http://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/#15mmhistorical
Every effort has been made to assure that the models are dressed and equipped as would German and other Central European foot of the Thirty Years War period. They have the helmet shapes, the distinctive high conical crown on their floppy hats, and the very baggy trousers and short jackets which the troops are shown wearing in period art. We wish to thank Daniel S. for his assistance with these aspects of the range, though any errors in interpretng his insights are ours.
Daniel also very interestingly pointed out that Gustavus Adolphus's orders put in for uniforms often use the same terms in describing uniform cut as do Imperialist uniform requisitions! So the oft-cited differences in uniform cut between Swedes and Germans might not have been as pronounced as modern gamers sometimes think!
Back to the models, they are "large 15s," but are frankly 18mm in size, and are made for use with the most popular "15mm" Mid 17th century models today. They were sculpted by Mike Broadbent and these were painted by Artmaster Studio and we think the chaps have done a brilliant job of bringing these doughty warriors to life!
The pikemen are in sets of twelve, the musketeers in sets of 18.
The first set is the core pike formation and has enough models for three bases/elements of well-protected pikemen plus command. The rationale here is that the smaller infantry regiments of the mid-late war period would be made up of relatively well-protected men (hence the tassets). We hope this is convenient for gamers -- for Field of Glory Renaissance this one pack supplies all the models for the pike block of a "LT" (Later Tercio) in one convenient bag.
The second set is seen as an expansion set for the first, rather less well equipped pikemen (without tassets) to fill in behind the front rankers of larger regiments in the early/mid war period. So for Field of Glory Renaissance one need only buy one of these packs and one of the prior to have the pike element of an "ET" (Early Tercio).
The first of three musketeer sets has the simple short jacket, which has been sculpted with a seam on the sleeve so that the sleeveless buff vest that musketeers sometimes wore can be depicted. One set of these, or the following two sets, would complete either the ET or the LT.
Very often the jackets of musketeers show a sort of slashed "wing" on the shoulder. This could possibly have been a holdover decorative flourish from the more flamboyant 16th century, or it could have demonstrated what the schutzenrock (shooting jacket, see below) looked like when the sleeves were buttoned up.
Finally we have what might be the most iconic look of German/Central European musketeers -- the schutzenrock with sleeves unbuttoned. Adopted from the Turks, this fashion may have been adopted as it freed the arms to work the musket more easily, but it's just as likely that it was adopted to look splendid!
In each of the above packs there are enough muskets to make six bases. One idea is to use one pack for new regiments, which may well have still had all their uniforms in the same cut/style, and veteran regiments can use musketeers from different sets to show how styles of replacement uniforms might have varied.
All available now. The master castings of our next releases, the Arkebusiers zu Pferd (mounted arquebusiers, basically carabiniers), lighter armoured cavalry pistoliers, and field guns with crew, have been received and are with the casters now, hopefully to be received and for sale within about a month and a half. After that, high command and dragoons, and possibly some surprises after that.
All available now, So cry "Jesu Maria" or Gott Mit Uns, as the case may be, and happy gaming!
