Like many of my age cohort, I came into the miniatures wargaming hobby via Airfix 1/72 scale soft plastic figures. Later, ESCI and Italeri figures were added for a variety of periods. Those were the early days. Once I discovered metal figures, I set off in a new direction and, really, rarely looked back. Long gone are several large boxes of plastic Napoleonics and Zulus. Until recently, that is.
A return to plastics (hard plastics, that is) began with a recent dabble into Perry Miniatures' War of the Roses figures. By now, I have built up enough to field two standard armies for the period. These armies still await their first battle.
OK. That dipped my toe back into the plastic ocean.
Having fought a number of battles over the last two years hosted by a HUGE advocate for soft plastic toy soldiers (Graham, I am talking to you), I figured it time to head out on a small diversionary expedition of my own. If nothing else, I can see what the figures look like up close when the view from the webcam is small and fuzzy.
With a semi-regular foray into gaming the War of Spanish Succession remotely, the WSS seemed a reasonable test ground. At Graham's encouragement, I ordered three boxes of Strelets French dragoons in both mounted (two boxes) and dismounted (one box). From three boxes, I could field two dragoon regiments of twelve figures each in both mounted and dismounted formation.
Reviews for these figures can be found at Plastic Soldier Review for
As the reviews illustrate, the figures are quite nice and posing good. There is some flash and trim-up required but the figures look good to my eye. I am especially impressed by the dismounted dragoon set of figures. Excellent variety of poses and the horse holder with three horses is a superb addition.
After consultation with another blogger (thanks, Tony!) on uniform details for several potential dragoon regiments, I settled upon painting Regiment Villegagnon for the first of two regiments. The figures paint up easily and I am happy with the results.
Is this the start of a new project? Unlikely, but one should never say never...
