.

Stephen

Reviving this thread to say thank you for the wonderful Spanish guerillas skirmishing, marching, cavalry, irregular lancers, personalities a bonus. I wasn't planning on doing any Spanish until I saw these.
Phil

Since this thread has just been revived( and thanks for the compliments Valmy92) I might mention that in the last three months or so I have been busy making some of the things mentioned…

The Dutch in Spain are at the factory : that's the Kingdom of the Netherlands figures with the side pompom;Grenadiers and Voltigeurs incuded.

The Hesse-Darmstadt Chevaulegers are made, but will be a month or two before appearing.

The Russian Chasseurs 1812-15 suggested by stephen1162 have been made, and are in transit to Oz, as are Prussian Kurassieren in kollets. Both these were relatively simple conversions so got done quite quickly.

There are more French Legeres poses, with Chasseurs firing and loading and Chasseurs wearing epaulettes, which about half of the Regiments apparently did. There are also Line grenadiers in bearskin caps, five new variants and a drummer.They are part of my policy of reinforcing the number of variants of the commonest types of soldier in all the Powers' armies.I have now done this for the Austrian and Prussian and British Line types.
I'm working on the Prussian and Austrian Landwehr as well.These new poses will be mixed in with the existing ones to give more life to the little lines of troops.

At present I am finishing off the Gendarmerie d'Espagne, both foot and mounted, and the Lanciers Gendarmes as well, to make life difficult for all those guerillas.

I shall rebuild all of the French howitzers and add a 4 pounder cannon.
The Eclaireurs of the Guard are half-made , to eventually join the Sapeurs of the Guard which are on their way to OZ.. the parade uniform version.

Now I shall go on holiday for a week…