Swedish Cavalry of the Thirty Years’ War, 1630–1648

Revell 1:72 Scale Figure Review

Bavarian Kürassiers and Harquebusiers passing an Imperial redoubt.

Bavarian Kürassiers and Harquebusiers galloping past an Imperial redoubt. The miniatures are mounted on 76 × 76 mm wargame bases, each representing a regiment of horse with 500 troopers. The walls and walkways of the triangular redoubt were built from foam core, covered with sand taken from the battlefield of Lützen, Germany. The slope of the bastion walls is actually too steep to represent the earth embankments of a temporary field fortification. A 40 degree slope would have been more accurate, but it covers much more ground space than was available on this 50 × 50 cm terrain module.

Contents

15 Figures in 12 Poses – 24 mm equal 173 cm Height

  • General
  • Officer of Kürassiers
  • Kornett with standard
  • Trumpeter
  • Cuirassier with ¾ armour, clubbing with pistol
  • Cuirassier with ¾ armour, pistol at ready (2)
  • Cuirassier with lobster helmet, firing pistol (2)
  • Cuirassier with lobster helmet, pistol at ready (2)
  • Harquebusier with helmet, sabre drawn
  • Harquebusier with helmet, slashing with sabre
  • Harquebusier with plumed hat, sabre drawn
  • Harquebusier with plumend hat, slashing with sabre
  • 15 Horses in 8 Poses

Evaluation

Excellent choice of subject, these figures may be painted as Imperial, Protestant, or Swedish horse of the period.

The number of figure and horse poses in this set is exemplary. No other cavalry figure set offers as many as eight different horse poses in one box.

The quality of horse poses is exceptional. Certain poses require that the horse has only one hoof on the ground at a time, and the sculptor has used small bushes to attach the horse to its base securely. One horse is shown jumping a low obstacle, and this pose may be used very effectively in a diorama.

Minimal flash and mould lines on the riders.

Two of the Harquebusiers may be painted as dragoons, mounted infantry.

Some flash between the horses’ legs and ears, and between their reigns needs to be cleaned up prior to painting.

The Kornett is holding the regimental standard by its staff, although he would normally draw his sabre in combat and let the standard flutter behind his shoulder. The staff rests in its cup attached to the right stirrup and is attached to a crossbelt worn by the Kornett. However, the crossbelt seems to be too long.

None of the Harquebusiers are firing their muskets from horseback, although this was common practise in the Thirty Years War.

Possible Conversions

  • The cuirassier in ¾ armour may be converted to a lancer by cutting the pistol off and pushing a pianowire lance through his closed fist.
  • The other cuirassier in ¾ armour seems to be pointing with his reversed pistol, and he may be converted to an officer by simply adding a sash made from putty or tissue paper.
  • The variety of poses may be increased by swapping heads. Dragoons also wore the Morion helmet which may be scrounged from Revell’s Imperial or Spanish infantry figure sets.
  • One of the Harquebusiers may be converted to a firing pose using the torso of the kneeling infantryman with light musket from Revell’s Swedish Infantry. However, this pose needs a standing or walking horse which is not available in this box. It may be possible to convert a standing horse from another cavalry figure set, using the pistol holsters from one of the Swedish Cavalry horses.

Revell’s Swedish Cavalry is an exceptionally beautiful plastic figure set. The eight horse poses are accurately sculpted and they will be very attractive when used in a diorama or wargame unit. The selection of riders accurately portrays three uniform types, Kürassiers, Pappenheimer Kürassiers in ¾ armour, and Harquebusiers.

Thirty Years’ War Cavalry, 1618–1648