Napoleonic Units: Der Kriegspieler Baden infantry

A bit of a curiosity, I didn't see pictures of these figures before they arrived. I was hoping, I suspect, for figures in the kasket rather than the shako; also the single breasted tunic bears no relation to any plates of Baden uniforms I have found. So I have painted as generic German State infantry in campaign mode.

Hinton Hunt and Der Kriegspieler cavalry comparisons

I was struck by a comment on Ian's post of his Battle of the Crossroads part 2 on his Hinton Hunt Vintage Wargames Figures blog, about DK cavalry's general thinness and weediness and half-starved horses. Here are two comparison pictures, of Hinton Hunt and Der Kriegspieler Russia Hussars and Cossacks, taken from the front which illustrate the almost semi-flat nature of the Der Kriegspieler figures

Russian National Contingent reinforcements: Der Kriegspieler Hussars

Eight Der Kriegspieler Russian Hussars, painted as the Izioumski Hussars.

Russian National Contingent reinforcements: Der Kriegspieler Cossacks

A small unit of the Der Kriegspieler Cossacks, showing the three types in each pack, two Don Cossacks leading four Bug Cossacks, in their high and smurf hats.

Russian National Contingent reinforcements: another Der Kriegspieler infantry battalion

Awaiting an officer and their plastidip spray coat, a second Der Kriegspieler battalion in greatcoat and soft cap.

Der Kriegspieler Brunswick Oels

Finally painted up as the Brunswick Oels for the Peninsula, these Der Kriegspielers Brunsickers are joined by Hinton Hunt original officers and marching, charging and firing figures (the five figure from the left on the ront row).

The weather has meant it has been impossible to complete figures with their usual spray of plastidip, but some painting has been going on in the mean time.

These have the potential to become one large battalion or two normal sized battalions with the addition of the shrarpshooter companies, some of which I bought painted from the late Terry Wise.

Hinton Hunt/Der Kriegspieler Brunswick comparison

Here for comparison are Hinton Hunt (left) and Der Kriegspieler (right) advancing Brunswick infantry. The Der Kriegspieler is slightly smaller and slighter, and has his head turned so he is looking over his right shoulder.

Napoleonic Units: Hesse Darmstadt Regiment Gross und Erbprinz

This unit is made up of Der Kriegspieler rank and file, with two original (early) Hinton Hunt officer castings, together with a David Clayton figure converted to carry the standard. The two singly-based officer figures are also Clayton castings. The flag is the home brewed one from Tony's Prometheus in Aspic blog, which turned up on the day I was completing the command group.

More predictably, I painted these figures without remembering I had previously posted Marcus Hinton's painting instructions for officers and men, and the Almark Modelworld uniform article here.

Russian National Contingent: more reinforcements

I don't know why but these seem to have taken a long time to finish. They are Der Kriegspieler 54 - Line Battalion 1812 in shako, on guard.

The officers are David Clayton castings (one needs his sword replacing). The standard bearer is one of David Clayton's additional figures. These standard bearers are not very aesthetically pleasing but are very ueful - I have several for other units to complete.

Napoleonic Units: Der Kriegspieler DK66 Russian Line infantry in greatcoat

Helping me take a second run at my Napoleonic Russian contingent is this Der Kriegspieler battalion, with a David Clayton conversion officer figure. Rather worryingly, after painting each man in the battalion appears to be being played by Peter Bowles...

Der Kriegspielers

My Russian, Brunswick, and Portuguese contingents have recently received reinforcements in the shape of der Kriegspieler units: I have also acquired a battalion of Hesse-Darmsdadt infantry. Know I need to try to work out whether I really did keep hold of one HD officer when I sold off the few figures I had for this unit - and if so where is the safe place I put him.

Some of these are identical to Hinton Hunt figures, others are in other poses or configurations. Identifications to go with the pictures, and a few extra notes, are available over on The Old Metal Detector.

Their imminent arrival persuaded me to finally get round to painting up a typically colourful Der K unit I already had, a battalion bag of Serbian Freikorps. The officer is a David Clayton casting of a Hungarian infantry officer. Uniform is from Knotel, although there are some differences in the trouser department with these DK figures. I couldn't find a uniform reference for officers so this is a compromise based on the figure I had available and some guesswork. The infantry's coats look to be the same as Portuguese Cacadore jackets. My one regret is many of the Aladdin pointy toes had broken on these figures.

The pictures show the unit painted: the figures from a number of angles before painting; the listing for Austrian special volunteer units from a catalogue; and what a bagged Der Kriegspieler unit looks like.

