25mm unpainted wargames figures for the 1866 Seven Weeks' War or Austro-Prussian War

Prussian Line Infantry

All packs contain 8 infantry castings, or 3 mounted officers with 3 horses, all troops with cast-on head variants. Some packs contain barehead/bandaged head variants inserted at random.

About the figures

These figures are designed to portray the Prussian Line Infantry principally during the Campaign of 1866, although they can also be used for the earlier Campaign in Denmark 1864 and the later Franco-Prussian War 1870-71.

Differences between musketeers, grenadiers and fusiliers are extremely minimal when reduced to 25mm scale, so we decided to only produce one type of figure to cover all (the actual differences were mainly relating to the length of rifle and type of side-arm carried). We will be producing separate figures for the Guard. A few other notes regarding these figures:

• Headgear is a mixture of the M60 Pickelhaube and the field cap or Feldmutz. During 1866 the latter was worn extensively, as the helmet was heavy and uncomfortable on campaign. Nevertheless, a number of infantry units did wear the Pickelhaube in action in 1866.
• Figures are depicted with rolled blankets, worn over the left shoulder.
• Figures in light kit wear two cartridge pouches, waistbelt, haversack, water bottle and mess tin. Figures in full kit wear all of these plus backpacks. Note that we have relied extensively on contemporary photographs to get the scale of equipment right, for instance, mess tins were much larger than normally portrayed in engravings or wargames figures.
• Trousers are shown tucked into marching boots.
• All figures carry sidearm with sword knot, and all rifles have fixed bayonets (Prussian infantry fixed bayonets at the commencement of the campaign, and did not carry bayonet scabbards, so do not look for them!)
• Although regulations suggested that all men within the unit had to have the same style of facial hair (i.e. moustaches, or clean-shaven), on campaign this was not a regulation that could be enforced. Our figures are depicted with a mixture of clean-shaven, moustaches and beards, based on contemporary photographs.
• We have taken great pains to make sure that the variants are as numerous as possible. All packs contain cast-on head variants. In addition, basic poses, such as running at trail, have several arm and leg variations. All told, there are currently over 280 Prussian infantry variants.

Infantry during 1864 would have worn a white armband around the upper left arm (we do intend to make some packs of figures specifically for the Prussians in this campaign, including wearing ankle length boots with trousers tucked into socks). The uniform depicted on our figures is ideal for 1870-71, as the vast majority of infantry were still wearing the M60 Pickelhaube, not having received the later M67 version.

See our website's (www.wargames.helion.co.uk) separate download section for uniform details and painting instructions for the Prussian Line Infantry.

Sources we used during the preparation of these figures:

• Original contemporary photographs and engravings from our collection
• German language published material relating to the War of 1866, including regimental histories
• Paintings by Carl Röchling, Fritz Neumann and others
• Cigarette cards, including the superb ‘Sturm Zigaretten’ album for the 1864 and 1866 campaigns with illustrations by Herbert Knötel
• Prussian periodicals, including the very useful ‘Soldaten-Freund’ with issues from the 1850s and 1860s

Subcategories

Prussian Line Infantry Charging

 These figures are in the classic rifle at trail pose used by the Prussian infantry from the Napoleonic Wars onward. Casting limitations mean we could not quite reproduce the pose with the side-arm scabbard held at a marked angle to the leg, however based on paintings by artists such as Röchling, we are happy the overall look is very close to a unit's appearance in 1866.

Prussian Line Infantry Advancing Skirmishers

 The main Prussian infantry unit of manoeuvre on the battlefields of 1866 was the half-battalion, circa 500 men strong. These were extremely flexible units, and this set of figures is designed to act as skirmishers moving ahead of the main half-battalion units, taking advantage of the ability of the Needle gun to deliver inaccurate but rapid fire on the move. Use mounted command figures from the charging set.

Prussian Line Infantry Casualties

 A set of casualties in various poses, with head variants. Further sets to follow.

ABOUT OUR WARGAMES RANGE

Apart from our well-known books business, Helion now produce extremely high-quality 25mm wargames figures for both collectors and gamers. We will be specialising in the conflicts of the mid/later 19th century, and our first range will cover the Seven Weeks’ War of 1866. We are beginning with the Bohemian theatre of war, but will, in future years, move on to the West German and Italian theatres of war as well. We aim to provide complete coverage, with figures that are researched extremely accurately from original sources, including photographs and paintings in our collection. The figures are designed by the very talented Alan Marsh. (Please note that this is an all-new range, using a new designer, new mouldmaker, and new production facilities, and not the re-release of a range that was previously available from us in the late 1990s)

We also produce colour flagsheets, and have a range of accompanying books, all available on our website or via our eBay shop.

CUSTOMER COMMENTS

“Just to let you know the Prussian figures have arrived. First impression is that they are very good! Detail and poses are excellent.”

“I had to contact you and tell you how pleased I am with the Prussians. Excellent figures, well done. Now this has just increased my longing for more. I will be re-ordering.”

“Just received the new Prussian figures and I am delighted with them, great detail and movement and I can`t wait for future releases.”

“Now I have a intensive look at every figure and I have to tell you something. The sculpts are really great! My compliment to the sculptor!”

“Excellent castings and the detail is really fine, they will paint up brilliantly especially because of the detail involved. One of the main things I like about them is their faces - each figure has it own character and as a painter this makes my job all the more pleasurable and a little easier!”

“Received today your new figureline of 1866 Prussians. They look great ! They are very well sculpted and anatomically correct. My compliments to you all for this new venture and I hope that you will keep adding to the range. I will keep buying them! Stunning figs!”

“The figures are very nice with lots of movement, correct proportions and of course character!”

“I must congratulate you on this range as the animation and variety of figures as well as the authenticity is superb.”

"The figures are quite beautiful ... The Perry's old FP range is my gold standard, and they are as good if not better."

"...they are superb figures, some of the best I've seen, very crisp, well-proportioned and with almost zero flash ... they deserve to do well."

"Just to let you know the uhlans arrived today and I'm really impressed! I thought the infantry were good but these castings are the next level, absolutely superb."

" … your figures were well worth waiting for. They are first class. I have figures from many of the leading British and American makers and yours are superior to any I have seen so far, both in detail and execution. So congratulations to the sculptor and I'll will definately buy more in the future…"