Collector Figures of Bavarians from 1683 till 1918

As mentioned before I have enjoyed collecting and painting (and having professionally painted) a number of 54mm and larger sized figures for my wargames room display.  Here are some better examples as I was dusting up and getting ready for our next campaign - the Nine Years War.

The first group are 54mm figures by the firm of Hecker and Goros who have a special fondness for all things Bavarian.  These examples were painted for me by the now defunct Siam Painting Service to their Collector Standard back in the early 2000's.  You can see how they followed the plates by Anton Hoffman very closely with some of these figures.

The next grouping are from various manufacturers mostly painted by Fernando Painting Service to Collector Standard.

I have tried for a few individual shots for better details:

Now some 54mm flat figures by Glorious Empires that were painted for me by Claudia Hoffmann during the years she ran her flat shop in Nurnburg in the Marktplatz by the Dom.  These are the Locatelli Hussars from the Max Emanuel period and very striking sculpts indeed.

And then some flats that I painted myself back in the day showing various uniforms from the Max Emanuel period.  These are from 54mm to 120mm and the last one was done as a self portrait of myself in the uniform of a slightly overweight and world weary Officer of the Staff circa 1800 or thereabouts.

You all recognized the Baron von Munchausen in the preceding picture I am sure.  I just couldn't capture it at night from the ramparts with my camera. 

Collector sized figures (54mm and larger)

As teenagers my best buddy and I were 'adopted' by a figure collector and his wife and were able to accompany them once a month or so into Cambridge, Massachusetts to the irregular meetings of the Miniature Figure Collectors of New England (long since defunct unfortunately).

What a thrill to see actual artifacts (Ted Hindmarsh, our mentor collected and restored German Picklehaube helmets from the Imperial Period for example) the research materials and of course the excellently painted figures that the members brought along for show.  Henri Lion a world master class painter was among the group and his ability to bring a figure to live was amazing.

We saw our first 54mm figures, zinnfiguren (flat figures) uniform plates and so on.  Over the years I have kept an interest in the well painted 54mm figure but have had to admit my skill level is not equal to the task all too often.  But with my decision to concentrate on all thing Bavarian I did gather a series of figures from the history of the Bavarian army as you can see from the display cases in my wargame area.

The collection covers from about 1683 till 1918 and also includes some more recent collector toy  figures  such as the Napoleonic Bavarians from Matt Pavone's company in Texas, First Legion which he had cast and painted overseas.

I will try to take some more close ups if there is any interest but here are a few to begin with during the period of Max Emanuel:

These from the very fine range put out by Hecker and Goros who typically release a new subject each year at the show in the Bavarian Army museum.  These were painted by Siam Painting Service and Fernando Painting Service to their collector standards and they do a very nice job and will not ship the figures back till you have seen pictures and had a chance to react to mistakes or issues with their interpretation of the painting guides and instructions you send them.

My 15mm Essex Bavarians for 1866 and 1870 games

As a group we play 19th century games using the popular basing for the Fire and Fury system but also use it for the Bruce Weigle series of rules as well.

Below is the VII Federal Korps as it might have appeared in 1866 under Prinz Karl as the CinC with four infantry Divisions in two Brigades each plus supporting arms.

The cavalry component of each Division is a single four squadron regiment of Chevaux-Legere represented by only two stands of figures but we allow them to combine as an extra light cavalry Brigade or two during large battles.

The Corps Cavalry component is a Heavy Brigade of three regiments of Cuirassiers, and two Light Brigades of Uhlans and Cheveaux-Legere with supporting horse artillery.

All the artillery units have limbers assigned (hint to Bob and others who never paint train troops).

Here is a lower view of the figures.  All are from the excellent Essex range save for the artillerymen and guns which are mostly Old Glory with a few Freikorps 15 guns and limbers added.

Hoping to see these in battle later next month.

Army of the Blue King folio 3 from the Brown Collection part 2

And here are the Cavalry, Artillery and Technical plates.

I will add the remaining B/W folios and also the text from the book as time allows.

Plenty more images from a variety of sources before we leave the Max Emanuel period!!!