War of the Spanish Succession in 20mm
New 1000 Series of BUM
We have recently been acknowledged that the Catalan scale
miniatures and model maker Barcelona Universal Models (BUM)
is about to start production of a new 1:72nd scale range of plastic miniatures related to the War of the Spanish
Succession (1701-1715). This new series will be specially devoted to the Catalan involvement in a war that
was to be the last one in History where Catalan-Aragonese troops would fight under their own flags. It will be too
the first time that WSS Spanish and Catalan troops will be produced in this scale.
This new BUM range has been given the series number 1000 and
will be released under their filial brand name, GerMan Miniatures. The first batch of this new range will
consist of 4 boxes depicting the epic 1713-1714 Siege of Barcelona, with a scheduled further expansion to cover other, earlier stages
of the war -as it will be explained below. We have had the chance to interview German Domingo, owner of BUM, who
has not only agreed to give us some details about the main features of this exciting project, but to furnish us
with some pictures of the upcoming range's greens as well.
Nr. 1000: Austro-Catalan Infantry
First to be released will be the set numbered 1000 - Austro-Catalan Infantry, the greens of which can be seen at the picture below. The real number of miniatures in each box is still uncertain, although most likely it will consist of 2 sprues of 12 soldiers each. The picture below shows the whole variety of poses -twelve, in fact: kneeling (either firing, loading or about to fire), standing firing, advancing with fixed bayonet, preparing a hand grenade, brandishing the musket as a mace, etc. Most of the miniatures in this set are musketeers, for just 2 mitred grenadiers and an undressed figure who could represent either an armed civilian or a bare-dressed soldier. The miniature acting as a flag bearer wears a high officialty uniform, for it is intended to depict the Barcelona town Major, Rafael de Casanova, dressed as Colonel of the Coronela urban militia regiment. The horseman at the bottom right of the picture is also dressed as a high officer, besides of wearing cuirass, for it represents Antoni de Villarroel, General in Chief of the Catalan Army.
First to be released will be the set numbered 1000 - Austro-Catalan Infantry, the greens of which can be seen at the picture below. The real number of miniatures in each box is still uncertain, although most likely it will consist of 2 sprues of 12 soldiers each. The picture below shows the whole variety of poses -twelve, in fact: kneeling (either firing, loading or about to fire), standing firing, advancing with fixed bayonet, preparing a hand grenade, brandishing the musket as a mace, etc. Most of the miniatures in this set are musketeers, for just 2 mitred grenadiers and an undressed figure who could represent either an armed civilian or a bare-dressed soldier. The miniature acting as a flag bearer wears a high officialty uniform, for it is intended to depict the Barcelona town Major, Rafael de Casanova, dressed as Colonel of the Coronela urban militia regiment. The horseman at the bottom right of the picture is also dressed as a high officer, besides of wearing cuirass, for it represents Antoni de Villarroel, General in Chief of the Catalan Army.
WSS Austro-Catalan Infantry
click on the image to see it closer
In our humble opinion, the prototypes sculpting is fairly
clear and well detailed, and most positions are quite likely and realistic -with maybe the exception of the
grenadier brandishing the musket as a mace, a bit too static for the intended action. It should be emphasized the
figure kneeling firing, for he's a Mountain Fusilier or "Miquelet" (distinguishable for his
characteristic way of wearing the tunic hanging from a shoulder). The miniatures are historically very accurate,
due to the prototypes' sculpting process has been under direct supervision of History Prof. Francesc X. Hernŕndez
and Mr. Francesc Riart, authors of Histňria Militar de Catalunya (4 books) and l'Exčrcit de Catalunya 1713-1714.
Nr. 1010: Two Crowns' Infantry
Alongside with the set above, BUM will release a second range under reference number 1010, devoted to the Infantry of Philip V, the prototypes of which can be seen at the image next. As for the Catalans, the final number of miniatures in the set is still uncertain, although it is likely that the set will consist of 2 sprues too. It might be a little surprising, at a first sight, the high proportion of grenadiers and officers in this set, for just a single musketeer. However, most of the officers and musketeers in both sets are interchangeable, for their equipment and weaponry was similar enough to be used for any of both sides. Sadly, we cannot ensure you the same about grenadiers, for Austro-Catalans' and Franco-Spaniards' mitres weren't so similar at all... some scratch-building abilities will be compulsory, then, if you are needed of a supplementary number of Catalan grenadiers!
