Old Glory 15's FRW French Infantry
Off the painting desk today are three battalions of French Line infantry for the 1799 project. Each battalion has 13 figures. The mounted colonel is a product of AB. The foot figures are sourced from Old Glory 15s. These troops muster out as the 8th Demi-Brigade.
Old Glory 15s/19th Century Miniatures released a number of packs for their growing French Revolutionary Wars range in summer of 2019. Without doubt, I ordered a number of packs to expand my 1799 project. When I received the figures, I was underwhelmed by the sculpting on the infantry but was happy to add more variety to the project. Still, I put the handful of bags away to paint another day.
Figures are a bit spindly with thin legs and bayonets. The infantry give the impression of hard campaigners who have marched too many miles and missed too many meals. Scrawny little fellows. Given their condition, I wonder how they might endure the rigors of campaigning on the tabletop. Although wobbly at the ankles, my basing scheme ought to provide sufficient protection for the unit as a whole.
At the end of 2019, Old Glory 15s announced that the French infantry would be replaced with new sculpts. Those purchasing figures of the Mk I variety could request replacements for free. Without hesitation, I sent off an email requesting replacement of my June order. I few weeks later, the figures arrived.
As seen from the figures below, the new figures are much more robust than the Mk I releases. Bayonets and legs are now solidly built. Sculpting quality is improved as well.
The arrival of replacements provided the motivation needed to try my hand at painting the original sculpts. The results are satisfactory but somewhat rough. Will they hold up to the demands of the gaming table? Time will tell. For comparison, I ought to push a similar number of the new sculpts into the painting queue although the queue, at present, is quite long.
They do look like seasoned campaigners! Great units Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteSeasoned veterans, for sure! Thank you.
DeleteExcellent line infantry Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mike!
DeleteA nice project and a wonderful job!
ReplyDeleteMerci, mon ami!
Delete39 figures is another big batch to paint. From the photo, I like them as they seem rather well proportioned, but of course that counts for zilch if the poor fellows snap their ankles. It is surprising how camera shots and what the naked eye sees can be different (I know this because all my stuff are masterpieces to my older eyes until photographed and the cruel sharpness of digital photography reveals all! :-) ).
ReplyDeleteThe new sculpts do look reassuringly robust. How do you handle your bases, would it be possible to mix the sculpts on the base with the newer sculpts in those positions where your fingers naturally fall and the weaker chaps out of the way.
Thanks, Norm. The figures are well-proportioned but a bit fragile. One of the complaints Old Glory 15s shared was that breakage at the ankles was frequent. The new sculpts should not share that same fate.
DeleteMost of my figures do not look like masterpieces even to my naked eye but some are better than others. I found these figures difficult to paint.
As for base handling, I try to pick up the stand by the base edges but often end up grabbing the base edge and the outside figures. Putting the more robust figures on the outside tends to help reduce breakage is a practical idea. The problem with these figures is that I MUST put the grenadiers on the right.
The original (sub standard) figures look pretty good to me Jonathon...nice ethics from OG just offering replacements to anyone who had bought the originals...you end up getting two for the price of one and as I say, the originals look pretty nice after they have received attention from your brush!
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Keith! You are spot on regarding Old Glory's ethos. They did the right thing and I received two for the price of one. They did not want the originals back.
DeleteI have always found the people at OG great to deal with..I think I mentioned they have let me swap out the "signing up" special with the Army Card for a pack of figures I actually wanted on several different occasions. Always great Comms from Teresa and Connie too
DeleteThis Old Glory (Old Glory 15s/19th Century Miniatures) is a separate company than Old Glory (or Old Glory 25s). It is confusing but Old Glory 15s bought the original Old Glory's 15mm lines many years ago. Then Old Glory (the original) began making 15mm figures under the Blue Moon label.
DeleteThe original Old Glory with Teresa and Connie have been terrific to work with over the years.
Lovely unit Jonathan! They do seem delicate at the ankles but with such large bases they should be able to take a decent amount of handling. Those new sculpts are superb though. Kudos to OG for their free replacement policy.
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind, Mike. After seeing your latest brilliant works, I am sometimes embarrassed to show mine.
DeleteThe new sculpts are much improved over the originals and I look fowrad to slapping some paint on a few to test.
