Expeditionary Forces Napoleonic French Army Are Coming, we have the latest information from Scott. This time it is a French Army set for the Napoleonic Wars. Also, Scott shows some previews. Note, I get the dealer’s email so we will have more information when the consumer email comes out.
Expeditionary Forces Napoleonic French Army
Greetings from Singapore!
Very pleased to inform you of the release of three new sets in the “54mm Napoleonic Wars – French Army” series.
54 PNF 05 Peninsular War French Line Fusiliers in shako (1808 – 1814)
54 BCF 01 Line Grenadiers in bicorne (1805 – 1807)
54 BCF 05 Line Fusiliers in bicorne (1805 – 1807)
IPG 01 Old Guard Grenadiers (already released)
IPG 02 Horse Grenadiers (already released)
IPG 03 Guard Command (expected release January 2022)
IPG 04 Guard Foot Artillery (sculpted)
The planned sets for the Peninsular War French (1808-1814) PNF series are as follows:-
PNF 01 Line Grenadiers in shako (already released)
PNF 02 Mounted Gendarmes in peaked bearskin cap (sculpted)
PNF 03 Line Command in shako (expected release January 2022)
PNF 04 Line Foot Artillery in shako (sculpted)
PNF 05 Line Fusiliers in shako (this release)
BCF 01 Line Grenadiers in bicorne (this release)
BCF 02 Heavy Cavalry in bicorne (expected release January 2022)
BCF 03 Line Command in bicorne (expected release January 2022)
BCF 04 Line Foot Artillery in bicorne (sculpted)
BCF 05 Line Fusiliers in bicorne (this release)
Hope the above information is of interest. The ones in bold are already released
54 PNF 05 Line Fusiliers in shako (1808 – 1814)
The set contains 9 model soldiers comprising of 1 officer and 8 fusiliers. The heads and arms are interchangeable to enable the assembly of different action poses.
There are a number of significant differences in the appearance of the fusiliers as opposed to the Grenadiers that require us to do new sculpts and toolings.
Grenadiers are taller and wear mustache.
Shako replaces the bicorne in 1808. Shako plumes and cords are abolished in 1810.
Fusiliers do not have fringed epaulettes.
Fusiliers have only one shoulder cross-belt for the cartridge bullets; with the bayonet scabbard attached.
We kept the same postures as grenadiers as the different companies often move in unison in battle. They are designed as i) defensive firing line and ii) advancing.
54 BCF 01 Line Grenadiers in bicorne (1805-1807)
The basic models are the same as that in 54 IPG 01 except for the heads and ammo pouch.
The 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 only replaced in 1812 by the Bardin regulations.
1. the more rigid ancien-regime style which we have adopted for these grenadiers (see above); and
2. the jaunty fore-and-aft style of the revolution which we have adopted for the fusiliers (see next section below).
54 BCF 05 Line Fusiliers in bicorne (1805 – 1807)
The set contains 9 model soldiers comprising of 1 officer and 8 fusiliers. The heads and arms are interchangeable to enable the assembly of different action poses.
The basic models are the same as that in 54 PNF 05 above except for the heads and backpacks. For soldiers before 1807, the greatcoat is not issued and thus the backpack is without the rolled greatcoat.
Thus, we have to produce backpacks without the rolled great coat for these soldiers of the earlier period.
The queue is supposed to be abolished in the formation of La Grande Armee at Boulogne around 1804-1805 but was fiercely resisted by the men. Many continued with the fashion up to 1807 with the Imperial Guard keeping it all the way to 1815.
On the simple principle that it is easier to cut than to sculpt, we decided to keep the queue for these soldiers. This also facilitates these soldiers for service back to the 18th century.
Expeditionary Forces Napoleonic French Future Releases
The next set to be released is from the 54mm WW2 Pacific War range – British at Far East series, with the Machine-Gun Section. This set is already in toolings and should see release in December 2021.
The sets to be released in December are as follows:-
54 BFE 01-S Scottish Infantry attacking (Balmoral cap)
54 BFE 03 British Machine-Gun Section (Brodie helmet, plain)
54 AST 02 Australian Infantry in Defence (Slouch hats)
54 AST 03 Australian Machine-Gun Section (pinned Slouch hats)
54 IND 02 Indian Infantry in Defence (turban)
54 IND 03 Indian Machine-Gun Section (turban)
Some of the latest shots of our Medieval Supplementary sets, Mounted Knight in Chain-mail.
Looking forward to your kind support.
Stay safe.
Cheers,
Scott
The Medieval Supplement sets will fit nicely with Chintoys Templars, Hospitallers and Teutonic Crusaders, TSSD Sherrif’s Men and 60mm Marx Knights, No Name and others
The knight looks too large for his mount. Medieval knights are usually depicted riding large war horses which were bred up for the purpose. This knight would be at a serious disadvantage in actual battle. The sculpting is great, though.
That was just theoretically only. In reality and practicality depend in how much you have to afford a horse .Knights were in may classes ,ranks .Early knights were in first century considered lower nobility and many in first two century not nobles at all. Knights some were poor ,some middle lower class, others acquired more power within time and else Knights has to buy his own entire equipment himself included horse or horses ,some could afford several mounts some barely could afford one mild class horse or else .Narrative and books depiction of era are often comical and exaggerated unfortunately .In many films the depiction is that of jousting-tournament well care horses .In real war many just used wherever was available and knights often start a campaign in one horse and end with out it unless could capture or buy another During crusades most knights arrived with out any European horse to destination before even get chance use one at any action or most died in short time after arriving forcing most knights use or procure wherever they find from even small asian /Africans horses or even mid ponies to camels and low class horses with only the most lucky good Arabians or middle easter horses.
However and more important …
The mounted figure made by EXF is riding a classical simple war horse call “courser” not from high ranking knights as not decors ,ornated else plus more importantly depict an early knight style that in many cases lacked the use of highly quality large horses .The knight is from late XII to mid XIII centuries in full Chain mail armored and closed helmet .During these centuries early knights rarely armor- protect their horses as carry lighter riders in chain mail and that is why used shorter spears or lances as well because the weight heavy charger horses and armored rider was not developed yet .The courser horses were specially breed as light ,stronger and faster at same time but not larger bulky or taller .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courser_(horse)
By late XIII and early XIV century with massively introduction of heavy plate armor for riders warriors ,soldiers ,sergeant and knights the horse required to be stronger and that is why seen larger horses from that era depiction to carry the far more heavier armored knights .This was the era of predominant heavy massive European armored knights charging in far more protected armored and larger horses with also the extension of far larger spears lances as well as in order to kill infantry or mounted enemy from far distance .
So the more adorned , armored and robust traditional horses come from early XIV century to early XVI centuries or late medieval period and generally nor before.
I notice the mounted figure has a Surcoat, mostly all Toy Soldiers of this era have a Crusader-like cross etched on the Surcoat. It looks like this figure may not have the cross which will be ideal to use in all the internal wars of Western Europe like the Baron uprising, Welsh and Scot Wars, the many English-French Wars and Robin Hood, Ivanhoe scenarios. If someone wants them for the Crusades the cross can easily be painted on.
Good observation and point .Agree ,very generic made to be suitable for all over place wars .