And the next Perry plastic set is...

[General Lee]

Must admit, I've never been into ACW, and I'm really not sure of the substantial uniform differences between Federal and Confederate forces. I'm sure it matters to enthusiasts for the period. For the generalist though, the original idea of plastic sets which would do for either side, painted blue or grey (I suppose that should be gray ) seemed a good way to go. I look at the Confederate infantry set, and the greens for this new Union infantry set, and to my untutored eye, I can't tell much difference. But I'm sure ACW enthusiasts will. And there are definitely a lot of ACW enthusiasts out there, so pretty sure this will sell well...

yeah it matters greatly. Most Union troops wore the Sack Coat (fout button jacket roughlt reaching the thighs) The Confederates mostly wore the shell jacket (short) Yes both armies had the same type of jackets and on campaign, uniformity evaporated. Still, photographic evidence is in favor of the former. The first generic acw infantry box really waqs a test back in 2008 and was intened to be complemented with metal figures. times have certainly moved on

given the popularity of the ACW among wargamers and the obvious difference in how both armies look, I think this set is more than warrented

[rebelyell2006]

I'm excited about it.  True, uniformity fell apart, and there were some Union regiments outfitted with special uniforms by their state governments, but most Federal infantry wore sack coats because that was the standard fatigue coat that the arsenals and the civilian contractors produced.  Shell jackets were typically limited to the cavalry and artillery branches.  That bugged me about the first Perry ACW box, that half of the miniatures wore shell jackets when few Federal infantry actually did.

[Arthur]

there are definitely a lot of ACW enthusiasts out there

You shall have the opportunity to count them soon, you heretic you, when they start gathering at your front door with torches and pitchforks to teach you the obvious difference between a blue and a grey coat 

[huevans]

I'm excited about it.  True, uniformity fell apart, and there were some Union regiments outfitted with special uniforms by their state governments, but most Federal infantry wore sack coats because that was the standard fatigue coat that the arsenals and the civilian contractors produced.  Shell jackets were typically limited to the cavalry and artillery branches.  That bugged me about the first Perry ACW box, that half of the miniatures wore shell jackets when few Federal infantry actually did.

Sack coat versus Confederate shell jacket. It would be interesting to figure out which specific US regts wore the Illinois and New York state issue shell jackets at what specific battle and use green stuff to display the differences between those and the CSA jacket in the Perry set. And indeed, you could use green stuff to display the differences between 1st, 2nd and 3rd pattern Richmond jackets.

And of course, the canteens are quite different too.

[huevans]

You shall have the opportunity to count them soon, you heretic you, when they start gathering at your front door with torches and pitchforks to teach you the obvious difference between a blue and a grey coat 

The Captain is one of those unspeakable vulgarians who would mix figures in Tait jackets with first pattern ANV silk standards and insist that it was appropriate to use them to re fight the Battle of Shiloh. 

[syrinx0]

Maybe.
Sadly, given the (reputed) £10K+ investment required to get a plastic set off the blocks, if something doesn't look commercially viable, I doubt it'll get produced.
In a way I'm not surprised the Mahdist set, lovely as it is, hasn't produced the return Michael and Alan were looking for. Of all the major colonial settings, popular as the Sudan is, it's still probably the most esoteric. I think plastic Zulus, Pathans or Boers would have fared much better. Hopefully we'll see some or all of these in glorious Perry Plastic one day 

I did my part and purchased 5 boxes.  The rest of you are slackers. 

[rebelyell2006]

Sack coat versus Confederate shell jacket. It would be interesting to figure out which specific US regts wore the Illinois and New York state issue shell jackets at what specific battle and use green stuff to display the differences between those and the CSA jacket in the Perry set. And indeed, you could use green stuff to display the differences between 1st, 2nd and 3rd pattern Richmond jackets.

And of course, the canteens are quite different too.

And for those of us who struggle to count the number of buttons on a shell jacket in 28mm (is it 5 or 6 or 7 or 9 or 12? I cannot tell because there are a bunch of straps in the way), it doesn't matter too much.  I used a box of the Perry ACW for an assorted group of Texan Unionists, wearing a mixture of looted, homemade, redyed, and smuggled uniforms, with a mixture of blue sack coats, blue and gray shell jackets, blue and gray and brown and red trousers, and kepis and forage caps and slouch hats in various colors.

[sepoy1857]

Will the box have a bugler?  Or more drummers?

You could use one of the bugler arms from the cavalry pack - that's what I did for my Virginia Heavy artillery unit, then found out they had drummers!

[Gangleri]

I look at the Confederate infantry set, and the greens for this new Union infantry set, and to my untutored eye, I can't tell much difference.

I'm inclined to agree. I'm an ACW enthusiast (and a Union enthusiast to boot), yet I just can't get excited over this set, even though it's a useful one.  Maybe it's the poses - yet another set of charging/quick-timing infantry.  New marching or firing poses would be welcome after painting God knows how many of those cruder sculpts from the original infantry box.  Frankly, I would have been happy with a few more metal packs (staff officers, bandsmen, some of the weird regiments), in which case this big investment could be saved for something else.

[Captain Blood]

There you go you see 

[RedRowan]

Small update from the plastics workbench.



Steve

[Leifr Eiríksson]

Nice.

[Norm]

 I see the new Union more as a replacement set for the first generic box that they made. When you stand the new confederates next to the generics, there is a difference (generic are chunkier and less dynamic). things seem to have advanced since that first box (revolutionary in its time) and this is an update that is due ..... As much for the Perry's themselves who will want the best figures in circulation.

[DonVoss]

Very coool....
I really apreciate that there is more than march attack arms on the sprue.

Cheers,
Don

[Arthur]