Old Guard Grenadiers

The latest addition to my ever growing French army is two battalions of Old Guard grenadiers. These are in campaign dress, with a mix of blue and white overalls, as they probably did during the hundred days campaign. But they could just as well depict a pre-1815 period. I have attached them a General de Brigade of the Guard.

Old Guard Grenadiers brigade

 

Leading the brigade

 

 

The figures are all Perry Miniatures. I painted a couple of pre-1812 line grenadiers figures as guard, and converted a Guard Chasseur officer (the one with his hat of the sword). I used various shades of white on trousers, and various shades of blue on greatcoats and trousers, to achieve a slight campaign look. Flags by GMB.

 

No washes were used here, and I used non metallic paints as much as possible, most notably on the general. Gold was emulated with Vallejo Goldbrown and Beige colours.

 

All bases have been magnetised to ease of transport. I will add flocking at a later date.

 

Painted between June and November 2020.

 

Front view

 

Top view

Left view

Rear view

Right view

Sharp Practice - British!

This is the start of my British 'Sharp Practice' force, based on the 51st Light Infantry regiment. I aim at 5x8 'march attack' poses, and 1x6 skirmishers. Plus a few leaders. Figures by Perry Miniatures, based on 20mm circular bases. Painted October 2019.

I've also painted the Earl of Uxbridge, a limited edition figure from the 'Giants in Miniature' range, available on the 'Wargames Illustrated' website, that I had spotted a while back and always wished to paint one day. This one is numbered 274 of 500. Amazing sculpt, easily matching the Perry's standard. I think we may well be used in some Sharp Practice scenarios at the local club! Painted October 2019.

Red Lancers, 1815

This project was an ambitious one: the Guard Lancers at Waterloo at the 1:20 ratio. That would have made, in total, four squadrons of 9 figures for the Dutch Lancers, plus one squadron of 6 figures for the Polish Lancers.

I managed to paint the first two squadron, plus a stand for the commanding officer: Colonel-General Colbert, famously injured at Ligny two days before Waterloo. Squadrons are in campaign dress, Colbert is in full dress

figures by Perry Miniatures.
75x60 mm rectangular bases (3 lancers to a base, i.e. 25mm frontage)
75mm circular base
Flag by GMB designs.
All original poles have been replaced by solid metal spares.

Painted between August 2018 and April 2019

 

 

 

 

Colbert leading the charge!

Sharp Practice part 5b - 15th Dragoon trumpetter

Here's a small addition to the Sharp Practice project, with a trumpeter by Perry Miniatures for my 15th Dragoon detachment. Based on a 50mm circular base. In the rules the musician doubles the command range of a leader (officer) at the cost of 1 point only, so could be useful.

Painting pink was not straight forward, I used Vallejo's Pink (70958) which is a bit too bright, too cartoony. I gave a light, black wash in the recessed and then a mix of pink and white, very diluted, all over. That 'milky' pink wash made the trick for me.

Painted September 2019.

Sharp Practice part 7 - Grenadiers

This Spring I decided to add an elite unite to my Sharp Practice (SP) troops. The obvious choice was the Perry Miniatures French Grenadiers pre-1812 to complement my existing force.

Interestingly they have been sculpted in 'march-attack' pose yet their feet are out of sync!

These were painted between May and September 2019.

Sharp Practice part 6 - Artillery

back in Spring I ordered a gun and 6-crew from Brigade Games in the US. Excellent service (no customs issue, fast delivery), very good sculpts by the famous Paul Hicks. The only decent 28mm pre-1812 uniforms I could find in metal (surprisingly, the Perrys don't do them!).

The Perrys anyway offer 4-strong gun crews, while the Sharp Practice rules require 6 - so that's another thumb up for Brigade Games.

The sabot base is from www.supremelittleness.co.uk

Painted in May 2018

Renegade Indians

Another quick distraction from my Napoleonic projects: some 'Renegade Indians' (28mm) by Great Escape Games, for the Dead Man's Hand ruleset. A nice little game - easy to learn, and very entertaining. Well, especially if someone (not me 😇) provides lovely scenery to complement the battle board!

 

Painted in February 2018.