Artillery Train Drivers amd Limber Horses

Prussian (left) and Austrian (right) artillery train drivers

Here are some quick pictures of the Austrian and Prussian artillery train drivers that we added to the Minden range of SYW figures. We have also reworked and replaced all of the existing limber horses and civilian riders so that they are all sculpted by Richard Ansell.

Updated Code Numbers as of midnight October 1, 2014

New product codes are:

AE-027  Pair of civilian limber drivers (hat and tricorn) w/o horse. -- $4.00

AE-028  Pair of Prussian artillery train riders  w/o horses  -- $4.00

AE-029 Prussian artillery train rider & horse (1 of each) -- $6.00

AE-030  Pair of Austrian artillery train riders  w/o horses  -- $4.00

AE-031  Austrian artillery train rider & horse (1 of each) -- $6.00

AE-008 Pair of Limber Horses   -- $8.00

Prussian (left) and Austrian (right) artillery train drivers.

A picture of the two new limber horses that replaced the old horses.

Maurice de Saxe Vignette Part II

Maurice de Saxe in his chariot at the Battle of Fontenoy and some of his personal escort of Volontaires de Saxe. Minden Miniatures figures (click to enlarge)

I was able to finish the grassing and basing of Maurice de Saxe and his wicker wagon at Fontenoy. And for good measure, I also finished one each of the other four Volontaires de Saxe cavalry. I really like the way the cavalry turned out. It makes me want to paint more.

Maurice de Saxe Vignette Painted

Maurice de Saxe at Fontenoy Vignette (click to enlarge)

Kickstarter Update:

Pledges as of today:   $6,102

Next Stretch Goal:     $7,000  (unlocks the Russian artillery)

Amount Needed:        $898

Second Stretch Goal: $11,000 (unlocks the Russian artillery crew and free Lt. General Fermor figure)

Days Left In The Campaign:  14 days

How to back this project: click the link below:

Minden SYW Artillery Kickstarter

Backers:  33 (thank you everyone! You are true heroes)

We are sooooo close to unlocking the Russian artillery equipment and I am sure that we can make the final push to $7,000 this week. After that, we will need the artillery crew to man the guns, but the goal here is $11,000 as it costs a lot of money to get 16 new individual figures sculpted, master moulds made, production moulds metal even before we start spinning the metal and making the product. So we need your help to get the Russian artillery crew into the production cycle. 

I have probably had more requests for Russians than I have for any ten other nationalities combined. Several of you have been quite vocal, but your names are not among our backers so far. Now is the time to help the campaign so that we can all see Russians added to the Minden range.

Maurice de Saxe Vignette

I spent quite a bit of time Saturday painting the Maurice de Saxe vignette that Minden Miniatures and Crann Tara Miniatures are offering soon (I'm waiting for the wagons from the caster, but I have Maurice and all of the figures that go with the wagon. Crann Tara has everything in stock).

Maurice reviewing the  troops

I stayed up until 3 AM Sunday morning getting the basing done, to this point, grass to come later today. Hooking up the metal traces was a bit tricky. I might use wire or black thread in lieu of the traces were I to assemble and paint another one of these models.

The Volontaires de Saxe uhlan driver looks very nice as well. I also painted the officer and have a few of the lancers on my painting table. These uhlans are the goods! Relly nice looking figures and easy to paint since they do not have a lot of equipment on them.

Inspiration for the Maurice de Saxe vignette was drawn from the following pictures:

Final Thoughts

You may have noticed that I have been picking up the pace of my blogging lately. It will continue as I want to hit the 100 posts goal for 2014. At 53 posts, I have a way to go, but I think that I can make it. So please stop by and visit more often because there will be a lot of new content going up several days each week. And do feel free to leave any comments. We like to read your comments.

The Brummers Are Coming, the Brummers Are Coming!

Kickstarter Update:

Pledges made:        $6,002

Next Stretch Goal:  $7,000 (unlocks the Russian artillery equipment)

Amount needed:      $998

This morning, one person pledged  a very generous $500 to push us past the $6,000 stretch goal that will unlock the Prussian 12-pound Brummer. Thank you very much to this gentleman and to all of the backers who are making the launch of SYW artillery in the Minden range possible.

The fine picture of the Brummer was taken by Christian Rogge at the Musee des Armes in Paris. Christian reports that the cannon show is actually a version of the Brummer that was produced after the SYW, but the SYW version is very similar .

Now we get down to the real nitty gritty of this campaign -- the Russian artillery! I am very excited about the prospect of adding the Russian cannon to the range. Although we are starting with four cannon, there are so many varieties of Russian ordnance that I am sure that we will add more than four cannon.

