Victrix Highlanders - Gordons

A further regiment of reinforcements for Wellington - the Gordon Highlanders.This is made from the Victrix set and is part way through basing. The colours have to be added; I'm planning to try the paper set that come with the box set.

 After the Black Watch tartan I'm had to get used to the harder Gordon design.  The Cameronian design is giving me second thoughts as it will be a further step up in terms of complexity.

 Finally, at the recent Carronade show in Falkirk I picked up theWarlord Prussian Landwehr command set (the alternative to the metal officer, drummer & standard bearer that comes in the box set).

Perry & Victrix British Infantry

Work has been a little manic recently so updates have had to take a backseat.  Hopefully as things settle into a routine I'll be able to post on a more regular basis. 

Below are the first of my British regiments for Waterloo; the Royal Scots (blue facings), East Essex (yellow) & the beginnings of the Inniskilling(Buff).  The Scots & Innis are made up of Victrix while the Essex are Perry plastics.

The two sets are close in size and could be mixed together without any worries.

 Two mounted colonels were bought during a visit to Maelstrom Games last year. The blister pack came with a pioneer that I have added to the Inniskilling command stand at the bottom of this post.

 The Perry set has both line and flank arms included to make a 36 man regiment and the box also includes 4 Riflemen.  Whereas the Perry set is made up of poses to create a firing line, the Victrix has more options. 

 The Victrix sets are either line or flank - a full regiment can't be made up from one box. I used some spare Perry & Victrix Highlander flank arms so it is worthwhile to hold onto any spare 'bits' from each set.
On the positive side, there are 60 figures in each Victrix box and the options regarding pose are more varied than the Perry.

 I am still thinking about the best option with regard to Regimental & Kings colours.  I want the standards to be consistent and will probably opt for GMB flags.  I had a brief email exchange with GMB last month and despite what I read on TMP etc was very pleased at how quickly my questions were answered. 

 The final pic below shows a work in progress.  I was getting frustrated a painting white straps etc and wanted a break, hence a move to a buff regiment, the Inniskilling. 
Once I have painted and glued the figures to plasticard I cover the base in woodfiller.  This is then covered in sand, painted GW Bestial Brown, drybrushed, static grass added with lichen & flowers.

Victrix Imperial Old Guard Grenadiers & Perry French Hussars

I picked up a box of Victrix Imperial Guard for the Black Powder game I've been planning.  The French reserve brigade will combine one regiment of Imperial Old Guard Grenadiers a pied and Imperial Guard cavalry (still to be decided).

The Victrix set is less 'fiddly' than the line regiment set with less construction required. The Old Guard are one of those units that everyone has to have in their collection; Highlanders, 95th Rifles & Scots Greys probably filling the same role for the British.

Also on the shopping list recently was the Perry Hussar set.  I've chosen the 7th Regiment positioned on the left of Napoleon's lines at Waterloo.  The buttoned trouser overalls are green based on a plate from '|The Waterloo Companion' although there is conflicting information from Mont-Saint-Jean and other sources that suggest the overalls should be red.

 



Perry Heavy Cavalry - Cuirassiers

In addition to the box of Dragoons I also added a box of the Heavy Cav.  This is a clever set that enables both Cuirassier & Carabinier options.  The plastic sprue is crammed full of parts but the figures themselves are simple to assemble. I've gone for the 1st Regiment, ready to join Ney in his charges against the squares!

I've used the 'at charge' pose rather than the more sedate option.

Another choice is whether to have an officer, bugler or eagle carrier.  I decided on all three (bugler & eagle shown below) as I reckon the 1st deserves some pomp & circumstance!

The quality of this set is excellent - I'm now a real fan of the Perry Miniatures figures.  The launch of the new Prussian Line plastics can't come quickly enough (due to be on sale at Salute in April 2011)

Perry French Dragoons 1812-15

I finally gave in to temptation and bought some boxes of Perry cavalry (Dragoons, Heavy Cav & Hussars). Below is the first regiment completed, the 7th Dragoons.

