ESCI – 235 – Napoleonic French Cuirassiers

Description:

Unpainted plastic soldiers in 1/72 scale depicting French Cuirassiers during the Napoleonic Wars, a heavy shock cavalry unit distinguishable by their cuirass and helmet.

When released in 1987, the only other Napoleonic French Cuirassiers set in the market was the old Airfix set from 1969, and while this set inspired in the Airfix one about the poses, it beat the old Airfix set in every single aspect, from accuracy to detail, sculpt and cast.

With so liked subject, it was not a long time that other makers reproduced the subject with a good quality too, expanding the number of options to cover the French Cuirassiers of the Napoleonic period.

This box contains 12 figures in 5 poses, though one of the poses is a dismounted Cuirassier holding the horse, very much in the way of the old Airfix set, so for the mounted troops you get 4 poses and 11 mounted figures, with horses in just 2 poses. The horses attach to separate bases with pegs, in two of the legs, this takes a lot of space in the sprue for the separate bases, and though usually they fit well, you may feel the need to glue them to achieve a really solid set up.

In the group of Napoleonic French Cuirassiers 1/72 scale figures, there are two other makers that matches pretty well with these figures and can act as complement/extend, they are Legio – P-720001 – Napoleonic French Cuirassiers (a complex and delicate set) and A Call To Arms – 51 – French Cuirassiers 1815. A second group are the Strelets figures for the topic, but the bulky style is not very compatible with these figures, and lastly, word a part, the Zvezda set, which by size works better with Strelets but it alone can make it all you need from a French Cuirassiers unit.

This set has been also issued under Italeri brand, Italeri – 6084 – Napoleonic French Cuirassiers.