Wow! I'll say that again, Wow!! The Freikorps are wearing Swedish cuffs and lapels. You can't see the lapels because their equipment being all over them - as it would have been. Officers plus NCO's have metallic lace on their hats, Pvt Dogface (Hundkopf ?) zilch. Paint on a few patches and/or different coloured trews as they didn't get issued uniforms as often as the regular army. No standard bearers as Freikorps didn't have any (Rally to the flag in a tight corner?! You've got to be kidding!).

However Guernsey are making a flag wagger for those of you who want to use these as "Hessians" in AWI or Imperial units or battered Prussians. The Cossacks are really a dream. You can use them for about 300 years worth - pre 7YW to 19th Century. They are all replicas of their counterparts on foot and riding ponies. Their saddles are integral to their legs. All ride "short". Anyone who has seen Cossacks riding will recognise these. Four of them have open hands to supply your own lances (wire) which Cossacks used like rapiers not in the knightly jousting position. No uniforms. The list sheet gives you ideas for colours of their clothes. I shall list both groups of figures and comment.

Freikorps: Campaign Order

PFK1. Attack march. (5 variants).
PFK1a.Drinking from his canteen. Feel the heat and dust of these 18th Century summers.
PFK1b. Muffled hat. A kerchief over his tricorne and ears. Summer rain or late campaign frost kept from the ears.
PFK2. Firing. (5 variants). Good braced right leg, getting well into the shot. Tremendous differences in the faces.
PFK3.Advancing. (5 variants).Tricornes at different angles, different hair, expressions. All at high porte. Three have canteens, two do not.
PFK4.Running. (5 variants). A good running pose; left leg just taking off, right toe on the ground. Multi variants faces, hat angles and hair.
PFK21. NCO ordering ranks. Shoving them in position with his half pike across his chest. [He is great!]
PFK22. Crazed NCO wielding blunderbuss! (Feldwebel Strenzstoff). Substitute a guitar and call him Springstein! Yelling - two plaits down either side of his face. Not a pleasant man.
PFK31. Drummer. Drum apron, swallows nests, playing, marching.
PFK92. Fatality. Curled up in his final sleep.
POLs11. Officer. Attack march, spontoon. (Hauptman v Soldner). Hard-faced individual. Scowling, spontoon to go in open right hand cast to his base.
POLs12.Villainous officer with two pistols. (Mayo v Schlimim). Patch over one eye. Aimed pistol held with the action on top for better chance of ignition: other pistol poised muzzle in the air in his left hand.
POLs13.Idealistic young officer waving hat. Quite well off too. Holds an over and under double lock pistol in his hand - "turn off" barrels no doubt.
POLs14.Cynical officer, sword, holstered pistol (Leutnant v Zynisch). This chap looked so good "in the metal" I immediately made him i/c 5 other Freikorps for a skirmish scenario. [To be written up soon I hope]. Using Guernsey Foundry 18th Century Skirmish rules.
POLs15.Boy officer. (Fahntich Von Junge). Running holding his hat on, sword in hand - no Fahn - Freikorps didn't carry flags. Excellent model.
POLs12.Officer. (Mounted version of V. Schlimim). Managing his horse with his left hand but still a pistol in his right. Good solid horse (90p).

Fusiliers still to come and a Pioneer with axe - Pioneers wore a Fusilier style cap. (See illustration in Duffy's "Army of Frederick the Great". Also cavalry Cuirassiers (Kurrasieres actually) can also be painted up as Guardes Du Corps. Alte Fritz liked speaking French - language of Voltaire.

Cossacks! Mounted.

(Supply your own lances). These are mounted versions of the foot Cossacks - seven in all. No uniforms.

CavRC1.One eyed Oleg - two pistols, now only one in right hand.
CavRC2.Red Renko. Sword in right hand.
CavRC3.Iv. Smertevich. Now has a lance (wire supplied by you).
CavRC4.Big Bogdan. Pistol in hand, musket slung.
CavRC5.Pyotr Prestupink. Lance, no musket.
CavRC6.Mad Mikhail. Slung musketoon - lance.
CavRC7.Stenka the Sneaky. Lance upright.

Horses

HP1. Galloping pony 1.
HP2. Galloping pony 2.

There seem to be three ponies in my samples. I think (no numerals on bases) No. 1 is cantering, head up, tail flowing, ears forward. Next almost the same but, mane on the other side of the neck and ears back. Last galloping, neck outstretched, ears back.

All excellently modelled, reminding me of dear old Nimbus I used to ride years ago. He's now gone to the big stable in the sky.

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