If you want to see Russians in the Minden range and you have been meaning to back the Kickstarter campaign, then please visit our KS site and get more of the details:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1937253848/fife-and-drum-syw-austrian-artillery

Maurice de Saxe, Your Table Is Ready

Kickstarter Update:

Amount Pledged:        $5,317

Stretch Goal:               $6,000. ( unlocks the Prussian Brummer )

Pledges Needed:           $683

Next Stretch Goal:      $7,000 Unlocks the Russian artillery models

Pledges Needed:        $1,683

SYW Artillery Kickstarter

Ever since I first read the story about the Battle of Leuthen and Frederick's use of the giant fortress guns from Glogau, called Brummers ( because of the loud noise that they made when fired), I have wanted to have such a model in my SYW Prussian army. Now with this Kickstarter stretch goal of $6,000 so tantalizingly close, my imagination may finally become a reality. As of this morning, we only need $683 of new pledges to hit this stretch goal. I feel like this is definitely an achievable goal, so with one final push over the weekend I think that we can make it. So if you are planning on backing this project, but you just haven't gotten around to doing so, then please click on the link below to visit our KS site and make your pledge. We have seven pledge levels of $100 or less so if you can only make a small contribution ( $25 is the smallest pledge amount), then we can accomodation your needs. Every pledge, no matter what size, is important.

Maurice de Saxe Vignette:

I finally got around to assembling my wicker coach model for the Maurice de Saxe vignette last night and I must say that the prospect of assembling the model was more difficult than the actual assembly process. Sometimes you just have to just pitch in and start working on it. The only difficult part was figuring out how or attach the rear bracket to the rear axle of the model. However, a look at one of the pictures provided by Niels Rullkotter, the designer, soon made things clear (see the third picture below):

I plan to prime the model Friday evening and start painting on Saturday in anticipation of completing the project over the weekend.

Cuirassiers du Roi - Painted Samples

Kickstarter Update:

Current Pledge Level = $5,207

Next Stretch Goal =      $6,000  (unlocks 12-pd Prussian Brummer )

Pledges Needed.       =   $793

Minden Artillery Kickstarter Link

This evening I painted the officer and trooper of the new Minden Cuirassiers du Roi as I was eager to see how they looked when painted. These may be some of Richard Ansell's best work yet ( I am admittedly biased). Both figures were a joy to paint and they painted fairly quickly. 

I am not a Francophile when it comes to the SYW, but these cavalry figures have me rethinking my stance on the French army. I have come to the conclusion that I need to start painting and building a French army if for no other reason that their cavalry look gorgeous and I've simply got to find a reason to get a unit of the Cuirassiers du Roi on the table top.

I will take some better pictures tomorrow. These were taken with my iPad and the Blogger Ap is Gawd Awful in what it will let you do with layout and editing and working with pictures .

Volontaires de Saxe

Note: all orders received for Cuirassiers du Roi  and Uhlans have been packed and invoiced so they will ship within the next day or two.

Here is one of the Knoetel uniform plates that provides a very nice painting guide for those who are contemplating painting a unit of the uhlans from Minden Miniatures. Below is another plate by Petard that shows some variations of the uniform.

Cuirassiers du Roi Are Here!

(L-R) trumpeter, std bearer, trooper, and officer

Two large and heavy boxes full of the new Minden French Cuirassiers du Roi, the Volontaires de Saxe, and Maurice de Saxe sitting in his wicker coach at Fontenoy  arrived today and I can start shipping orders out this week.

More later, but I wanted to post a couple pictures on my blog before turning in for the evening.

Hesse Seewald Corps of Mounted Guides

The first recruits in the Hesse Seewald Corps of Mounted Guides (using Fife & Drum AWI 16th Light Dragoons figures)

I think that the most gorgeous military uniform of the Horse and Musket Era has to be that of Napoleon's Chasseurs a Cheval of the Guard. The mix of green, red, gold and buff are really hard to beat. So with that in mind, I have long had this scheme to paint one of my Hesse Seewald light cavalry regiments in the colors of the Guard Chasseurs a Cheval. 

I paint one of these figures every so often, in between some of the last painting commissions that I am working on. After these are done, I'm getting out of the figure painting business as it has become a crushing burden of obligations what with also having to run a miniatures business, hold a day job and keeping the family happy. Add to that the fact that I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome -- long hours at the painting table are painful. I can't paint at the fast rate that I used to be able to do. Those days are long gone.

Back to the Corps of Mounted Guides: I chose the castings of the 16th Light Dragoons from my AWI Fife & Drum Miniatures range just because I like the figures, especially the Tarleton Helmet. Their coats are painted dark green with some highlights that I mixed myself; tan breeches - a color that always looks good with green; red facings, and yellow/gold lace and trim.

