The Ottomans have arrived

At long last, just under 4 weeks from ordering, my Ottomans arrived with a thump thru the letterbox today.

I thought I'd do a quick review.

The figures are from Redoubt. This is the first time I have ordered from them and it's a decidely old school experience. Redoubt's webpage is fine but many figures are unphotographed or unillustrated. In years gone by that was acceptable but today I'm afraid it doesn't cut the mustard. Any site that doesn't have pics probably loses sales to those who do.

The figs arrived in a thin padded bag, inside were a bag with the infantry and a smaller bag with the camel drummer. Not very well protected, especially for the weight of lead in the actual order and as I feared there was one casualty - initially I thought just a broken musket but when I tried to straighten his bent base he snapped at the ankles. £55+ worth of figures in a padded envelop! I know weight has much to do with the cost of postage but it's not like bubble wrap contributes much to that. Suppliers - please protect our figures better!!

Ok, on to the figs themselves.

Two regiments -a unit of janissaries and one of musketeers in turbans with some command type for each.

The jannisaries look exactly like their illustrations on the website, so great news there. Poses are good, marching and advancing figures. However the muskes are perhaps a little short. No big deal though. What is a big deal is the flash. Lots of it on the command figs and a good amount around the faces of the remaining troops. Disappointing again. 

The musketeer figs are better. Again short muskets but much less flash. 

Comparison with Perry - chunky but not huge and the baggy clothing explains away any extra "heft". These guys will line up against my Trent miniatures Austrians so the difference will be less.

Overall 6 out of 10 . Not enough to put me off because these are or were great figures but perhaps the molds need replacing. There are few manufacturers doing Ottomans so little choice. We'll see how they paint up soon!

The Sultan, Sulieman the Dreamer, has designs on Austria's border regions and sees a war there as an excellent means of ridding Constantinople of troublesome commanders and seditious soldiers ! Besides, if he happens to win he'll look even more maginificent - if not he can round on those who failed him and lop off their heads!!

The Archbishop of Hoegaarden may not always see eye to eye with the Emperor but this a religious matter and he may be able to wring some concessions from Vienna if he supports the campaign against the heathens!