In keeping with the Waterloo theme, the 7th took part in the massed cavalry charges that attempted to break the Anglo-Allied squares on Mont St Jean ridge.  They were also present at Borodino which is tempting as 1812 draws nearer.  The elite company (far left of picture) has the Grenadier plumes rather than bearskins, although that was an option with additional heads available.

 

The Perry figures are (as usual) fantastic to put together and paint.  Included in the box are a number of dismounted Dragoons that I probably won't get around to completing - my needs are for the massed charge rather than picquets or skirmishers. 

The officer is my favourite figure in the set, perhaps because it provided a break from painting woollen saddlecloths!

I have found it difficult to achieve a realistic effect on the silk cloth in gold or silver.  As I start on the General staff officers this is going to be a challenge.  Maybe practise will make perfect?

Book review: The Battle of Quatre Bras by Mike Robinson

I bought this non-fiction account of  Quatre Bras before Christmas and last week finally got around to reading it. Covering the battle from the Allied point of view, it builds the tension slowly until contact with the French Corps under Ney.
Traditionally wargames begin with troops on the table (or just off table awaiting an activation roll); the author has vividly described the complexity of moving large bodies of men & materiel in real life. Having never served in the Armed forces I have gained a renewed appreciation of the logistical sophistication that is part of their role - even more so in 1815 with horse & man power the only options!
There was some mild criticism on the forums that the French side is not represented in the book but this gives the story an almost thriller-like feel.  Just as the shark in Jaws does not appear until the end of the movie, we know what's out there but don't know when the 'big reveal' takes place.
It is quite an achievement to make a battle fought in 1815 seem so immediate to the reader and I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a passing interest in the 100 days.

Prussian Landwehr - Work in progress with new metal recruits

Started again on my Silesian Landwehr regiment, shown below as a work in progress.  I'm filling out numbers using the new Warlord metals that will add some variety to the plastic box set figures.  I like the new figures, especially the 'at trail' set.  Each of my Landwehr regimental battalion will be either 36 or 42 men strong (still can't decide).

 The front rows have been glued to the base ready for wood filler.  I tend to paint the models individually and then base, rather than painting as a group.

 The group of figures 'at trail' are based as a '3' rather than '6'.  I'm going to use them as skirmishers as required.

 The mounted Prussian officers from Warlord are sculpted in the same style as the plastics; I'm going to use one for each battalion.

First three regiments

I've finished my first regiments for d'Erlon's I Corps.
From the 1st Infantry Division - the 1st battalion of 54th Ligne and 1st battalion of 55th Ligne
From the 2nd Infantry Division - the 1st battalion of 13th Legere

The 13th Legere - The middle ranker on the right-hand column has on a Ligne cap (lining in red rather than white) and the drummers pom-pom needs to be painted light blue.  Two more chores to add to the growing 'to fix' list!

The Legere is much easier to paint, by using the French Blue acrylic spray paint from Humbrol I cut down on the prep time too.

The 55th Ligne - The only regiment with a flag, to date. This came with the Perry box

  and it looks a lot better than I thought (due to my usual cack-handedness, not the flag quality!).  I followed some advice on TMP and added a layer of kitchen foil between the two sides of the paper.  This lets the flag be folded into a 'wind-blown' shape once it has dried around the pole.

The 54th Ligne - Again, another Perry plastic boxed regiment.  This photo shows two grenadier companies because the 54th command stand is still being based.

The massed effect takes me back to my youth, moving down to eye-level in order to make the soldiers look bigger!  I read a quote a while ago from an executive at Games Workshop who was commenting on the company results 'Some men are hard-wired to like toy soldiers' - very true!

And side-on....

And from the other side....

I have a fourth box of Perry plastics to finish and a further 4 boxes of Victrix French.  With the 60 figures in the 1807-1812 boxes I reckon I can make 6 regiments of 36 troops with enough left over for some skirmishers.  This may mean some conversion work on the officers/eagle bearers/drummers.