The rank and file have a red roach on their helmet while the officers have one that is half red and half green. The trumpeters will probably have a white roach and the light troop will have a green roach.

The Guides will have two squadrons of 12 figures plus  2 or 3 mounted skirmishers per squadron. So that works out to a total of 24 regular officers and troopers plus 6 skirmishers in the light troop.

Let me know what you think - I'd appreciate your feedback, good or bad.

Duke of Cumberland Personality Figure

Crann Tara Miniatures has some pictures of the latest masterpieces from the workbench of Richard Ansell. The Duke of Cumberland , shown above, and General Hawley and Lord Albemarle ( looking backwards). Of course, Cumberland can also be used as the commander of the Hanoverian army at Hastenback in the SYW and as commander of the Allies at Fontenoy, Rocaux and Laufeld during the WAS.

The figures are part of a new batch of 16 figures that Richard has sculpted including some dismounted British dragoons as well as some French and British firing line poses that have some great animation. 

I will post an update when I hear more about a production date for the new figures.

Lord Albemarle:

General Hawley:

Crann Tara is the new UK Distributor for Fife & Drum Miniatures

Fife & Drum Miniatures are now available in the UK and Euroland from our new distributor, Crann Tara Miniatures.

http://www.cranntaraminiatures.co.uk/

Crann Tara will carry the complete Fife & Drum AWI range as well as select parts of the Minden range (all civilians, the SYW Highlanders, the Volontaires de Saxe and some of the equipment range that applies to the AWI plus the French artillery pieces).

Furthermore, Crann Tara will focus on figures for the War of the Austrian Succession in its future figure releases while Minden will retain its focus on the SYW. From time to time, Minden will create figures that are applicable to the WAS and therefore will be distributed by Crann Tara. The Maurice de Saxe vignette, shown below, and the Volontaires de Saxe are an example of this arrangement as both will be distributed by Crann Tara.

Minden Cuirassiers du Roi Have Arrived

The new Minden French Cuirassiers du Rou and the Volontaires de Saxe figures are in transit from Griffin Moulds and they are scheduled to arrive in the USA next Monday September 22nd, so I am confident enough to post the new product codes and announce that they are ready for sale.

If you want to place an order now, in anticipation of it shipping next week, then contact me at the address below. You will not be invoiced until I actually have the castings in the shipping room and ready to go .

send e-mail orders to:

fife_drum_minis@yahoo.com

Paypal Accepted

Personal checks drawn on US-based banks accepted

The new product codes are (figures per pack) and price:

MFC-007 Cuirassiers du Roi Command                      (3) $18.00 USD

MFC-008 Cuirassiers du Roi Troopers                        (3) $18.00 USD

MFC-009 Volontaires de Saxe Command                   (2) $12.00 USD

MFC-010 Volontaires de Saxe Lancer – African           (3) $18.00 USD

MFC-011 Volontaires de Saxe Lancer – European       (3) $18.00 USD

We have also added a new French marshall to the range (PER-009 @ $7.00 USDincluding horse) with two head and arm variants (see figure on the left. the RH figure is a Hanoverian officer painted in Hesse Seewald  livery):

Minden Russian Musketeers Are Based

Minden Russian Musketeers (click to enlarge)

I just finished the basing on my "Faux Russian" musketeer regiment, the Courland Regiment and thought that everyone would like to see how they look all based up and ready to go.

The flag is a GMB Designs Russian 1797-1806 flag for the Riazan Regiment, but since the battalion is a semi-imaginary unit, it doesn't really matter which flag I use. Eventually when I add the real Russian infantry to the Minden range, I will use the correct GMB flags for the SYW (it's just that I didn't have any on hand to finish the regiment).

Kickstarter Update - Austrians are a go, but Russians too?

The $3,000 goal to get the Austrian artillery into production has been met and now we are seeking to reach the $8,000 pledge level so that the Russian artillery equipment can get unlocked. Now a lot of you Minden fans have been asking me when we are going to add Russians to the range. My answer is "NOW!" However, in order to gauge interest and start the Russian project, I think that it is necessary to hit the first stretch goal. If we can do that, then I will feel like there really is enough interest in the Russians to put them (infantry, cavalry and artillery) into production.

Click on the following link to visit the Fife & Drum Kickstarter page and make a pledge to get the Russians into production:

Minden Russian Kickstarter Page

There are seven pledge levels of $50 or less and go as low as $15, so I've tried to make it easy for anyone to pledge a minimal amount in support of this project. Of course, if you are really gung ho for Russians, there are a number of higher pledge levels too. 

