As 2018 draws to a close I thought it was time to first wish you all the best for the forthcoming festivities and to thank you for your support in keeping Crann Tara afloat, bearing in mind I started this company as a means to let me have my own figures then we have come some way with over 150 production moulds now made!

So what's coming in 2019? I am in the fortunate position to now be working with 3 sculptors who all make figures that are compatible with each other yet have a style unique to their sculptor.
Andy Stadden has produced excellent figures this year, his wife has been seriously ill but he is returning to the bench and will be finishing off the early Saxons. Hopefully these will be available early part of next year. These will be followed by Government Highlanders, French and British NCO's more French light infantry and a new range!

Richard Ansell was absent for a considerable period of time but I am glad to say he has now returned to sculpting, he is currently working on Naval Landing party and Maroons to compliment the excellent publication on the Sugar Island Wars by Stuart Insch. He will also be making Compagnie de Francais de la Marine for both the Caribbean and Canada. I am hopeful he will be then working on a series of figures to accompany a new book to be written by Charles Grant on skirmish actions of the Seven Years War.

Just joining the team is Dan from Digital Sculpt Figures in Sweden he is working on Prussian/Hessian infantry again to accompany Charles' book, the early images of the sculpts are superb and these figures may appear in 40mm as well - we shall see.

In addition there will be the occasional conversion that I think is ok to sell - shortly to be released are the mounted Freytag Jaeger and Von Luckner hussars.

Finally following on the success of the production of the rapid fire Saxon cannon I will be looking to work with Griffin Moulds JJP Ltd and Christian Rogge in producing some of the heavier British artillery pieces.

As always comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated and here's to an exciting 2019

Some new pieces

Next year I'm looking forward to working in collaboration with Charles Grant on a new book he is writing on skirmish engagements in the Seven Years War. To that end he has started to prepare a list of figures he would like to see  in production so that we can use them in the engagements and from my position released as sets to accompany the book.

The first pieces identified were Von Luckner Hussars and Mounted Freitag Jaeger.
Charles has done some conversions for the Jaeger and I set about the Hussars.
Here's the results - still some tweaks to do but I'm quite happy with them, excuse camera wobble it's b****y cold today.

Hope to have them in production in the New Year.

Battleground show

24th November will see me attending my local show Battleground.
https://www.battlegroundshow.co.uk/
As usual I will have my trade stand plus an extra 6' to sell surplus to requirements lead and plastic projects!

With free  entry a good selection of traders and games what's not to like.
Just remember if you want anything in particular best to e.mail me first - especially AWI, Hanoverians or Hessians as I don't normally bring these to the show.

A picture of the 40mm Prussian I printed - painted by Graham Hilditch just considering if I should release the new scale figures?

Saxon Rapid Fire cannon

I am pleased to announce that the Saxon Rapid fire cannon has arrived from Griffin.

This is the first of what I hope to be a series of artillery pieces, designed by Griffin through 3d technology I'm really pleased with the results.

I am working with Christian Rogge on bringing some of the heavier pieces for the British army next before returning to the Saxons.

These new pieces will be listed under the respective armies rather than under the 'Minden' equipment
range.

Sorry the crew shown are French .

In addition I have also invested in a resin 3D printer - part of this is to hopefully support a new project and part is that I'm hoping to be able to print the artillery pieces before they are cast in metal and thus avoid the heavy price charged for the printing process. Griffin design costs are excellent and this was designed by their team but at the moment they use an outside company to do the printing  and it increases the costs substantially. so lets see,

A short update

A quick thanks for all the pre.orders for the new Saxon figures. 

They have sold well. I am up to date now with all outstanding orders and next week I shall be away until the 18th visiting my son in Chicago and as good as my wife is packing toy soldiers is not high on her agenda :)

When I return the Saxon packs will  be added to the store. I also have two new projects in the pipeline both of which I am extremely excited about and I shall announce them before Christmas. I am also hopeful that Andy will be on with the second wave of Saxons before too long. His wife has been seriously ill and quite rightly he has taken some time out to care for her.

The Saxon rapid fire gun is now almost ready for production

The gun will be provided with two barrels a plain one and the one above with the dolphins - hopefully not too far away.

So watch this space for some exciting news.

New Saxons - where are we - an Update

I thought it was about time I gave an update on the production of the new Saxon range.

