1866 Prussian infantry

[realthing]

I'm thinking of building an 1866 Prussian army. Any suggestions as to which line infantry are appropriate? In particular not sure about the choice between PPW 7 (Line in tunic, pickelhaube) and PPW 8 (Line in tunic, 1860 pickelhaube). Any advice welcome!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Hi there,
I will jump in before the 'Big guns' like Le Manchou, Mollinary, Cameronian and Hertsblue. They are all a wealth of information and lovely blokes.
PPW7 is the lower shako worn by some units during the Franco Prussian war.
PPW8 is slightly higher with a metal strap on the back which was worn from 1860 and would be worn in 1866.
You also have the option of fieldmeuz caps too.
have fun
ML

[Chad]

I use Ppw8 with a mixture of feldmutze

Chad

[mollinary]

The good news is, in this scale, you can probably get away with using both. I'll let you into a secret - although I am a stickler for accuracy, it is not the be all and end all.   Using both types, together with the figures in feldmutzen, gives you lots of variety for the Prussian infantry, and I believe this is the right look for both 1866 and 1870.  I think figures in identical poses look too "eighteenth century" for this modern conflict.  That said, this is the technical difference between the codes (and kudos to Pendraken for taking the trouble to represent them.  The original models of pickelhaube, introduced in the 1840s, we're very high indeed (think Russian Crimean War infantry). This made them cumbersome, and very expensive in consumption of leather. As the army expanded, successive models of pickelhaube were introduced, and each reduced the height of the crown, and thus the amount of leather used. Old versions were called in, dismantled, and cut down. This is why so few early pickelhauben still exist.  The model in use in 1866 was the M1860. This was still quite high, and had two distinctive features. The first was that the spike was on a cruciform base, the points of the cross being oriented for and aft, and at 90 degrees.  The second, as mentioned by ML, was a brass strip strengthener at the back, running from the crown to the rim of the neck guard.   In 1867 a new model was issued.  This replaced the cruciform base with a simple round one, reduced the height of the crown, and removed the strengthener.   Both models were used in great numbers in 1870. In 10mm scale, the differences are so small, they can be represented by paint, if it bothers you.   Whatever you decide to do, welcome to this fabulous period!   

Mollinary

[cameronian]

 Mollinary: "although I am a stickler for accuracy, it is not the be all and end all"

                .................... later ........................

                "the spike was on a cruciform base, the points of the cross being oriented fore and aft, and at 90 degrees"


                 Andrew you're priceless 

                 

[mollinary]

Mollinary: "although I am a stickler for accuracy, it is not the be all and end all"

                .................... later ........................

                "the spike was on a cruciform base, the points of the cross being oriented fore and aft, and at 90 degrees"


                 Andrew you're priceless 

                 

Well, oh Caledonian one, as it is Christmas - and you have been a rare visitor to the forum - I thought I would offer you a crumb to practice sharpening your wits on! If one can sharpen things on crumbs, that is?    .   Also, I thought providing the information would allow "real thing" the opportunity to make his own choice.  After all, Pendraken have taken the trouble to model this feature on the 1860 pickelhaube! But my armies march with the full range of pickelhauben. That reminds me Leon, when are the Skirmishers and Command Groups with model 1860 pickelhauben coming out?   


Mollinary

[Leon]

That reminds me Leon, when are the Skirmishers and Command Groups with model 1860 pickelhauben coming out?   

[realthing]

Many, many thanks all for the swift and informative replies. I'll go for the 1860 figures, not that my eyesight these days could spot the difference I fear 

[Hertsblue]

The fact is, the two types of helmet are so similar that mixing them into the same unit is fairly easily done. You can also add PPW9 Line in Feldmutze to create a bit of variety - Prussian infantrymen seem to have often ditched the pickelhaube in favour of the much more comfortable field-cap.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Can someone explain why in my first reply I wrote kepi!!!
Also why no one has corrected me ob it yet. 
I meant pucklehaub, sorry.

If you searcg hard enough on the forum there is also images of the legendary 'Tribble in pucklehaub', but he is in the 1867 version!

[realthing]

Surely, shako, ML? No worries - obvious what was meant.

Very nice pic Hertsblue - definitely inspires me to get an order in tonight. Better get some Austrians for them to beat too!

[Leman]

When you go for the Austrians look out for the Hungarian infantry in greatcoat. The old sculpts were very different from the "German" infantry. The differences on the new sculpts are still there but are much subtler, especially as the poses are now very similar to the "German" infantry. At first I thought I'd been sent the wrong figures. One of the big differences is that the new figures are depicted in the covered shako, whereas the old figures are sporting the uncovered shako with the standing cockade. Unless they've been changed the Grenzer's make very good skirmishing "Hungarian" infantry in tunic with greatcoat being carried across the body. Probably not ideal for sticklers but it does add a bit more variety.