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As promised, after a little hiatus, here are some more pics from my collection. Tonight, some of Frederick's heavy cavalry, Kürassiere, or cuirassiers. First, a color party:

[ATTACH=full]3911[/ATTACH]

These are figures by Stadden, painted as a pair of troopers and the standard-bearer of the 8th Regiment, the Seydlitz Cuirassiers. Cuirassiers were the direct descendants of the mounted knight, and they took their name from the breastplate, or cuirass, which was a last remnant of the knight's armor. It was actually proof against musket fire. Cuirassiers were used as shock cavalry, charging in ranks, knee to knee and riding down the enemies line.

Here is a shot of these figures from the back:

[ATTACH=full]3912[/ATTACH]

Cuirassiers were relatively larger men; the minimum height requirement was 5' 6", and on average, they were the tallest and most robust men available. The Stadden castings are relatively stocky, compared to some other manufacturers' figures, and help convey that sense of size.

The flag is a piece of tin sheet, which is how Staddens left the factory. I've painted it as the colonel's standard, or Leibstandarte; the regiment's ordinary flags were reversed, black with a white center.

Regiments were known by the names of their commanders in 18th-century Prussia (and everywhere else, for that matter); Seydlitz was Frederick's most able cavalry general and probably the best leader of men in that time. He was responsible for revitalizing the cavalry, which had stagnated somewhat under Frederick's father, and training it into an efficient and skilled force. He was also a notorious rake, which probably contributed to his early death at 52.

Here are some more Kürassiere, three officers of different regiments:

[ATTACH=full]3913[/ATTACH]

These are also Stadden castings. From left to right, they are an officer of the Regiment "Gen d'armes" (Nr. 10), one of the two bodyguard regiments; an officer of the Prince of Prussia's Regiment (Nr. 2, also known as the "Yellow Riders", because of the color of their coats); and an officer of the King's own bodyguard regiment, the Gardes du Corps.

You can see from these figures, though, how most Staddens have the same face, even the portrait figures. For portrait figures, I usually look for figures from newer makers.

One more Kürassier, a Rittmeister or captain, of the 7th Regiment, "von Driesen":

[ATTACH=full]3914[/ATTACH]

Yet another Stadden casting. I liked his pose, looking a little to the right, hands behind his back, sort of an attentive pose. Here is the view from the back:

[ATTACH=full]3915[/ATTACH]

Actually, I look for these old Stadden castings at the shows. I love digging through boxes of odds and ends, you never know what you'll find.

More of the heavies, coming up...

<blockquote data-quote="the Baron" data-source="post: 2436" data-attributes="member: 75">As promised, after a little hiatus, here are some more pics from my collection.&nbsp; Tonight, some of Frederick&#039;s heavy cavalry, Kürassiere, or cuirassiers.&nbsp; First, a color party:[ATTACH=full]3911[/ATTACH]These are figures by Stadden, painted as a pair of troopers and the standard-bearer of the 8th Regiment, the Seydlitz Cuirassiers.&nbsp; Cuirassiers were the direct descendants of the mounted knight, and they took their name from the breastplate, or cuirass, which was a last remnant of the knight&#039;s armor.&nbsp; It was actually proof against musket fire.&nbsp; Cuirassiers were used as shock cavalry, charging in ranks, knee to knee and riding down the enemies line.Here is a shot of these figures from the back:[ATTACH=full]3912[/ATTACH]Cuirassiers were relatively larger men; the minimum height requirement was 5&#039; 6&quot;, and on average, they were the tallest and most robust men available.&nbsp; The Stadden castings are relatively stocky, compared to some other manufacturers&#039; figures, and help convey that sense of size.The flag is a piece of tin sheet, which is how Staddens left the factory.&nbsp; I&#039;ve painted it as the colonel&#039;s standard, or Leibstandarte; the regiment&#039;s ordinary flags were reversed, black with a white center.Regiments were known by the names of their commanders in 18th-century Prussia (and everywhere else, for that matter); Seydlitz was Frederick&#039;s most able cavalry general and probably the best leader of men in that time.&nbsp; He was responsible for revitalizing the cavalry, which had stagnated somewhat under Frederick&#039;s father, and training it into an efficient and skilled force.&nbsp; He was also a notorious rake, which probably contributed to his early death at 52.Here are some more Kürassiere, three officers of different regiments:[ATTACH=full]3913[/ATTACH]These are also Stadden castings.&nbsp; From left to right, they are an officer of the Regiment &quot;Gen d&#039;armes&quot; (Nr. 10), one of the two bodyguard regiments; an officer of the Prince of Prussia&#039;s Regiment (Nr. 2, also known as the &quot;Yellow Riders&quot;, because of the color of their coats); and an officer of the King&#039;s own bodyguard regiment, the Gardes du Corps.You can see from these figures, though, how most Staddens have the same face, even the portrait figures.&nbsp; For portrait figures, I usually look for figures from newer makers.One more Kürassier, a Rittmeister or captain, of the 7th Regiment, &quot;von Driesen&quot;:[ATTACH=full]3914[/ATTACH]Yet another Stadden casting.&nbsp; I liked his pose, looking a little to the right, hands behind his back, sort of an attentive pose.&nbsp; Here is the view from the back:[ATTACH=full]3915[/ATTACH]Actually, I look for these old Stadden castings at the shows.&nbsp; I love digging through boxes of odds and ends, you never know what you&#039;ll find.More of the heavies, coming up...</blockquote>

