Generic Line Infantry Brigade, 1812-1814

Painted between November 2013 and June 2014, this is a 4 battalions strong Brigade of line infantry totalling 96 miniatures - representing a 1920-strong Brigade at the usual 1:20 ratio. These are Calpe Miniatures, in 'route march' pose.

Calpe are great, great quality miniatures. Detail and historical accuracy are unbeatable. They are slightly bigger and Perrys miniatures, but well worth having in a collection. And also, what a variety of miniatures! There may be more than 50 different models in there (!!). Check the Calpe Miniatures website if you don't know this range yet.

I used washes heavily on these. I am not sure I would do it again, but it definitely helped painting faster.

One regiment (two battalions) has uncovered s hakos. Note that the 1st battalions of a regiment can be identified to the Eagle guard (two men with halberds) and plain pompoms. The 2nd battalion has a white patch in the pompom. They would be also more easily identified if the flags/fanions were not covered!

 

The other regiment has covered shakos. I thought I would keep some uniformity across the regiments - I already went for a mix of greatcoat and trousers colours.

And for views of the full brigade (as on all photos, click to enlarge):

The only downside to the Calpe range is that there are no skirmishers (yet) nor generals (yet).

Last thing to mention, the basing: 15mm frontage, 40x30mm magnetic bases (for transport). I also got movement trays from http://war-bases.co.uk, on which I should eventually stick some metallic tape.

12th Cuirassier, part 1

Next is the 12th Cuirassier -  part of the second brigade. During the hundred days, it was 2 squadrons and 258 men strong. This makes 12 miniatures - still all Perry metals.

To add a bit of variety to the overall project, I will mix in some cuirassiers without the actual cuirasse. The 11th Cuirassier was known for its lack of cuirasses, so let's suppose the 12th was not fully equiped either!

The 12 miniatures have been prepared for painting (flash removed, horse legs untwisted, blades straightened) and you will notice my few modifications (flag pole, colonel 2nd epaulette made of green stuff).

Given how real life keeps me busy, and given the summer plans, this unit may not be completed until the Autumn!

13th Division, 1st Brigade

This is it, I completed the brigade command stand recently, so this wraps up the 1st Brigade of the 13th division! The Perry heavy cavalry commanders are all very richly dressed,  not so much the look of general I was after, but I shouldn't complain, the pose is really dynamic and eye catching!

I used a 75mm round base. Quite large, but looks good to me. The general is followed by a 4th Cuirassiers NCO.

 close up on the NCO:

with the actual brigade in the background...

 

and finally the full brigade!

This project is taking time, and I only managed to complete this brigade in 8 months... the 2nd brigade is yet to be done, but real life may well get in the way and slow me down a bit further! Nevermind, who said I was in a rush?

4th cuirassier, 1815 (finished!)

Sort of on schedule, I eventually got the 4th cuirassier completed. 15-strong - at the ratio 1:20 this matches the 100 days campaign strength (314 men). The distinctive colour of this regiment is orange.

Perry miniatures (all metals). Flag from GMB designs. Based as the 1st cuirassier: 75x60mm bases (25mm frontage per horse)

The battle honours for the 4th cuirassier are Essling and Wagram. I replaced the original flag pole with a piece brass rod. The Perry Miniatures connoisseur may also spot that I added an epaulette to the officer right shoulder (to make him a colonel).

Next, I shall paint a command stand for the completed brigade, before moving to the 12th cuirassier. See the diagram below for a reminder of this overall project objectives!

I shall take photos of the full brigade once the General de Brigade stand is done.

4th cuirassier, 1815, part one (test figure)

Next in the brigade is the 4th cuirassier. It will be 15 strong (3 squadrons). Its distinctive colour is orange.

This time it is the "swords shouldered" range by the Perrys. Together with the new distinctive colour, they provides enough change to raise my motivation in this ambitious 2015 project.

So here's the first of this lot, painted last weekend. Any guess as to how long it will take me to do this unit? My guess is a good 3 months!

and for the uniforms plate:

1st cuirassier, 1815, part two

the regiment is now fully painted and varnished. I left the bases for a later date (this way I'll make sure all bases in the division have a similar style). They took more than 4 months to complete! The division will never be completed on time for the 200th anniversary of Waterloo...

But it's all relative: painting these was 3 times faster than my earlier hussars: I paid a bit less attention to details. And I stopped painting eyes X__x

I made the regiment 24 strong - at 1:20 this represents exactly their strength at Waterloo.

The flag is to be added.

 

See a few close ups. Note that I used washes on faces and trousers.

4th Hussar, 1812-1814

These were my first and only attempt at plastics so far. I have to say, they are really well proportioned, the detail is crisp, sabers are truely thin. My worry is the fragility!

So here it is, the 4th hussar in summer campaign dress. Their battle honors are Austerlitz, Jena and Friedland. By 1815 they were wearing a cylindrical shako and for Waterloo the flag is slightly different.

The 4th Hussar in line, 3 squadrons of full strngth, 24 strong in total. Each squadron is divided into two companies - note the elite 1st company of the 1st squadron - with colbacks. I gave an officer and a trumpeter to each squadron.

The colonel:

note the colonel's sabretache, based on Rousselot's plates.

The 1st squadron:

 The 2nd squadron:

The 3rd squadron:

The three squadrons in column:

I spent all my 2012 painting hours on these. The photos make them brighter than they are: the blue is actually darker and the red less orange.

Perry miniatures. The frontage is 25mm per horse. Flag (as usual) by GMB designs.

 chaaaaaaargez!