Embarrassed? You should never be! I am utterly unable to produce the quantities of most bloggers including yourself and on the table the masses of units cancel out the painting quality anyway so at the end of the day I’m the one holding the wrong end of the stick haha
DeleteWow! These are looking very impressive in such a group of units. Very well done.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Andre'! i have a unit for the SYW in the pipeline.
DeleteThree units, very impressive output as always. The MkI's do look to have delicate ankles, with the MkII's much more robust and dare I say it better sculpts?.
ReplyDeleteThanks much, Steve! I think the MKIIs are better than MKIs. I will know more once I paint a few of the MKIIs.
DeleteThose look great man, can't wait to see them in action!
ReplyDeleteV/R,
Jack
Thanks, Jack! I have plans for a 1797-1800 battle on the desk. Maybe Rivoli?
DeleteSounds cool, and I shall look forward to it, though I must admit that I do not know much about revolutionary-era Napoleonic wars.
DeleteV/R,
Jack
Beautiful unit Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThey look great and you can't tell they have spindly ankles when they are based and flocked like that.Nothing worse than a figure snapping off at the ankles as I always think they are the most difficult to repair. Great offer from Old Glory.
ReplyDeleteThanks! The old Freikorps 15s had a tendency to snap at the ankle before their alloy was changed.
DeleteFreikorps in the early 80s had a very high antimony content in their alloy that gave very sharp detail, but was extremely brittle. I suspect that it was very cheap too since it had the same characteristics as type metal and the early 80s was about the time that big print outfits moved from metal to digital typesetting.
DeleteExcellent detail to add to the Freikorps 15s story, Mark!
DeleteMighty fine French, Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteYou are very kind, Dean!
DeleteVery much like the overall effect of the Mk1 Demi-Brigade! Of course, the temptation to "upgrade" the collection upon release of new figures is a powerful one (as if our compulsion needed much prompting).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ed! These figures will serve the colors for a long time. No plan to replace them with the MKII figures. Expect the proportion of MKII figures to increase while the MKI will likely not see any more reinforcements than what are already lingering in The Lead Pile. Most figures for this project are AB but it is fun to add a variety of manufacturers into any project.
DeleteNice work Jonathan. I have three battalions of these in 28mm waiting to be based.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I look forward to seeing your work.
DeleteGreat work Jonathan and a productive session or two 👍
ReplyDeleteThank you! These three battalions took more than a session or two...
DeleteThe mounted officer certainly gives the units a nice look.
ReplyDeleteThe AB mounted colonels are excellent sculpts with facial features having much character.
Delete15mm Napoleonics always look great when someone like yourself has had toe patience to make them look this good.
ReplyDeletePerhaps one day I'll give that era a go, but those uniforms are so fiddly...
You are most kind! Perhaps you should tackle a Napoleonics project? You know you want to start.
DeleteExcellent looking unit, scrawny for the period is probably accurate with revolutionary supply lines! The new sculpts look even better and excellent public relations on old glorys behalf!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thank you, Iain! Scrawny and beaten up is appropriate attire for these troops, for sure. THe new sculpts do look nice!
DeleteVery fine new additions to your forces Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thank you!
DeleteThere are too many companies called old glory that I find it hard to keep them straight. I use old glory 25s and even their miniatures across the lines is varied.
ReplyDeleteBut never the less these guys look good and should be a nice addition. Hopefully these more delicate soldiers will get tender handling. 😀
Yes, the various Old Glory companies have caused much confusion over the years. I have finally figured them out.
DeleteThese more delicate figures should be handled with kid gloves. How many games before I have a casualty? We will see.
The new units look just fine; hopefully durability will be acceptable with a little care in handling.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like these fellows, Peter!
DeleteGood looking group. I agree on using unit basing to protect the sculpts. I was organizing my Adler 6mm French, and only the unit stands prevented my from snapping off piles of bayonets.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Bayonets can pose a problem, for sure. Some of the AB figures have especially thin bayonets and care must be taken in handling.
DeleteHi Jonathan, what rules are you using for these? I do like battalions based on single bases.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Lee.
Hi Lee! At present, I am using rules of my own design.
DeleteAh, I love a homebrew! I'm looking at doing the April part of the 1809 Danube campaign, am looking for an alternative to Blucher to get the granularity, without going full column line square etc. Thanks for the quick reply.
ReplyDelete