[QUOTE="the Baron, post: 2436, member: 75"] As promised, after a little hiatus, here are some more pics from my collection. Tonight, some of Frederick's heavy cavalry, [i]Kürassiere[/i], or cuirassiers. First, a color party: [ATTACH=full]3911[/ATTACH] These are figures by Stadden, painted as a pair of troopers and the standard-bearer of the 8th Regiment, the Seydlitz Cuirassiers. Cuirassiers were the direct descendants of the mounted knight, and they took their name from the breastplate, or cuirass, which was a last remnant of the knight's armor. It was actually proof against musket fire. Cuirassiers were used as shock cavalry, charging in ranks, knee to knee and riding down the enemies line. Here is a shot of these figures from the back: [ATTACH=full]3912[/ATTACH] Cuirassiers were relatively larger men; the minimum height requirement was 5' 6", and on average, they were the tallest and most robust men available. The Stadden castings are relatively stocky, compared to some other manufacturers' figures, and help convey that sense of size. The flag is a piece of tin sheet, which is how Staddens left the factory. I've painted it as the colonel's standard, or [i]Leibstandarte[/i]; the regiment's ordinary flags were reversed, black with a white center. Regiments were known by the names of their commanders in 18th-century Prussia (and everywhere else, for that matter); Seydlitz was Frederick's most able cavalry general and probably the best leader of men in that time. He was responsible for revitalizing the cavalry, which had stagnated somewhat under Frederick's father, and training it into an efficient and skilled force. He was also a notorious rake, which probably contributed to his early death at 52. Here are some more [i]Kürassiere[/i], three officers of different regiments: [ATTACH=full]3913[/ATTACH] These are also Stadden castings. From left to right, they are an officer of the Regiment "Gen d'armes" (Nr. 10), one of the two bodyguard regiments; an officer of the Prince of Prussia's Regiment (Nr. 2, also known as the "Yellow Riders", because of the color of their coats); and an officer of the King's own bodyguard regiment, the Gardes du Corps. You can see from these figures, though, how most Staddens have the same face, even the portrait figures. For portrait figures, I usually look for figures from newer makers. One more [i]Kürassier[/i], a [i]Rittmeister[/i] or captain, of the 7th Regiment, "von Driesen": [ATTACH=full]3914[/ATTACH] Yet another Stadden casting. I liked his pose, looking a little to the right, hands behind his back, sort of an attentive pose. Here is the view from the back: [ATTACH=full]3915[/ATTACH] Actually, I look for these old Stadden castings at the shows. I love digging through boxes of odds and ends, you never know what you'll find. More of the heavies, coming up... [/QUOTE]

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