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Esci

Set 234

French Artillery

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All figures are supplied unpainted    (Numbers of each pose in brackets)
Stats
Date Released 1986
Contents 16 figures and 4 guns
Poses 4 poses
Material Plastic (Medium Consistency)
Colours Brown, Light Tan
Average Height 24 mm (= 1.73 m)

Review

This set of French artillery is the French half of set 219 (British and French Artillery) given their own box. They represent an Old Guard company of Foot Artillery of the Imperial Guard, and wear the uniform dating from 1810.

This set is very similar to the British set 233, with exactly the same spec and virtually identical poses. Therefore it does not include a team of horses, or any form of limber, which is a great pity.

The figures come in four poses, with one of each pose intended to form a gun crew, though a gun would normally have a crew of up to a dozen or more. Since the poses are identical to the British set, the same comments apply, namely that they are OK without being exceptional, and the officer holding the telescope would in practice need to use both hands. However there is an error in the uniform, because this type of artillery wore their bearskins peaked, as modelled, but with no front plate. Ironically, these have been correctly illustrated on the box artwork, but the figures themselves are incorrectly modelled with plates.

Two different gun barrels are provided - an 8 pounder gun and a 6-inch howitzer. The guns are mounted on the normal Gribeauval carriage, and included in the set are the small ammunition chests carried between the gun carriage brackets. Though there has had to be some loss of accessories on both the barrels and the carriages in terms of losing chains and other small items, the detail is as good as could possibly be expected.

The small number of poses and lack of any horse teams are the drawbacks to this set, but the guns are accurately modelled and the only problem with the figures, apart from the small number of poses, is the mistake in the headgear, which could be easily resolved with paint.


Ratings

Historical Accuracy 8
Pose Quality 6
Pose Number 4
Sculpting 9
Mould 10

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