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Post by Prince August on Sept 16, 2004 11:24:30 GMT
Tell us your opinion in this matter. We want to hear it. We are going to be deciding soon so don't delay. YOUR vote counts.
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Post by lensman on Sept 17, 2004 17:21:14 GMT
While I find the new “At Ease” figures charming and will no doubt add some to my collection I simply cannot fathom why I would want to buy a whole set of molds which I would only use once. One campfire scene or one tavern scene is about all I need.
On the other hand I desperately need opponents for my French army! I am currently using the Italeri Austrians because they are the right size but they are no way near as nice as my Prince August French army. Please, please, please make some other figures besides French and British!!! I seem to recall that there were other countries involved and it would sure be nice to be able to represent them. Austrians, Prussians, Russians, Bavarians ANYONE EXCEPT THE BLOODY BRITISH!!! This is not a knock at the Brits it is simply that they have been done to death by everyone and their brother. And worse than the plethora of British troops is the insistence of most companies to limit themselves to the Waterloo campaign as though that was the only battle of the quarter century of warfare inaugurated by the French Revolution worth doing. Since the Prince August moulds represent pre 1812 uniforms it would make sense to offer pre 1812 opponents!
Prince August would be doing the world, and themselves, a huge favor by making a few figures of other country’s troops. As much as I like the off the wall nature of such odd ball units as the 88th demi-brigade of the line or the French Legion Nautique face it, there is really very little they can be used for. Stick to meat and potatoes figures like line infantry and generic cavalry. Since the Austrians were France’s most consistent opponents it might be a good idea to do them, particularly lancers (which could also double as French) and Cuirassiers (which could converted into cavalry for a number of nations). Even their infantry could be converted to many Germanic armies.
One of the greatest joys of casting one’s own figures is the ability to make large armies and one of the best uses for those large armies is war gaming. Prince August would be well advised to cater a little to that market.
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Post by ferrarimodena on Sept 17, 2004 18:10:36 GMT
Hallo my name is Marcel de Koning and I come from Holland. I collect the Napoleonic toy soldiers of Prince August.
I agree that the Napoleonig serie does not have Prussian, Dutch, Russian or Austrian troops. So I think it would be a great gain for the Napoleonic series to add these Nationalities.
But I also miss British cavalery and artillery. So that would be a great gain too! The French collection is very complete, but the British collection isn't.
When I think of British cavalery, I think of the 1st Life Guards who fought at Waterloo. Further more the 12th Prince of Wales's Light Dragoons and the 15th King's Light Dragoons (Hussars). I also would like to see the Royal Artillery to be added!
When I think of the Dutch troops who fought at Waterloo, I think of 'de Gele rijders' (The Yellow Riders(artillery))and 'de Huzaren van Boreel' (The Hussars of Boreel(cavalery))
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Post by frank on Sept 17, 2004 20:18:25 GMT
why not have some english horse artillery....being drawn by their horses......I can make english artilery by using the moulds of the brithish infantry and arms from the french line infantry....but to have the horse artillery dashing with the guns behind them would be a good addition....some austrians would be good too or a set of heads with different hats or uncovered would go a long way to create variety...
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Post by Robert on Sept 18, 2004 1:58:05 GMT
There are very few companies that offer molds like PA, and I know developing new ones is time consuming. Maybe PA should consider developing aternative pieces such as head and equipment, as the Imperial Guard molds could be used as other French units. I would also encourage PA to develop a complete line, such as they have with the Imperial Guard (Several poses available) However there seems to be a tendency to produce different units (sets of three). It would be nice to have British units firing.
For what it's worth I applaude PA for the web page and their continued development of molds
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Post by wheezer on Sept 18, 2004 7:08:34 GMT
TEXTHello... ...my name is wheezer...I'm a big fan of Prince August...I can't seem to get the lead out to the rifles...the figures come out looking like the soldiers are carrying a loaf of bread... ...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...in the emperors service.....wheezer
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obee
PA Private
Posts: 1
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Post by obee on Sept 18, 2004 13:23:57 GMT
I'd just love to be able to complete the French Grenadier Guards band. I think that this wouldn't bee too hard to make, as the basic bandsman is already made, so the saaitional instruments could be made in a couple of moulds. A new bandsman would be needed with a shoulder sling to carry the drums, and maybe the Jingling Johnny, so this could need a second set of moulds, but this would complete this wonderful set. One more figure that is alo needed is a fifier, but with the bearskin hat, just like the drummer from set 80-1. An addition could be a busby head, that way the band could be painted as the 3rd Regt or Dutch Grenadiers, which have sky blue and yesllow uniforms... very colourful. Could the moderator please give feedback ? John PS check out my painting here... www.upnaway.com/~obees/soldiers/napoleon.htm
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Post by luftys on Sept 18, 2004 17:29:20 GMT
TEXTHello... ...my name is wheezer...I'm a big fan of Prince August...I can't seem to get the lead out to the rifles...the figures come out looking like the soldiers are carrying a loaf of bread... ...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...in the emperors service.....wheezer I cut a small v in mould to let the air out,others drill small holes
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Post by Prince August on Sept 20, 2004 21:04:32 GMT
TEXTHello... ...my name is wheezer...I'm a big fan of Prince August...I can't seem to get the lead out to the rifles...the figures come out looking like the soldiers are carrying a loaf of bread... ...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...in the emperors service.....wheezer I think you need to send in a photo of the problem cast so I can show our tool room. They have been casting for 20 years and know whats what. Our tutorial covers casting in it entirity ( I think so but if you feel otherwise then let me know what needs more info then I will make a tutorial to explain it.) Make sure the mould is not damp and that the metal is at the correct temp - this helps the flow of the metal and ususally makes a neat casting. Send the image of the problem and a description of what metal you use and what you did to cast and we can fill in any blanks as it were. It may be something like a venting that will make the rifles fill out.
