New 75mm Union Cavalry Bugler 1863 from TFB Miniatures

[David Spencer]

Damn, that's good!
I had promised myself "no more figures till I paint the ones in the cupboard ".
Bang goes that plan....

 

[Steve headley]

Lol very happy we could tempt you.

Steve

TFB Miniatures Team

 

[Civilwar 100]

Another first class ACW figure, wonderful detail and pose.
With Tfb’s casting quality this will be another winner, better see what available in the piggy bank.

Barry

 

[AJLaFleche]

Great sculpting and pose. Looking at this figure, I keep hearing something about lead us not into temptation!

 

[Steve headley]

Hi Barry, thank you for the kind words so glad you like what us at TFB are trying to do. Might be time to find the piggy bank Hammer lol.

AJLaFleche, I’ve heard them voices too and I always give in lol.

Steve

TFB Miniatures Team

 

[David Spencer]

I really like the pose, the face and the cap. The details look great. Will order one through the APG when they get some. Nice work.


Steve

You can't have too many Yankees on the shelf.

 

[David Spencer]

Hi Nap this is the art work it was based on. The plan it just 75mm at the moment just like the others in the series. A bust well who knows it does lend itself to it.

Simon thanks mate happy you like it.

Todd, yes it’s a Bugle in his hand lol. Yes it’s come out very well indeed. I will change the photos as we now gave the print to show.

Steve

TFB Miniatures Team

View attachment 487996​

There was huge variety in the uniform items issued during the civil war, and it's not at all impossible that plain shell jackets would be issued as replacements or even initially.
I, for one, would prefer painting this subject without the lace. If nothing else, it's an opportunity to make him a dusty, gnarled veteran.
Perhaps one of Sheridan's hard cases?
A lovely piece, and a nice breath of fresh, blue air when there are so many Confederates on the market .

 

[Steve headley]

Yes I agree with you David it made a change not to have the lace work. When Ian as I said brought it to the table it was wow love it. It was just a case of when we were going to slip it in the mix. We have a number of ACW figures lined up (more union ) but this had to jump the queue it was just so good.

We are trying to bring out one from each side just to balance it out . We do have a confederate vignette in the works 6 figures. That will be very impressive. And we have some very interesting subjects to come in this ever expanding set.

Steve

TFB Miniatures Team

 

[David Spencer]

The Union cavalry uniform is my favourite. And the subtle variations in theme make it a perfect modelling subject.
I definitely want one of these.

 

[fogie]

When I first saw this one I remembered Adolph Metzger....as some
will know he was killed in the Fetterman fight in 1866. Unlike his
unfortunate comrades whose bodies were defiled, his remains were
found covered by a buffalo robe - a mark of deep respect accorded
by his Lakota enemies. The story of the Fetterman fight is fascinating
and his part in it is well worthy of study......perhaps this figure might
be ideal as a sort of tribute..... I'm thinking about it.

Mike

 

[Steve headley]

Hi mike, it’s an interesting story, from what we have looked up he would work as a post civil war trooper. It would be a fitting tribute to a brave man.

Steve

TFB Miniatures Team

 

[fogie]

There's a fairly detailed biography on History.net, and
his battered bugle is still preserved in Wyoming state
museum....A definitive history of the Fetterman
Massacre by the late Dee Brown is available from
Amazon I expect...damn good read too.

Mike

 

[Steve headley]

Thanks Mike, I will take a look

Steve

TFB Miniatures Team

 

[fogie]

I ordered this piece yesterday and have dwelt upon matters..... The incident
that became the Fetterman Massacre, where Metzger and his comrades died,
took place in December 1866 - and by all accounts it was a particularly savage
winter even for Wyoming. To represent him at that time would require a deal
of modification - heavy winter clothing, so forth - and the very qualities that
make this figure so outstanding would I think be lost. Better then to represent
him as he might have been during the establishment of Fort Phil Kearney in the
summer of that year, or, indeed, on the third day at Gettysburg three years
earlier when he took part in those cavalry charges led by the 'Boy General'
George Custer.

Mike

 

[Steve headley]

Hi Mike thank you for your order, I’m sure what ever you decide to do with him it will be a fitting tribute to a very brave man indeed.

Steve

TFB Miniatures Team

 

[oldtrousers]

This is a great looking figure and I will no doubt be picking it up when the A.P.G. offers them for sale here in the States. The kit is a perfect project to depict one of my distant relative that served as the bugler of Company H, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry throughout the war.
Mike,
I'm not at home with my references, but I am pretty certain that the smaller, 11" bugle was used later in the war and on the plains. I will have to check as I may be wrong about that. While he may not be suitable for Gettysburg if I am correct about the bugle, he could certainly be portrayed on the plains prior to the Fetterman Massacre.

Scott

 

[fogie]

Thanks Scott, I'm always amazed at the wealth and depth of information shared by members.
There is a picture of a battered bugle held in a museum in Wyoming which purports to have
belonged to the luckless Metzger....hard to tell whether it's long or short though....Good luck
with your Company H project....looking forward...eh?

Mike

 

[oldtrousers]

Hi Mike,
I sure am! Last year I did a mounted figure of his bother for the A.P.G. Gettysburg Exhibition. He was a Corporal in the same company of the 11th PA Cavalry and my paternal great, great, great Grandfather.
Now to make room on the bench by finishing some projects..........

Scott

 

[Steve headley]

Hi Scott, that’s a fitting tribute to your family. As to the Bugle it was copied from the art work but any info will help people decide where to place him.

APG will be getting them very soon it’s gone off for casting so mike will be placing order for him soon .

Steve

TFB Miniatures Team

 

[The Riveteer]

A very appealing figure with a great pose. Would look great next to the confederate figure I’m working on right now. And it’s in 75mm as well. Nice.

There’s one thing I’m not sure about and its the head. My feeling is it could be slightly bigger, say 5%-10%. This being a digital sculpt shouldn’t be hard to try or change.

Adrian

Steve,
I've been following your ACW figures releases with appreciation but like your previous post on "The fatal charge" I, like Adrian have found the proportions a bit questionable on that vignette and this figure. I seem to be out of sync with everyone else here and I do love the pose and overall sculpting - it's just that it looks too heavy for me, and that will affect my decision to buy. I know ill fitting uniforms were common and that is a plus for me, but in this case it's the stature that seems off, not the clothing
I have posted below your original picture with one in which I have reduced the proportion by 10%, and then the same with the head 5% larger as Adrian suggested. The third pic looks more natural to me.

Please take this in the spirit intended. I am a fan of the range so far but I just wanted to point out something for you to consider on forthcoming releases.

David