Help requested: What's next for Hinterland?

[Sterling Moose]

While I fully agree with the aesthetic attraction of the side saddle they would be good for a parade pose but useless in the charge.  But it is VSF so who cares!!!! 

[Tommy20]

The hussars, like the photos of the Princess, should have a saddle cloth.

For British hussars (at least in the princess' time), shabraques would be limited to the officers.  Did German hussar troopers have them?

Absolutely agree with everything else Ray posted.  Horse with saddle, separate rider.

[mpennock]

Option A would be my preference. Horse with saddle, seperate rider.

[Mancha]

Perhaps voluminous skirts will solve the problems I envisioned.  I'll certainly consider all my alternatives before having cavalry made.

By the way, while the pointed saddlecloth (shabraque) was used on parade, a much more ulilitarian sadlecloth and saddle were used on campaign.  While I intend my mounted Princess to have the pointed version, other cavalry would have the more usual, square saddlecloth.

[fantail]

Alot of people seem to like the idea of side saddle cavalry. Perhaps you don't need to sell horses at all. If you sold side saddle figures designed to fit on another manufacturers horses eg: front rank http://www.frontrank.com/lev4_2_11_0_Napoleonic_Horses.asp or perhaps for perry plastic horses then the cost of getting the figure sculpted would/should be the same as a foot figure and then if someone wanted to place them on Raptors etc then they could do so. Just a though.

[Geudens]

Alot of people seem to like the idea of side saddle cavalry. Perhaps you don't need to sell horses at all. If you sold side saddle figures designed to fit on another manufacturers horses eg: front rank http://www.frontrank.com/lev4_2_11_0_Napoleonic_Horses.asp or perhaps for perry plastic horses then the cost of getting the figure sculpted would/should be the same as a foot figure and then if someone wanted to place them on Raptors etc then they could do so. Just a though.

If the saddles' metal is thin (= flexible) enough in the right place, one might bend'm in- or outwards (worked with the old Hinchliffes) to fit the horses of a number of manufacturers (or raptors for that matter).  Just adding to your idea...

Rudi

[frontal assault]

Cavalry would be nice, as would conversion packs, but I suppose that all depends on cost and ease of production.

Personally I'd like a gun crew and some sergeant models.

[Froggy the Great]

Upcoming releases (in a month or so, I hope):

1)   Skirmishers: Five-figure group, rushing forward
2)   Maxim Crew: Three-figure group, firing Maxim

Mancha, do you have an update on this?  Your fans (ok, at least this one fan) are/is fairly eager.

[Mancha]

Mancha, do you have an update on this?  Your fans (ok, at least this one fan) are/is fairly eager.

Well, the masters were supposed to be on their way to me early this week.  I just wrote to my caster asking after their status.  Once I get them, I will okay them and return them for final casting.  Probably another couple weeks - sigh. 

[Sinewgrab]

Mancha, do you have an update on this?  Your fans (ok, at least this one fan) are/is fairly eager.

It is not just you, Froggy. I, too, am waiting with bated breath.

[Blackwolf]

Me too  Hinterland Hussars. Hinterland Huzzah !

[Chairface]

Mancha, did you see the new ebob horses with tackle that just came out?

[Tommy20]

Chairface has found the solution!

The ebob horses are state of the hobby, and certainly appropriate for 19thc/early 20thc riders.  You could utilize them a number of ways:

1) Have six riders sculpted, and direct customers to ebob to buy their mounts (they come in packs of six).

Pros: Easiest & cheapest solution for you, quickest way to get mounted figures on the market, VSF'ers who want to mount figs on other beasties need not buy horses.

Cons: Customers must purchase mounts separately, no officer's horse w/shabraque.

2) Have seven riders sculpted, license one of ebob's horses & add shabraque, direct customers to ebob to buy the remaining mounts.

Pros: Minimal expense for single altered sculpt. VSF'ers who want to mount figs on other beasties need not buy horses.

Cons: Customers must purchase mounts separately.

3) Have six riders sculpted, license all of ebob's horses & add shabraque to one.

Pros: Good horse sculpts, cheaper than sculpting from scratch, able to sell complete packs of cavalry.

Cons: Most expensive option (although still cheaper than starting form scratch).

I've no doubt that there are a myriad of pros & cons I haven't considered, but food for thought!

[Froggy the Great]

Option 1 is my favored one, since I plan on using non-horse mounts.

[Mancha]

I appreciate the feedback.  I'll start by saying that when I have cavalry I completely intend to use eBob's horses.  In fact, I've already purchased a license for one for the mounted Princess. 

I'll continue by saying that I simply cannot imagine releasing riders without horses (despite the wishes of some to use alternative mounts).  I just can't do it.  The idea of saying, "Here are my riders - go to someone else for mounts" strikes me as being sort of irresponsible and...what's a good word?...self-effacing.  Additionally, because my riders will be mounted side-saddle, my horses will need some special tackle.  I cannot fail to meet the needs of my unique riders.  Because I personally like variation, I will probably need to offer a couple to a few different horses.

What I see myself doing is following the Empress/Anglian model of releasing a pack of three horses and riders.  I will probably start with basic troopers, in some kind of charge/gallop.  There will be three different horses and three different riders, allowing a variety of combinations of horse and rider.  I will probably follow this release with a mounted Command pack.  This will also have three different riders, but will use the original three horses. 

Because I will be reusing the three horses, I will probably need to have horses and riders be on separate molds.  The advantage to this is that I would be able to supply only riders to people like Froggy who wish to mount the ladies on raptors, giant flys, dinosaurs, sand walkers, etc.   

I've finally gotten my mind around this idea that cavalry are an absolutely essential part of my little army.  However, they're still a very expensive commission.  If the next round of releases (the maxim and skirmishers) sells well, perhaps I'll bite the bullet and ask Paul to make an initial cavalry pack.  Please be aware, however, that even if I gave Paul the commission today, the release would be pretty far in the future.