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Post by Prince August on Sept 20, 2004 21:14:57 GMT
I'd just love to be able to complete the French Grenadier Guards band. I think that this wouldn't bee too hard to make, as the basic bandsman is already made, so the saaitional instruments could be made in a couple of moulds. A new bandsman would be needed with a shoulder sling to carry the drums, and maybe the Jingling Johnny, so this could need a second set of moulds, but this would complete this wonderful set. One more figure that is alo needed is a fifier, but with the bearskin hat, just like the drummer from set 80-1. An addition could be a busby head, that way the band could be painted as the 3rd Regt or Dutch Grenadiers, which have sky blue and yesllow uniforms... very colourful. Could the moderator please give feedback ? John PS check out my painting here... www.upnaway.com/~obees/soldiers/napoleon.htmI would show all the comments to my bosses and we in November will decide what we will release in 2005. The info you provide will be invaluable for not only 2005 but 2006 and further on. The painting is excellent on your website - I am well aware of your site as Marjorie raves about it in the Office and I have spent time looking at the huge collection of figures you have collected there. Lars Edman is the owner of PA and he decides with Chris and other dept heads what is coming out next. I have my say as head of my dept and make sure they see your comments. I ran a similar forum for Mithril and it has worked very well. We pushed for the Oliphaunt and now it is being released finally. Wishes granted.
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Post by lensman on Sept 20, 2004 22:49:47 GMT
It occurs to me that Prince August already has at least one set of figures already sculpted which, if released as molds, would sell like hot cakes. I refer of course to the Legion Irelandaise, which are available through your web site only as painted figures. Does the company have a special arraignment with Edmah or are you free to make these figures available? Although I can get a similar effect by combining the 80-1 bodies with heads from the 80-14 the shouldered musket arm and the shorter leggings make this figure extremely useful to anyone building a wargame army.
Another figure which would be of great help would be a line infantryman in a greatcoat. There is a wonderful illustration of what can be done with such a figure on John O’Brien’s lovely website. Since, with a head swap, they could double for the soldiers of many different nations they would go a long way towards solving the lack of opponents problem. Although they are available as pre-casts from Irregular I am sure that everyone on this board would prefer to get them from Prince August.
On another topic has the company ever considered selling individual molds? I know that many of the sets contain only one, or at best two, figures I want and having to buy all three just to get the one reduces the likelihood that I will buy any, not a good thing for the company! For example while I lust after the kneeling figure in 80-5 I refuse to buy it because I would only end up chucking the other two molds in the trash! Sorry but those are dreadful poses.
Even when all the poses are equally good, as is the case with my beloved 80-1, I tend to pour 15 of the infantryman for every officer, drummer or standard bearer out of the 80-7 set I cast, which means that this mold will wear out long before the others and need to be replaced. By the way it was only the absolute necessity of having the standard bearer, plus the fact that I got the set cheap from a friend, that induced me to buy 80-7 in the first place. While the bands are charming this is definitely a case where I would prefer to buy pre cast figures rather than plunk for the whole set.
In closing I would like to renew my call for soldiers from other countries and for figures with a lot of conversion potential. Looking at the Bavarian figures on John O’Brien’s site it occurs to me that the style of tunic they are wearing was widely used by a number of countries and, if you were to offer it plus a mold with a variety of heads, it would most likely be the best seller you ever had.
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Post by Frank S on Sept 21, 2004 17:05:49 GMT
Hello everyone.
I already posted in the other thread before I noticed this one, but I agree with the majority here that some adversaries to the French troops would be very nice.
My main suggestion however would be that regardless of what type of units you add to the mold series please be conscious of the fact that individuals purchasing these molds are likely going to cast more than one or two of the figures. Consequentially standard poses which are conducive to massive formations are far more desirable than solitary figures in oddly unique poses.
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Post by wolfe on Sept 21, 2004 17:36:49 GMT
Can you guys add the austrian grenadier?
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Post by lensman on Sept 21, 2004 18:36:46 GMT
Can you guys add the austrian grenadier? Better yet how about a set of Austrian bodies in standard poses conducive to mass formations and a set of three different heads--the bearskin of the grenadiers, the helmet of the line troops and the distinctive hat of the light infantry with one side pinned up? Since the cavalry used the same helmet as the infantry, at least in the early years, it would be invaluable for converting cavalry and the light infantry hat was worn by quite a few other countries. If the poses are not too extreme they could even double as artillerymen, with a few changes.
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Post by Prince August on Sept 22, 2004 8:33:21 GMT
It occurs to me that Prince August already has at least one set of figures already sculpted which, if released as molds, would sell like hot cakes. I refer of course to the Legion Irelandaise, which are available through your web site only as painted figures. Does the company have a special arraignment with Edman or are you free to make these figures available? We are also the owners of The Edman Collection www.edmancollection.comWE sell the painted versions and so selling the moulds might counter the sales on that site. But that decision could change. The Managers here are very interested in this forum and have poured over the posts with great intensity and debate on what we should make next has risen to new heights. So 80-26 could well be an Austrian line infantryman set if things go my way (and yours). WE do prefer to release a set of 3 moulds. We are sorry that you feel some of our past choices were not ideal and may have caused you to refuse to buy some of the sets. The cast version option was in part to help people out in that regard. keep your votes and opinions and suggestions coming.
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