First all the musketeers and Grenadiers have had production moulds made and I've received around 19 kilos of figures ( that's  a lot!)

The production moulds for the command and artillery are being made now and should be ready in about two weeks so I intend to send out all the infantry and artillery figures for the orders received so far - army deals therefore will go out as a split order.

I'm hoping that the cavalry will be ready in about 4 weeks - as you recall we made a mistake and made the figure with a sabreteche - it has been changed- however that does mean I have cuirassiers that will serve as Prussians  and so I will be putting charging Prussian cuirassiers on the site when they are available.

Also progress on the Saxon rapid firing cannon - the first 3D print has been done, there is some cleaning up to do and a few tweaks but we are nearly there, really pleased. You will see there are two barrels - Christain Rogge who has been a great help on this project as has Dr. Stephen Summerfield says its unclear if the barrel had dolphins or not so we've done both. Next step once the tewaks are done if to get a metal master cast.

Saxon Artillery

A bit of a sneak peek this one. Griffin JJP Ltd who do my mould making and casting are just venturing into the 3D design market.

I have been working closely with them over the last week to look at making some artillery pieces for the Saxons and my British.

Here's a couple of wip screen shots of the Saxon 'rapid fire' cannon.
There are tweaks to be made and of course the 'T' handle at the rear will be hanging down as it was chain.
 I've been liaising with Dr. Stephen Summerfield over this and I'm pretty comfortable that we are almost there.

The dimensions are spot on and the cannon will suffice for the 3 or the 6 pounder as the barrels were only a couple of cms different which in this scale isn't noticeable.

Really looking forward to seeing this produced.

British light and field 12 pounders I hope to be next.

At last - Saxons and a special pre.order offer

Well sometimes its better late than never and I have waited quite a while for these chaps.
Anyway the first wave of Saxons arrived today - still with a couple of niggles but of that later.

I'm really pleased with these and following a closer inspection etc. they will be off to Griffin on Monday.

A couple of 'mistakes'! before people shout in  - the artillery crew hats have pom poms on and they shouldn't they should all be cockades these will be cast as is ( could pass as Prussians?) and the production casts altered to have the cockades.

The Cuirassiers - Dr. Summerfields book describes the headwear as having pom poms for this period but all his plates etc show the Officers with cockades - so again these will be altered before full production.
Frustrating I know but these things happen!

In terms of the Grenadiers from my information at this time (mid 1740's) the Grenadier Officers wore tricorn?
Unless I'm advised accordingly this will remain as is although I may still convert one to see what he looks like. A grenadier drummer will be converted before production.

Anyway onto the pics.
Grenadier

 Musketeer

 Drummer

Officer

 Standard bearer

 Artillery crew

 Cuirassier command

 Trooper walking

 Figures charging

 Troopers charging

The next figures are a bonus and were commission pieces for a couple of customers anyway I have decided to make them available and they would be suitable for French or Austrian?

Finally I hope to get the Saxons on the shop this weekend but initially they will be available as pre.order units

A unit of Infantry or cavalry (24 infantry or 12 cavalry incl. command) will attract a 10% discount
A brigade of Infantry or Cavalry ( 3 units of infantry or Cavalry will attract 15%)
A Saxon army -3 Brigades of infantry 1 brigade of cavalry and a battery of guns (3 pieces) will attract 20%
Finally another Cuirassier Officer is being made in a slightly more dynamic pose is being made and any one who buys a unit or more of Cuirassiers will receive the new Officer free.

From famine to feast _ new releases a plenty

It's been some while since I posted anything and I apologise but hopefully over the next few weeks there will be quite a few things of interest.

A nice bundle of new releases will be appearing in the shop over the next couple of days.
The long awaited Mousquetaires of the Guard including my much wanted vignette which I think Andy Stadden has done a first class job

Then we have the marching Spanish Grenadier

The long awaited French Dragoon command - both the Grenadier and the command are sculpted by John Dougan

Then there is also another favorite of mine the ADC

He's on one of the new charging heavy horses and he would most probably sit better on a light.

A mounted Officer suitable for French or Savoia

I've also been doing quite a few conversions for customers for their imagi-nation armies - some of these may find their way to the shop- not decided yet:)

Hopefully the Saxons wont be too far behind.