Again ?

The Apache and their prisoners

The Sioux  have cornered their pursers!!!
(click to enlarge)

Some left over Pictures

Here are some leftovers...........Click to enlarge

Oh Holy Night

If you serve the Long Knives you must die!!!

Riding Shotgun or more properly riding with a shotgun

Ok here is a picture of what a shotgun would have/should have looked like during the ACW and yes mainly Rebs carried them early in the war.  After that Union Cavalry arms were easy to come by.
So please cut down that silly full size TSSD shotgun  they got their Cavalrymen carrying.  LOL LOL Thanks.  I don't care for this man's hat but that is another rant.  And the fact TSSD and Paragon have poses with the reins in the wrong hand is also another rant. LOL LOL

ACW 54mm Cavalry

I have always felt my ACW Cavalry to be lacking.  The fault partly mine and partly the manufacturers.  Imex made IMHO some great Union cavalry and Rebs .  Italeri did the same in reverse.  A great set of Confederate  cavalry but no run in blue.  I have all of them  and of course added a few Marx and a BMC pose or two.  But I never felt satisfied,  I even added the Airfix 7th and a few Britians deetail cavalry.  Then TSSD released  ACW cavalry in both colors but in that new larger 54mm size that just didn't match in my mind.   But know if reports are true the new Expeditionary Forces (aka Xforce) seem to be an answer to filling out those regular 54mm ACW Cavalry.  In fact one reader tells us that the horses match the Italeri ones quite nicely.

What  do you do with the TSSD Cavalry ?  Why Custer of course,  but you may have to sacrifice other cavalry you have been using for Custer era such as Airfix, BMC etc.  Do not forget Paragon.  This were intended specially for the Indians Wars and not meant to embrace the ACW as TSSD intends for their ACW/Indian War Cavalry.  

Mount up!
Column of Twos
Column Left
March ........

Random Indian Photos

On the Plains and in Arizona. (Click on Photos to enlarge)

 Apache Raid on a small town..............Paragon Scouts work well as enemy Apaches too.........

 Guard the Mule Train....................... (Marx  and Replicant Pack Mules)

The your a little bit special

I have always connected the term "specialty figure(s)" to the metal world  or maybe to a larger scale plastic figure.  It kinda knocked me for a lope when I heard a set of plastic figures described as "Specialty Figures. and then some collectors label some produced in the past with the same  title.

These Specialty figures mean high costs we are told which is passed onto us the collectors.  We are told we asked for them.  I didnt, did you ? LOL

IMHO I can do without special sets.  I do not feel a company should place itself in jeopardy by making them. 

Paragon Scouts

We note that folks have rec'd the new Paragon Scout Set and overall are very happy with them.  As expected most ordered at least 2 sets.

Paragon Paradox

 Paragon has addressed a Forum members thoughts on the New Scout Set costs

 Member stated
While these figs look fabulous, I'm assuming that the numerical demand for "scouts" is probably going to be less than for rank and file troopers or Indians simply because most folks won't be using more than a handful of scouts in any set-up. So if the producer can't anticipate selling multiple sets to customers, he'd really have to charge more than average to recover the costs.



Paragon Reply
Thank you, Plastic Fan, for your insight. Specialty figures are more costly to produce exactly for the reason you stated. Mold and production costs are even higher for Specialty figures than they are for rank and file troopers. The factory requires minimum orders and when you go below their minimum they slap on additional fees.

Our customers asked for these figures. We wanted to please them. We also want to stay in business. In order to do both we have to charge a price that will allow us to do both.

Thanks to all for your feedback.

Gene 

My Thoughts
If Paragon didnt think they would sell then they should have explained that to their customers and not do them.   It seems that the fact they ordered a minimum run was the reason for the higher costs.  I myself do not think of these as Specialty figures.  They can easily be used as rank and file. 

Paragon Figures

After a member on a FORUM indicated he seemingly had inside info regarding problems at Paragon(?)  This post appeared from the company itself/

Just wanted everyone to know that the Cavalry and Apache Scouts are on their way and should be available for purchase very soon. There will be 8 figures to a blister card - 4 Cavalry Scouts and 4 Apache Scouts. (including 2 poses that have never been seen on the website). They will be available in 2 ways. All buckskin OR Cavalry Scouts in light blue and Apaches in buckskin. $22 per blister card.

http://www.paragon-scenics.com/miniatures/Home.html

Good news but does this mean that in adding the TWO additional figures the card will have just the 8 figures?? If so that will be a shame.  For example Barzso's new boxed sets offer 16 figs at this same price.  We will have to wait and see ......  Bad news to me at least is that it appears their will be no Medium Blue figures available.  I love Paragon figures of this era.

The Last of the Indian Wars

History tells us the Last of the Indian Wars were the campaigns against the Apache.  Here a small Army patrol is ambushed by an Apache band.  Ambushes were a favorite tactic of the Apaches.

"Pony soldier, I am Sierra Charriba . Who you send against me now?"

Bad Pose

Just saw the Paragon Mtd Set.  My much beloved Apache battling figures it seems have one really eyesore of a pose.  (At least to me).  One figure is fighting with sword and pistol!!!!  Oh shame, shame, shame.   Set also has a few poses firing their carbines!  In my world those guys are halted, standing still.

One really great thing I noted is that the buckle on all of the carbine slings is in the back.  Take note TSSD.  When in the field this is how the Cavalry wore the sling.

Cavalry

Spent the afternoon pouring over the new Paragon Wild West Cavalry. Very nice indeed. I imagine a few will take issue with the Head/Hat thing. One thing I noted quite by accident is that they fit very well IMHO on IMEX horses. The poses are good with no one firing a carbine one handed. The Officer's sword has the sword knot flying in the wind and that position of his saber is right out of the US Cavalry manual. For you purists the Officer is not carrying a carbine. I do wish one or two were wearing a kepi simply because I like that head gear.

I had heard that these figures were intended for those (IMEX) horses but cannot confirm that. Likewise they seem to go well with the Imex ACW Cavalry. Paragon are of course more full bodied and all. I may just add a troop or two to my 5th Cav diorama that is sadly lacking decent Mtd troops since my Airfix troops look so under sized compared to the new Cavalry out there. Check them out ......

Paragon

Use the link on the right and go to the Paragon site to view a list of Future Plans.....What!!!! More Alamo ? We knew that would make you happy.

So Big but not so far away!

Look great we just hope they are not too big!