1809 Napoleonics - Grinding Progress

Gradually getting through more and more white-coated infantry.  Usually I only do a battalion at a time, but I ended up doing two German battalions at the same time, and actually it didn't feel like it took that much longer.  It was also more satisfying at the end because I'd double the output! 

 Work in progress...

The most time consuming element - applying copious amounts of white.

Not pictured here, but they've now joined their compatriots in this box.  Numbers completed are filling out nicely over time!  All the other Austrians completed before now are in another box. 

Austrian command stand.  The horses did get another highlight after this. 

French light cavalry command in the uniform of the 4e and 5e Hussars.  Horses hadn't had details added yet. 

 Same detail on these casualty markers, few details added after this to the horses. 

 French heavy cavalry command, generic cuirassier model on the left with some NCOs stripes added for variation.  The horse colours haven't come out very well in this photo. 

Additional highlight to the horses, but the light is too bright!  Need to work on photography skills.  And maybe start basing some miniatures at some point this decade. 

18mm Napoleonic Update

In the meantime I have slowly but steadily been progressing through my 1809 Napoleonics.  White is a terrible colour to have to paint, especially en masse.  On the bright side, Hungarians with blue trousers halve the pain, as does giving Saxon infantry alternate trousers.  I've also found it helps to rotate between painting different things; a few units of cavalry, then some infantry, a battery of artillery etc.  And then within those categories too, so for example a few battalions of white-coated foot, then some lights or others that are in different colours or - as will become apparent - from Saxons to Hungarians.

 Obschelwitz Battalion and Tirailleurs d'Egidy.  In both cases I have largely pleased myself with their uniforms as I could find little to nothing to inform me.  The lights were based on Hessians and others, I went for red facings.  The line were just imagination. 

Regiment du Low and Regiment Niesmeschel.  They are both modelled as single large battalions, i.e. post merger due to losses during the campaign.  It's a little more aesthetically pleasing this way too.

Two large battalions of the Austrian Nr. 2 Sztaray Regiment.  I went for shakos for the Hungarians to give a little variety to the helmeted German line infantry.

Austrian Jaeger Battalion.  A mixture of rifles and muskets, some of these are more delicate castings due to being created for moulds, I was fortunate enough to purchase them a couple of years back.

All friends together in the same box!

18mm Napoleonics, the Revenge Of

As always with these blogs (it seems to me) I am inclined to open with an apology as to my absence due to real life etc etc… although that is again true.  However, I've had a week off to organise my life, and I've indulged myself in getting back to some serious painting.  Once again, it's been like re-learning the process, unearthing the knowledge and so on but it's been increasingly pleasurable to do so.  I know the last post was about 20mm Modern, but I've felt a pang to return to my first love, so here are some of the results of that.  A regiment of Legere and some chasseurs en tirailleur, plus some French and Saxon casualty/status markers.  As per normal, basing has been neglected in favour of getting the painting out of the way, and because basing is my least favourite activity.  Next on the table is a three battalion Ligne regiment, but don't bet on that actually being the next thing I paint. 

The latest Legere in their finished glory…maybe the 26e?  Why not.  I had fun doing some variations in epaulettes/plumes/distinctions on the elite companies, and made a conscious choice for the voltigeurs to have busbies as their regimental affectation, because why not?

More of the same.  I also gave each battalion's chasseurs different pom poms just for some variation, rather than doing individual company pom poms for each. 

Saxon casualty/status markers.  Those freshly based Austrian guns in the background will perhaps be the cause of these being employed on the tabletop one day! 

French version of the same.  I didn't do cheesy blood on many of the figures, although the chap in the brown trousers on the right I did take the time to do some splatter for; not that it can be discerned very well here.

The final French casualty markers (for now as there are others including cavalry versions).  A mixture of modern AFVs in the background - perhaps the fusilier on his knees is clapping his hand to his head in astonishment!

A Little 1809 Affair - Empire V

I was fortunate enough to find the time to have quick game of Empire V before I depart.  Unfortunately none of the miniatures are based, and I had to use some that were only undercoated or even bare metal, but it was still a good time.  In a relatively restricted space, we played out two hours of fighting, which was enough to reach a reasonable conclusion after the French cleared the orchard and captured the farm.  Casualties were relatively even until the closing stages when a desperate Austrian cavalry attack overran multiple French guns and a line infantry battalion only to be crushed by the countercharges. 

