French Grenadiers Expeditionary Force WWII British, Scott is back with information on Expeditionary Force new figures. Also, we get an update on future releases.
French Grenadiers Expeditionary Force WWII British Introduction
Greetings from Singapore!
Very pleased to inform you of the release of two new sets in the “54mm Napoleonic Wars – French Imperial Guard” series.
54 IPG 01 Old Guard Grenadiers (Foot)
54 PNF 01 Line Grenadiers in shako (see below)
All models are supplied unpainted.
To recap, the planned sets for the Imperial Guard series are as follows:-
IPG 01 Old Guard Grenadiers (this release)
IPG 02 Horse Grenadiers (already released)
IPG 03 Guard Command (sculpted)
IPG 04 Guard Foot Artillery (sculpted)
Due to the similarities of the uniforms from the period 1804 to 1815, we have expanded the above series with added options for Peninsular War French (1808-1814 in shako) and the earlier French Regiments in bicorne (1804-1807).
The planned sets for the Peninsular War French (1808-1814) PNF series are as follows:-
PNF 01 Line Grenadiers in shako (this release)
PNF 02 Mounted Gendarmes in peaked bearskin cap (sculpted)
PNF 03 Line Command in shako (sculpted)
PNF 04 Line Foot Artillery in shako (sculpted)
PNF 05 Line Fusiliers in shako (sculpted)
There will be a future release of box-set options for the British Peninsular Army with Spanish and Portuguese elements.
The planned sets for the earlier French Regiments on bicorne (1805-1807) series (Austerlitz to Friedland) are as follows:-
BCF 01 Line Grenadiers in bicorne (sculpted) (to be released later, as the extra accessories are in different toolings)
BCF 02 Heavy Cavalry in bicorne (sculpted)
BCF 03 Line Command in bicorne (sculpted)
BCF 04 Line Foot Artillery in bicorne (sculpted)
BCF 05 Line Fusiliers in bicorne (sculpted)
We have plans to release a series of Egyptian Mamluk box-sets for the Battle of the Pyramids 1798 period to match the above.
Hope the above information is of interest.
54 IPG 01 Old Guard Grenadiers (Foot)
For customers who are interested in model size, the Grenadiers are deliberately sculpted to a slightly bigger size as compared to the line infantrymen. Note that the base is 2mm thick.
The Foot Grenadiers’ uniforms are based on the national guard uniform regulations of 1791 with the long-tailed coat (habit long) with lapels closed at the chest and split at the lower portion, exposing the waistcoat. They wear knee-breeches protected by gaiters reaching above the knees. This classic late 18th-century dress is retained by the Old Guard all the way to the end of the Napoleonic period in 1815. For the regiments of the line though, this long coat is replaced in 1812 by the Bardin regulations.
54 PNF 01 Line Grenadiers in shako, Peninsular War French (1808-1814)
If the shako is replaced with one with an Eagle plate, these models can also be made to represent the Middle Guards.
The models for these series of box sets are all sculpted and will be in the production queue.
Cavalry in bicorne for Marengo and mounted gendarmes for the peninsular war. Of course, the hussars and lancers are all usable for these periods.
The Next Release
The next set to be released is from the 54mm WW2 Pacific War range – British at Far East series, with the Infantry Rifles Assault Section. This set is already in toolings and should see release in October 2021.
There will be options for turtle helmets, bush hats, and Indian turbans in addition to the Brodie helmets of the previous release.
Instead of starting on our Biblical wars range as planned, there are operational problems in our China warehouse (serious lack of space) which await my return to sort them out. It is all that we can do to continue with our new releases without too much disruption in the meantime.
We will look into releasing the remaining supplementary sets to existing ranges during this period. These include:-
War of 1812 US cavalry, artillery and command; Canadian voltigeurs, cavalry, artillery and mission Indians; Royal navy and pirates; and the series of sets related to the Alamo scenario.
We will continue with our medieval range expansion with men-at-arms in chainmail armor straddling 13th -14th centuries, foot and mounted (with the Hospitaller order in mind), scots schiltron, swiss halberdiers, and Spanish almogavar before going into the Islamic world.
