First published 28 July 2010 on the original website of von Peter himself

For those not in the know Eureka Miniatures have been producing a 28mm Wars of the French Revolution range of figures to favourable response. French and Austrians have been produced and now it’s the turn of the 1799 Russians with a whole heap of infantry releases. The cavalry released as part of the initial Russian offerings are Don Cossacks. A very flavoursome choice.

von Peter himself does not collect Revolutionary Wars armies, at least not currently! He is a thoroughly modern chap collecting Napoleonic armies for 1813. So what’s the interest? von Peter himself has recruited the sons of the 1799 cossacks to fight in his 1813 Russian army. He’s happy that they will fit in well enough as they are sculpted in campaigny Don cossack uniforms.

The figures are shown below as they were received. No cleaning up has been undertaken except to pull off some of the casting runners. Where variants are available Eureka supply them at their discretion. von Peter himself received an even split in his order. Very egalitarian.

Some of the figures are posed more in two planes/dimensions than three, eg. the candlestick looter, presumably to ease the casting of the figures. This is not a major deterrent for von Peter himself.

Note that at the time of going to print the Eureka website does not yet list the 1799 Russians, possibly because they are not yet officially released. This will change eventually one assumes. von Peter himself would like to thank Eureka Miniatures for all their assistance in obtaining his bands of rascally cossacks, particularly John Chadderton who answered all von Peter’s childish questions with great patience.

Mounted Don Cossacks

Above: the Don Cossack Officer. He carries a whip (called a knout apparently) from which descends a casting runner (or whatever it’s officially called) which I’ll be removing ... as should all purchasers of this model!

The side on photo is to show the style of saddle cloth used by all the cossacks. von Peter himself is more used to a more squared off saddle cloth but then he is also more used to armies of 1813, not 1799.

There are no variants within this code

Above: the Don Cossacks, mounted. Six variants are available and the variants are much more than just a head twist which is particularly useful for cossacks in von Peter’s considered opinion.

Each figure comes with a cast lance that has a very nice head on it. von Peter himself will probably forego these for homemade lances of brass rod for durability reasons

Above: there are four cossack ponies available. Which ones you’ll get is at Eureka’s discretion.

Size wise these are smaller than Calpe and Front Rank light horses. This probably reflects the cossack ponies fairly well in von Peter himself opinion. They are possibly a bit narrow across the haunches but they’ll do nicely thank you

Don Cossack, dismounted, skirmishing

von Peter himself is not 100% sure why he got six of these and what he will do with them. The ‘why’ was probably just to get something of everything from the new cossack release. They may end up being scenic items that can be used as a small unit if necessary. That’s not to say that they aren’t perfectly good figures of course. And that's not say that they wouldn't be quite useful in a Sharp Practice type game.

Above: two views each of the four variants of the dismounted Don cossacks

Cossacks Looting – 8 piece set

The jewel in the crown of the Don Cossacks for von Peter himself is the Cossacks Looting set. While not as useful in day to day gaming as the mounted cossacks they can always be used scattered around the gaming table as scenic figures of interest. And of course they could be quite useful in Sharp Practice type games.

Above: three of the looters. The mounted figure comes with one of the four cossack ponies pictured above

Above: Petrovich is an accomplished looter judging by the weighed down horse. That mirror(?) is bound to fetch a good price! He’s even caught a goose for dinner although no one has told the goose that the invite to dinner has him on the menu, not him chomping on Petrovich. He’s chewing on poor Petrovich’s beard. Very comical ... as long as you’re not Petrovich! 😃

The cossack and the pony come as two distinct models which go together very nicely. The join is the reins of the horse into the hand

Above: it takes two to carry this chest. A three piece vignette (two cossacks & one chest). The braiding on the lead figures looted pelisse is particularly well sculpted

All in all von Peter himself is mightily pleased with his sons of the 1799 Revolutionary Wars Don cossacks. His 1813 Russian army will be much more complete with them. Especially the looters! So lock up your silverware and hide your geese as von Peter’s Russians have cossacks looking to liberate any and all valuable and tasty items. Just when he’ll have painted cossacks though is a very good question.

Oh, and von Peter himself hopes you enjoyed the yellowy pictures. ☺

Update: it appears that Eureka Miniatures now produce contemporaneous Ural Cossacks as well.

Until we meet again ...

von Peter himself