15mm Napoleonic infantry

Having painted loads of FoW vehicles in the last couple of weeks, I decided it was time for a change of palatte.  I thought it was time to reduce the pile of unpainted lead a little, so out came the 15mm Napoleonics.  I'm still looking for a suitable blue for the French Napoleonic infantry, so first up is a battalion based for Black Powder, painted using Vallejo ultramarine.  In the photos, the flash has made this a rather bright blue, but the models themselves look much more subdued in normal light - I quite like this colour for the French.  However, I've now got a pot of Vallejo model air French Blue, which looks like it will be a very good contender.

So first up, Napoleonic line infantry from Lancashire Games.  These were made up from a Battlepack of infantry with a pack of line command.  A battlepack has enough infantry for three battalions based this way, so a battlepack plus three command packs and "hey presto" a three battalion brigade of infantry.  These are based on 6 40x20mm bases and can be used as is for battalion level games of Bllack Powder or split into two three stand units for bigger brigade/divisional level games.

Line infantry in greatcoats, again from Lancashire Games - same ratio of Battlepacks to Command packs gives a three battalion brigade.  These boys are painted in khaki grey greatcoats, with uncovered shakos.

Another battalion, this time in neutral grey greatcoats with ivory shako covers.

I have one more battalion in green ochre greatcoats on the workbench - I'm hoping to get these finished before heading off to Sheffield for Joy of 6 on Sunday.  If anyone is heading over that way, come and see us at the Bjerkvik Cold War Commanders table where my USMC will be being pounded by various Soviet/Warpac units.

Thanks for looking.

15mm French Napoleonic Carabineers

I've rebased my old Minifigs Carabineers and added a command stand using a pack from Lancashire Games.  Looking at the Minifigs figures, I'm going to have to touch up the plumes as they look a little worn, but otherwise they look pretty good for 20 year old paint jobs.

The command group in more detail.  I'm going to have to work on the Eagle, as there is a weak point in the shaft, so I'll need to replace it with a pin eventually.

Continuing the command theme, here are a couple of shots of infantry brigade commanders, again old Minifigs figures that I have rebased.

Thanks for looking.

More Napoleonic 15mm French Hussars

Here is the rest of the French Hussars battlepack from Lancashire Games that I picked up at WMMS.  These are painted as the 7th Hussars in their olive green uniforms, ready for the Waterloo campaign.

Viewed from the front.

And from behind.

 

 

These guys suffered the curse of a new unit and were swept away in our Thursday night game last week, by Ian's light cavalry.  Better luck next time!

 

Thanks for looking.



Lancashire Games 15mm French Cuirassiers

Part of my purchase from Lancashire Games at WMMS in March was a Battlepack of 24 French Cuirassiers and a pack of 3 Command.

Here are two Regiments, each of 12 figures, based in threes on 40x30mm bases, with the command figures on a round 40mm radius base.

One of the Regiments in more detail.

The command stand in more detail.

Nice figures, very pleased with these units.  Unfortunately, their performance on the table tonight left a lot to be desired.  I had three units of Cuirassiers brigaded on the French right wing and they were thoroughly broken by British heavy cavalry in two turns.  The curse of the first outing for a new unit!

Thanks for looking!

15mm French Napoleonic Hussars

I managed a trip to WMMS in Wolverhampton on the 8th March, along with Phil and Will.  Had a great day, apart from yet another fire alarm evacuation just after lunch, but by then I had spent out and seen most of what I wanted.  My big purchase on the day was various battle packs of Napoleonics in 15mm that I had pre-ordered from Lancashire Games.  Included with this was a battle pack of French Hussars, 24 riders and horses, of which I have painted two lots of six.

The first unit represents the 1st Hussars for the Waterloo campaign in sky blue uniforms.

The next unit represents the 4th Hussars in Royal Blue uniforms with red pelisses and the officer in a red uniform.

The two units in line, 1st supporting the 4th,

A close up of the rear of the 4th Hussars.

The 4th Hussar stand with officer in red.

These were loads of fun to paint.  I took my inspiration from Phillip Heythornthwaite's Uniforms of Waterloo, plus various internet sites.  Nice to be painting some brightly coloured miniatures as a break from NATO green or desert MARPAT.  More pictures of French infantry to follow as I'm getting a force ready to play Black Powder at the club this Thursday.

Thanks for looking.

A bit more of a diversion

Having got the bit between my teeth for Napoleonics, I dug out a pack of Eureka Miniatures British Centre Company figures that I won at the Deeside Defenders Xmas draw about 2 or 3 years ago.  Illustrated is half the pack, based for Black Powder.  They are painted as Guards, as they are slightly larger than the old Minifigs, Battle Honours and Lancashire Games stuff that I have.  The second half of the pack will need to be boosted with some command figures - hopefully I'll pick some up at WMMS next weekend.

Here they are in line.  The command stand needs some more detailing to complete it.  The standard bearer also needs a flag!

And again in column.

Here are the stands of firing infantry from Battle Front (not Lancashire Games), that I posted last week.  I've finished the detailing on the bases.  These are painted as the 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment.

And two stands of advancing infantry with levelled muskets.  These are painted as Guards.

So, a few command packs to fill out the ranks and I should be able to get at least half a dozen regiments out of the bag of unpainted British infantry I've had at the back of the cupboard for the last 20 years or so.  Which is nice!

Thanks for looking.

A bit of a diversion

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned to another club member that I had a collection of 15mm Napoleonics at the back of my cupboard; the usual mix of British and French Waterloo era minis.  He said he had a collection and the next thing I knew we were arranging to dust them off and get them on the table for Black Powder.  I found my French tin pretty easily, but still can't put my hands on the tin of British - haven't seen them since we moved house 5 years ago.  Trying to remember where I had packed them set me off on a trip down Memory Lane and I recalled ordering them back in 1992 or 3 as a set of Minifigs packs from the Guardroom - a shop in Dunstable I think, that used to advertise in Miniature Wargames magazine.  I also added some Battle Honours Riflemen and a pack of Battle Honours (not Lancashire Games as I first thought) British infantry the following year at a Napoleonics show in Bridgenorth.

As I can't put my hands on the painted British, I could find the unpainted bag of Battle Honours British infantry, so thought I'd dig them out and have a try at painting Napoleonics for the first time in 20 years.  Just two bases of four infantry in firing pose.  On the whole, I found painting these a nice change from the usual drab colours of ww2 and modern soldiers and they seemed to paint up well compared to my memories of 20 years ago; perhaps my patience has improved or my eyesight has deteriorated.  One or the other.  Anyway, I probably won't win any prizes, but I'm really pleased with the result.  So much so that I'm going to pick up a few more packs at WMMS and work on them on and off as a break from moderns.

Thanks for looking.