Swap privileges that allow you to trade your Austrian or Russian artillery in for any other Minden or Fife & Drum figures is available for anyone pledging more than $100. Pledge $100 or more and receive the same retail value in other figures such as Prussians, British, French or even AWI figures. Think about it, if you were planning on placing a Minden order anyway, consider pledging at the $100 level and you not only get the figures that you want, but you also help unlock the start of the Russian range.

What is the appeal of the Russians for me? Well, several things: they were a tough opponent whom Frederick never really defeated; their green and red uniforms are very colorful and offer a nice change of pace from Austrian white; and finally, they  have really cool looking artillery equipment and hoards of Cossacks. When we get around to making Cossacks, we won't have just 4 to 6 Cossacks, we will start with 16 Cossacks and eventually build them up to 32 different figures - now that's variety!

Battalion gun is the Prussian 3-pounder with one of the Pioneer figures and one Prussian artillery crewman dressed as Russian artillerist.

The Russians Are Coming?

The Minden Kickstarter campaign hit the initial funding goal of $3,000 for the Austrian artillery on Day 2 of the campaign, so I am very pleased with the results so far.

Next up: we need to hit the $8,000 pledge level in order to get the Russian artillery equipment kick started. 

We have seven different pledge levels of $50 or less to make it easy to back the project with a small contribution as low as $15. There are ten pledge levels of $100 or less and  pledges over $150 come with swap privileges that allow you to trade in your Austrian or Russian pledge for anything in the full Fife & Drum and Minden figure ranges.

Minden Russian Infantry - conceptual unit using French infantry figures.

Now I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the number of people who, in the past, have asked "When are you going to add Russians to the Minden range?" The time is now, but we need to have you step forward and make a pledge to this Kickstarter campaign. If you want Russian infantry, cavalry and artillery, we need your support to get the Russian project rolling.

So click on the link below and visit our Kickstarter page to see how it works.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1937253848/fife-and-drum-syw-austrian-artillery

And if you would make a contribution of any size, I would be most grateful for your support.

New Minden Austrian & Russian Kickstart Campaign Begins

Minden Austrian Artillery Crew figures are shown with Berlin Zinnfiguren cannon and limbers and RSM limber horses.  Minden will be adding its own cannon, limber horses and riders to the range.

Minden Miniatures has just launched a new Kickstarter campaign to secure funding for SYW AUSTRIAN and RUSSIAN artillery equipment. We seek to raise funding of $3,000 to get the five Austrian models shown below into production by December 2014. If we hit the stretch goal of $8,000 then that will help fund the start of the SYW Russian artillery range. (and yes, we plan on adding lots of Russians in 2015).

The Russian cannon will tentatively include a Shuvulov Secret Howitzer, the 6-pd and 12-pd field guns, and a 12-pound Unicorn howitzer, and maybe a few other unusual Russian equipment pieces.

The Austrian cannon will include the Liechtenstein System 3-pdr, 6-pdr, 7-pd howitzer, 12-pounder and limber. Visit the link to our Kickstarter page and learn more about the funding campaign. The campaign ends in 30 days on October 12, 2014.

Minden Kickstarter Link

As you can see in the pictures below, we already have most of the Austrian equipment sculpting and design completed, so this campaign will get models to you very quickly. We will be starting on the Russian equipment and a couple of other surprises very soon.

Austrian 12- pounder "green" ready to go to Griffin Moulds for master and production moulds.

Austrian 7-pound howitzer :

Austrian 3-pounder:

Austrian 6-pounder:

Austrian 12-pounder shown in the travel position attached to the limber:

Hesse Seewald Army - Part II

The Leibgarde Regiment of the King of Hesse Seewald

IR1 - von Glasenap Regiment

Here are a couple more pictures of the growing Hesse Seewald Army for your review. At the top of the page is the red-coated Leibgarde Regiment of King Georg Ludwig of Hesse Seewald. The regiment's uniforms are modelled after those of the Saxon Garde of the mid 18th Century. As a rule, only Garde regiments of infantry and cavalry are allowed to wear red coats, the exception being the artillery battalion of the army.

The von Glasenap regiment is the senior regiment of the kingdom's army, having been established in 1669 to defend the kingdom from Swedish incursions through Hesse Seewald in the years following the Thirty Years War. A member of the von Glasenap family has served as inhaber of the regiment since its beginning and on through to the present.

The Leibgarde Regiment was created in 1691 when Duke Karl Albert proclaimed himself "King In Hesse Seewald", thereby skirting the need to be recognized and elevated to royalty by the Holy Roman Emperor.

The standard infantry organization of the army is that each regiment is a single battalion in strength with 600 officers and rank and file. The battalion is divided into four musketeer companies and one grenadier company. At times, the grenadier companies of several regiments will be converged to form a distinct and separate grenadier battalion.

Click on all pictures to enlarge the view.

Your comments and questions are most welcomed.