"15mm LOA: The Problem With Drummers . . ." Topic

As I continue to work on my 15mm War of the Spanish Succession project, I have been noticing that many who are interested in the period, have pointed out the similarities between LOA and WSS. Both wars had a "Grand Alliance" to oppose the ambitions of Louis XIV. Uniforms and equipment of the various armies in the WSS were similar to those worn a decade or so earlier in the LOA. It seems that the main differences were the gradual discarding of the pike, and the evolution of the cocked round hat to the tricorne (which is basically a specific version of the cocked round hat). I have read that in the earlier years of the WSS both pikes and non-tricorne round hats were still being used.

Now then, I will finally come to my point. I want to whine about the lack of a proper LOA drummer in 15mm scale! Sure, I can get all kinds of WSS drummers. Many 15mm manufacturers make them. Some make them for the LOA period but I have problems with what is available. There is the 15mm LOA Essex drummer. It's fine, but goes best with Essex style figures. Since most of my LOA miniatures will be Irregular, I should be considering the Irregular Miniatures drummer. Hmmmm . . . of all the figures in Irregular's excellent range, their drummer is not what I'm looking for. The figure has a smallish percussion instrument, which looks like a child's toy drum. Also, the figure has distorted facial features which no amount of painting can correct. Drat! Another possibility might be Editions Brokow but of course those figures are now unavailable. Finally there's Hallmark, but those would be too small to go with my Irregular Miniatures.

It appears I will have to resort to drastic measures! Surgery! I will have to remove heads from LOA figures and graft them onto the bodies of WSS drummers.

Cheers!

Gallo

Yep.

Khurasan, Lurkio, Lancashire Games, old Donnington should all have options.

Surgery is fairly straightforward. One option is to carve away the tricorn and add the floppy brim (composed of either plasticard or greenstuff) or you can swap the entire head. I have done this and like to drill holes in the head and torso so I can add a small portion of wire or pin to act as the connecting spine.

Either way, good luck.

Hello P.A.R.,

Of the 15mm figure ranges you mentioned, Khurasan would be the most promising. There are a couple problems with the Khurasan drummer. I don't believe Khurasan sells individual figures so I would have to purchase multiple command packs. Also the drummer figures (one standing, one walking) in the Late 17th Century range looks like more of a 1670s representation than a later, LOA type. Hmmmm . . . Now that I'm taking a second look at the figures, I'm thinking that maybe the drummers might work for my purposes.

link

The cuffs on the drummers are a bit high for the 1690s but Perhaps I could get away with it by suggesting they
are into a more "retro" style?

As a point of interest, Khurasan makes two types of flintlock musketeers, one standing and one marching. I think both would be great for LOA. Also, I noticed that their grenadier figures look compatible with LOA styles.

I have to admit, those command sets from Khurasan look pretty cool. I just discovered that Khurasan added a "Second Ensign" to the mix that would be splendid for LOA. What do you think?

Cheers!

Gallo

After some research and thinking, I've come to the conclusion that a War of the Spanish Succession drummer would do just fine in a battalion representing the War of the League of Augsburg. Tricornes were quite common, even at the beginning of the LOA period. Chances are, I will bend up the brims of the round hats on the majority of rank and file figures to form informal tricornes, so a tricorne on the drummer figure would not be out of place. I can get single drummer figures for WSS from a couple different sources. Also, the "Second Ensign" figures from Khurasan are also not packaged in a command group so those should be no problem.

Cheers!

Gallo

Thanks to the gallant folks at Khurasan Miniatures, my LOA drummer problem has been solved. Khurasan has just come out with two more sets of miniatures, their latest additions to the 15mm "Late 17th Century" range. They now have Louis XIV era French infantry charging, complete with shoulder ribbons and plug bayonets and a new command group that has the officer, ensign and drummer all in informal tricorns and the longer sleeved coat common in the 1690s. Photographs and other information about these figures are available on their website here:

link

Look in the Late 17th Century French section. The new figures have the title "Furia Francese" at the end of their description. I think they look great and am anxious to get my hands on some.

Cheers!

Gallo