56e Ligne captures the farm and tries to drive the 2nd Bn/Nr. 13 Wallachich Illyrian Grenz back in a firefight that went on for over an hour. 

The Young Guard stands ready in reserve in the centre.  They did nothing, but they did form squares when the distant Nr.3 Erzherzog Ferdinand Hussars grew tired of being bombarded and overran 4th Division's artillery despite heavy casualties. 

General de Division Boudet directs the movement of his infantry as the supporting brigades move up towards the orchard/wood.  The blurry 3e Legere on the right suffered heavily in multiple attacks on a determined Nr. 1 Jaeger Battalion lining the edge of the trees.  The supporting 2e Ligne outflanked the position, its 1er Bn covering itself in glory, routing Jaegers, Landwehr and then clearing the wood by driving out some Grenz in a firefight.  General de Brigade Fririon certainly earned some laurels at the head of the battalion, and suffered a minor wound in the closing stages.  

18mm AB Napoleonics - Progress

It's been so long since I painted anything I've had to re-teach myself almost from scratch.  Happily, painting is like riding a bike, so it's been a relatively painless process.  I didn't start simple, as the previous post and the photos below will no doubt demonstrate.  I have also stopped at a certain number of layers, and chosen not to put uppermost highlights on any of these miniatures (yet) as I simply wanted to get through some.  I've also avoided painting horses as far as possible. 

 Young Guard, Tirailleur-Grenadiers.

 Line Horse Artillery Company. 

 Hesse-Darmstadt Garde Chevauleger (using Wurttemberg cavalry).

French 8th Hussars. 

Another view of the same.  

Corps Commander with Massena in mind, or else a generic personality of that post. 

The same again. 

18mm Corps and Divisional Commanders - AB Miniatures

At last some progress.  I have begun painting some of the many figures that I have cleaned up and based.  From left to right in both photos are my IV Corps personalities for 1809, theoretically Massena, Legrand, and Boudet with associated ADCs. 

Although I have a great interest in the 1809 campaign, my first love remains the 1813 campaign, so some time in the distant future Prussians and Russians may begin to appear to join the Austrians that I'll be painting up.  

1809 Project Update (AB Miniatures)

Real life intervened on this one I'm afraid, but I've finally got back to painting my waiting ranks of gorgeous 18mm AB, so here's a quick progress update. First of all, here is my regiment of Chasseurs. I'm rattling through the horses at the moment. Normally I hate painting horses, but for these sculpts, anything!

Another view of the same next, although you might notice I have a couple of individually based troopers to complete!

I haven't neglected the infantry side of things, with the 1er/6e Legere (or possibly 10e) making an appearance...

And the first of many, MANY Austrians. Here the first of three battalions of a IR No.46 Chasteler.

That's all for not, I hope to complete the French cavalry brigades, and Legere regiment, as well as the three Austrian battalions, an Austrian 6pdr FAB and a regiment of Kurassiers! And then base them. All in due course...

AB Miniatures; An 1809 Napoleonic Project

So it's been a while since my last post, but I must say that the weeks just seem to fly by these days. Perhaps it's my age? Anyway, since last I posted I have added some off the lovely Timecast buildings to my terrain collection. They were a pleasant change from churning out hundreds of 6mm figures, and now nicely augment my conflict-torn Saxon battlefields.

I have since decided to thin out some of my 6mm collection and begin work on (another) new project. Namely, a 15mm scale 1809 project using the AB Miniatures range. I love these 'large' 15mm sculpts and they have been a joy to work on.

Above, the first few of the 2nd Cuirassier Regiment. The horses have yet to be finished and there are certain extra details to be added, but apart from the basing they're basically there.

Next up are some of the 6th Chasseurs a Cheval - or they could be the 4th off the top of my head. A few fiddly horse details still to do. Socks, blazes, stripes, muzzles etc.

A couple of casualty markers. They don't show up so well against the patches of black they're lying on I'm afraid, but a nice bit of grass should lift them out of that! I don't know whether or not I found painting eyes onto the fallen steeds a bit unsettling once completed though.

Finally, the first of many infantry figures in the form of some skirmishing members of a Line Regiment's Voltigeur companies. The cockades to be done. I popped a rank stripe on one chap just for a bit of difference.