Moving armies and settlers through the 18th-century North American wilderness during the French and Indian War often involved widening old trails, clearing new routes and building new roads. Hired crews of civilian workers and military pioneers usually led the way, felling trees far in advance of military columns.

I had recently found some great military pioneers from Redoubt Enterprises as well as some generic civilian workers from Minden Miniatures from Fife & Drum Miniatures. Always on the lookout for unique models, I came across Black Hussar Miniatures and found a whole new manufacturer previously unknown to me.

Referred to as lumberjacks on this Germany-based manufacturer’s site, the pack of three models could easily find a place on a military road or on a settler’s farm. I love the mix of poses and clothing with hatchets being wielded to split logs and a hack at branches. The largest of the castings is dragging a large tree branch to which I added some additional twigs as stumps on a large metal washer base.

I’m always thrilled to find a new source of models, and I’ve quickly added these and some other minis from Black Hussar to my collection.