Need for further figures for SYW in 28mm?

[Fritz II.]

Hi all,

First of all I would like to introduce myself.

My name is Michael and my special interest is the SYW. I've been collecting miniatures for about 25 years, starting with 30mm flats and then turning to 28mm wargaming figures. I've searched for comrads wargaming with historical figures quite a long time and got in contact with some guys in the area of Nuremberg about two years ago.

One of my dreams is to publish my own figure-range in SYW. I would like to publish figures compatible to the ranges of FrontRank, Crusader, WargamesFoundry and the Perry's. The quality should be like Perry-miniatures.

I would like to know if there is a market for a new range of SYW-figures. In my opinion there is a lack of different poses. Compared with the ranges offered for the napoleonic wars there would be enough to do within the SYW.

What is your oppinion?

Cheers
Mike

[Greystreak]

I wonder whether you have overlooked one of the most popular lines of SYW figures to emerge in recent years, namely Minden Miniatures?  http://mindenminis.blogspot.co.uk/

You can see some painted examples of this line here:  http://www.sdean-forum.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30596

[Fritz II.]

Hi Greystreak,

Thanks for your reply. I already know the figures of Minden Miniatures and I like them very much though I don't have them within my collection. They simply don't fit with the style of figures I've been collecting for the last years. Changing completely to that style would men to throw the work of the last years over board.

But thinking of publishing new figures also means to check the kind of style the collectors and wargamers would prefer.

Concerning to your reply this would mean that your favourite style is a kind of Minden.

I hope that more collectors reply to this post to get a better feeling for the style wanted by wargamers.

Thanks

Mike

[Maichus]

Hi Michael,

First of all, I'm not really a collector/gamer of the SYW. (I only got a couple of Minden miniatures for small skirmishes, Grenzer and Jäger mostly.)

But I think what most people associate with the SYW (a lot more than with the Napoleonic Wars, for example) is the picture of perfectly drilled soldiers in parade ground attire. That's the reason (in my opinion) why most collectors/games prefer the marching poses (like most of the Minden miniatures) for SYW line battalions and regiments. I'm not sure, if theres a big enough demand for charging or firing, etc. miniatures. (But again, I'm not that much into this specific period.)

What one also has to keep in mind is that a lot of gamers/collectors don't like mixing different manufactures resp. sculptors too much. That means you would/might have to creat a complete line to make the whole venture a (financial) success and not only the set of 'exotic' posed musketeeres for example.  

At least, as long as you don't hire a sculptor who has already done a line of SYW-miniatures and you would only release the sets that are, in your opinion, missing.

One very important aspect would be, if you're doing the whole thing as a 'labour of love' or not. Meaning, would you be willing and able to put in money over a longer amount of time to keep the project going or would the venture have to finance itself after only a couple of sets?

(It might also be an option to contact Frank, who runs Minden Miniatures (and also the Goblin Baracks WWWII), and ask him about the decision why he's not doing more variants, poses, etc. and what his generel experiences have been. I don't know, if he's a member of LAF but you can find him over at Frothers Unite. "Mehr als nein sagen kann er nicht."   )

[Fritz II.]

Hi Maichus,

Thanks for your reply and your information.

Your thoughts are right and that is why I asked here on the forum for a demand on the mentioned figures.

I asked FrontRank directly if there are more poses planned but I didn't get an answer yet.

Comparing the variety of SYW-figures in 30mm flats with the existing SYW-figures in 28mm there would be enough to do. There is almost nothing or no pose that doesn't exist in 30mm flats.

I hope that this post will get a lot of replies like yours to get a better feeling for the success or failure of this project.

Cheers
Mike

[Aaron]

I do know there are many people here in North America with Foundry / Crusader collections that would welcome more compatible figures to increase the variety of poses and troop types. What I don't know is how many of them would be willing to cough up the cash it will take to get them over on this side of the Atlantic, and that is the real question, after all!

[fastolfrus]

Missing troop types would probably be a better start than variant positions.
Specialists, such as siege engineers, sappers, sentries, foraging hussars etc might be a good starting point. Artillery crew could be useful, it's always handy to have extra poses of gun crew, and some ranges seem to have few gunners.

[Captain Blood]

Not really my period, although I do have 20 - 30 Front Rank SYW figures which I use for F&IW and pirate games.
What I notice is that in this range Front Rank made very old-fashioned, standard poses. All the figures, all the armies, all in the same poses. Advancing, firing, loading. Not much variety

So I know what you mean.

Interestingly, I have also bought around 30 of Front Rank's new late C17th figures (Grand Alliance and so on) and there is much more variety in poses here. So I guess they have learned over the years that people like more variety.

[Admiral Fraser]

Hi
I've just started my SYW army, currently buying Front Rank.
I agree with the point about part of the attraction of the period is ranks of finely formed figures marching in old school regiments.
I would think that it's not the lack of poses that is missing but rather specific uniforms, equipment, nationalities, units etc. After all these details strike me as being one of the things that appeal.

Mixing different manufacturers can work in different units and cope with slight size differences. I use foundry darkest Africa, copplestone and perry Sudan for my late 19th Century games.
Perhaps a range of specialist troops that could be used as the focus of games might complement what is already out there. Engineers, baggage train or followers, sappers digging trenches etc. Such a range might not necessarily be comprehensive to begin with. I got my first perry figures because I wanted to game a scenario with a heliograph section. Admittedly it didn't take me long to 'need' most of the rest of the range.

A friend is drawn to AB Saxons, he is taken with the musicians, I don't think anyone else does a bassoon player. Choosing a minor belligerent means he can bring something to the table without too much of an initial outlay.

[cdm]

Eureka do a basoonist and oboe player in their 28mm Saxon range. I'm quite taken by the period due to the look of tricorne and ornate coat, and having drummers in the cavalry is also cute

[Fritz II.]

Many thanks for your replies.

It is very interesting to read your comments and thoughts and I decided to make a try with the project.

I hope to be able to post the first results on this forum within a short time.

Cheers
Mike

[Volleyfire!]

I wonder if you have looked at the Kronoskaf website for some ideas and inspiration? There were some smaller nations involved who aren't catered for at all, as well as the seige engineers et al already mentioned in posts above. Personally I have just over (had to go count them again at this point)......954 cavalry, 1430 infantry and 32 cannon plus crew, plus mounted officers , baggage train and a few vignettes, apart from a handful of foundry all from Front Rank. I'd like to see a few more figures in the vein of Foundrys with more of the staff officers and characters such as Marechal de Saxe and his negro bodyguard.

[Fritz II.]

You´re right. Kronoskaf is a wonderful link for uniforms concerning the SYW.

I thought of specialists for artillery aswell. In my opinion there are so many opportunities in concentrating on the SYW.

So let´s see what the first figures will be. 

But the most important thing is that the sculpting of the figures will be fine.