We will commence with the Biblical Wars once I get back into the driver’s seat.
Looking forward to your kind support.
Stay safe.
Cheers,
Scott
Any Info on any thing new from “Chintoys”??
will they have janissaries to go with there mamelukes or some form of infantry? Because when they say mamelukes they usually mean cavalry
He is referring to Egyptian Mamluk for the 1799/1801 period wars .By them Egypt had become almost independent from the declining rule of Turkey and janissaries were almost of not existence .If he does janissaries will be for the wars of renascence period most likely that he say he will cover in future as well .
He may or not do Egyptian Turks light infantry to go with mamluk cavalry for the 1798-1801 war battles maybe .
What a great time to be collecting toy soldiers! Soooo many great new ones coming out. The Napoleonics look like they have really fun diorama potential in particular.
Like the variety of headgear for the Pacific theater Brits/Commonwealth. Looking forward to the Medieval in chainmail, hopefully it includes crossbowman. Being 60mm they should fit nicely with Chintoys recent Crusaders series.
The French Grenadiers are – as usual – excellent sculpts and figures. It appears though they might be too large to be compatible with my other French Imperial Guard and Grenadiers from Airfix, HaT, or even Timpo – which I’d love to put them in with to supplement. Great figures, though. I like the Commonwealth figures too, but I know they’re too large for my purposes.
Yes they will looks as super trooper in steroid .EFX it is more the body build max of figures than high the issue versus traditional 54 mm ,they are made very thick ,same in weapons .Definitely not with Airfix ,ESCI .They may pass a bit better with AIP and some HAT may be but not perfect blend either .They go great with CHINTOY,SUPREME and others
Well that’s nice to know I got some chin toys and AIP plus tssd and planning on getting some ex force. but i’m not all that picky on height. For example I’m 6’3 and my best friend is 5’5 people are different heights
I agree in your point ,I have always mentioned that and at a single army squad of 10 men barely none has exact same size as other ,let along at platoon unit . Unfortunately some collector think that either every person has to be either 6’3 or 5’5 in entire battlefield . To me as far the figure weapons same models are not disproportionally too different in scale they can blend perfect in my field games .There is a reason why hats, shakos and helmets were made in many different scale .By instance during 1806-1812 period ,shakos suffer 3 main variation in high and minor design changes- .1810,1812 and 1813 ,during shortest in material the grande armee order all standard line and light infantry shakos to be reduced in high also so is perfectly fine see often different high shakos in French and their allied as they may carry old (Taller ) Shakos or later (shorter) during material reduction ordnance of this period .So in that period along there were 3 high different sizes production .
Also after Bardin ordnance again tunics ,coats ,caps and hats were reduced considerable and plumes ,pompon and even the epaulettes reduced or complete taken away .This could be seen in film Waterloo where extras are correct depicted with line/ light infantry caring newer shorted hats and few units still with older taller as well .Grenadiers veterans /guard often kept the old cap but when need replace it as too damaged ,specially late Napoleonic war period (1813-1815) were given a newer produced short bearskin cap version as well .Above statements about Grenadiers tunic, coat and shakos did not suffer variation is not quite correct for that period at all.
They did suffer reduction material from 1813-1815 too as testament shown different sizes at several museums well preserved .Also the adorn, plumes ,cords were often taken in late period off grenadiers caps.
To add more there were least 5 different bearskin cap sizes since 1801.At Waterloo or 100 days camping because shortest of material about half grenadiers and imperial guard wore regular shako ,not bearskin caps .
Another example we got with many helmets .
In WW2 the German M35/40 or Stahlhelm of WW 2 period were officially mass produced in 5 different size scales of shell as well .With helmet shell size range from 60 to 68 cm and inner liner from 52 to 58 cm .Germans helmet production was by far the more complex as spend more time on sizes of the helmets while US M1 has not different sizes in WW2 but rather inside liner adjustment system. More practical for mass production but a bit cumbersome for soldiers during the use of it .
my thoughts
While height differences are true, the weapons would still be the same size.
Yep, pretty much I say above same .
(To me as far the figure weapons same models are not disproportionally too different in scale they can blend perfect in my field games)