Alongside with the set above, BUM will release a second range under reference number 1010, devoted to the Infantry of Philip V, the prototypes of which can be seen at the image next. As for the Catalans, the final number of miniatures in the set is still uncertain, although it is likely that the set will consist of 2 sprues too. It might be a little surprising, at a first sight, the high proportion of grenadiers and officers in this set, for just a single musketeer. However, most of the officers and musketeers in both sets are interchangeable, for their equipment and weaponry was similar enough to be used for any of both sides. Sadly, we cannot ensure you the same about grenadiers, for Austro-Catalans' and Franco-Spaniards' mitres weren't so similar at all... some scratch-building abilities will be compulsory, then, if you are needed of a supplementary number of Catalan grenadiers!
Two Crowns' Infantry
click on the image to see it closer
Once again, the sculpture quality is quite good and clear,
with realistic poses -again too, with one or two exceptions, in our opinion. Anyway, most of the miniatures are
fairly nice and please our taste. Some are plainly great!
Nr. 1001 & 1011: City fighting Dioramas
Further plans of BUM include the releasing of two complementary diorama boxes (Nr. 1001 and 1011) including sections of Barcelona streets, cannons, barricades and some special figures. The image below shows both dioramas alongside: The one at the left -a prototype already finished- is numbered 1001 and is aimed to depict the Catalan side of a barricade; it will include at least a cannon along with its crew, a drummer and a surprise special set. The other one is the 1011 -at a still rather early stage, as can be seen- and will comprise another cannon along with its crew, as well as the Two Crown's General in Chief, Marshall Berwick. Sadly, we have no good enough pictures of them!
Further plans of BUM include the releasing of two complementary diorama boxes (Nr. 1001 and 1011) including sections of Barcelona streets, cannons, barricades and some special figures. The image below shows both dioramas alongside: The one at the left -a prototype already finished- is numbered 1001 and is aimed to depict the Catalan side of a barricade; it will include at least a cannon along with its crew, a drummer and a surprise special set. The other one is the 1011 -at a still rather early stage, as can be seen- and will comprise another cannon along with its crew, as well as the Two Crown's General in Chief, Marshall Berwick. Sadly, we have no good enough pictures of them!
Diorama sets
click on the image to see it closer
Future plans
According to Mr. German Domingo explanations, BUM has scheduled a further development of this War of the Spanish Succession series, in order to cover a wider range of miniatures and Nations. For example, it is already provided a 1020 reference related to the battle of Almenar (1710), devoted to the English, Catalan-Aragonese and Allied Cavalry under command of General Stanhope, that protagonized there the most epic and spectacular cavalry charge in the whole war -with the result of a sound victory that opened gates to a brief re-conquest of Aragon, and a last hope of Allied prevailing in Spain.
In the end, this is one of the best news in the last years, for this new range will cover for the first time the two less known armies in the War of the Spanish Succession: those of Spain, either Bourbon or Habsburg supporting.
The scheduled release data for the first sets in this series is September, 2009.
According to Mr. German Domingo explanations, BUM has scheduled a further development of this War of the Spanish Succession series, in order to cover a wider range of miniatures and Nations. For example, it is already provided a 1020 reference related to the battle of Almenar (1710), devoted to the English, Catalan-Aragonese and Allied Cavalry under command of General Stanhope, that protagonized there the most epic and spectacular cavalry charge in the whole war -with the result of a sound victory that opened gates to a brief re-conquest of Aragon, and a last hope of Allied prevailing in Spain.
In the end, this is one of the best news in the last years, for this new range will cover for the first time the two less known armies in the War of the Spanish Succession: those of Spain, either Bourbon or Habsburg supporting.
The scheduled release data for the first sets in this series is September, 2009.