Post
by barr7430 » Wed Jan 02, 2013 1:37 am
Thanks Guys for the comments. I was actually inspired to do this figure in very short order as the idea came to me whilst undertaking a very long and dull task yesterday.
The figure will not be commercially available for one simple reason, it was not sculpted specifically as Gard te Paard but as one of the trumpeters in the Cuirassier range. I realise that for some time there has been a demand for specific GtP figures and I had considered commissioning a specific sculpt but sales would probably not justify the expense. Therefore an interesting compromise exists for those who want a unit of GtP. I will be prepared to offer a customized unit of this regiment commercially. Illustration will come over the next few days. It will involve paying a bit extra but availability will be almost immediate.
Here is the rationale:
Trumpeters are cast in 'command pack' production moulds. We do not run these as frequently as we run ordinary trooper moulds. Every time you spin it, it produces all of the castings in the mould. To get the basic number of castings for a squadron/2 squadrons of GtP I will have a large surplus of loose officers and cornets. I am prepared to absorb this cost if I can charge extra for the trumpeter castings I sell. It may mean adding about £1-£1.50 per figure so in fact a trooper would cost double normal price roughly. Horses and officers would be normal price. That way I can offer 5 - 9 castings with arm options: Hat waving, sword arms or pistol arms or pointing or hand on hip to any gamers who want 1 or 2 squadrons of GtP. In summary a 6 model squadron of GtP would probably cost about £6 more than a normal squadron of cavalry(4 of this torso plus a normal officer and cornet.. alternatively a trumpeter could be included too) and a 12 model squadron about £13.50 extra(assuming 9 troopers, cornet, trumpeter and officer)
Having checked the various illustrations of GtP I think the figure is very close if not, almost perfect. Of course there is no slung carbine BUT... BLB makes no use of long arms for cavalry and they had no place in formal battle operations in the period anyway so no real loss there.
If anyone does want to put in an order for Gard te Paard please let me know. You may be interested to see the variants I have made up for myself over the next couple of days. I will included the bareheaded trumpeter verson as an option and of course there is a tricorned verson too I think they will look lovely on the table.
Cheers
B
"If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you are probably right"
Henry Ford