Der Kriegspieler reinforcements: Russian line infantry, hussars and cossacks

My Russians have been reinforced by two line battalions, and squadrons of hussars and cossacks.

Der Kriegspieler reinforcements: Austrian Jager command, Brunswick Line infantry, Portuguese Cacadores

Der Kriegspieler British Light Infantry drummer

Though I have mostly been posting information about Der Kriegspieler figures over on The Old Metal Detector I thought this oddity was of enough Hinton Hunt interest to post here. I don't really recall any British Light Infantry drummer figures from any manufacturer (I'm sure someone will know of any there are out there). Der Kriegspieler did a number of command sets and this figure must be part of 825-154, British Light Infantry Command Group. Looks like a standard BN 12 drummer figure with a replacement Light Infantry head.

The figure has a fair amount of flash on his right arm, which should clean up nicely, and a very thin base.

Spanish Reinforcements

Recent reinforcements have arrived which will bring my Spanish regulars up to full brigade strength, with two line battalions and a light battalion.

The pictures are of the reinforcements fresh from painting. The light infantry are Der Kriegspieler 240 Light Infantry Battalion firing - otherwise Hinton Hunt SN 5 line infantry firing sans bayonets; the officer is a PTN 6 Portuguese Officer marching painted to match.

The line infantry figures are David Clayton castings of SN 7 Private marching.

I am also waiting reinforcements for my guerillas, which will bring them up to around 50 strong, plus my 9 muleteers with carts and mules. I have three general officers and a colonel from Rose Wellington figures (previously posted) and I am wondering about using some Minifigs 20mm Austrian artillerymen to approximate Spanish gunners to provide a supporting battery - not sure what guns to use, maybe Newline British or French 6 pounders. I do have two NapoleoN Spanish gun crews, they are nice figures but I am not 100% happy with the match, so maybe less accurate uniform detail but more compatible build may be preferable.

I have some Der K Portuguese Cacadores reinforcements too, more of these later when finished.

Der Kriegspieler Dismounted French Dragoon

These thirteen figures are Der Kriegspieler foot dragoons, which clearly have been mastered from a Hinton Hunt FN 147 dragoon horseholder with the addition of a musket. They come from the DK pack code 825-45, dismountable dragoons.

They have come out looking a lot better than I expected, and will join my odds and ends of Hinton Hunt foot dragoons to form a full unit.

Swedish Contingent

I was thinking I had enough figures for one strong or two weak battalions when I found 24 painted Der Kriegspieler Swedes I had no recollection of having (the blue battalion). Now I am tempted to try and field one blue and two weak grey battalions. I am an officer short but I think I have some spare Brunswick Avant Garde figures, one of which could stand in.

The grey battalion is interesting because it includes four different types of Hinton Hunt figures. The two officers and three or four infantrymen are from the original reference collection which inspired the creation of this blog - these are genuine early Hinton Hunt castings. There are four David Clayton castings 0f SWN 4 charging infantrymen. There are 8 Der Kriegspieler versions of this figure (these can be identified by their packs, which are not present on the original Hinton Hunt and then the David Clayton figures). Finally there are some SWN 7 marching infantrymen. Two of these are original Hinton Hunts, the others came via Ian of Hinton Hunt Vintage Wargames Figures blog fame. They are decent castings but have very thick bases. I know these are not original Hinton Hunt or Der Kriegspieler figures;; I am 99% certain they are not David Clayton figures; so I am now wondering if maybe they came from the Replacement Depot (though I don't know whether their figures had thick bases).

All in all a surprise to have this many Swedes, though nowhere near as impressive as Ian's Swedes.

Iberian Contingent - Portuguese Brigade

My Portugues brigade in its current format. I'm hopeful of acquiring enough Der Kroegspieler cacadores to make a full battalion - I'll then field a brigade of two line and one cacadore battalions, with the Der Kriegspielers as a reserve battalion. Logistics are loooked after by the Hinton Hunt Ox Cart. I will be adding a dedicated driver using a spare (as yet unpainted) original muleteer figure.

Currently with no commander, this seems to be a likely job for one more of my surplus Rose Wellingtons.

Iberian Contingent - Portuguese Line Battalion Der Kriegspielers

A cropped version of an old picture. The figutres are Der Kriegspielers with Hinton Hunt officers, with ensign from Kennington and standard bearer from NapoleoN (I think). I added packs to distinguish the figures better from the Hinton Hunt ones, and mixed blue winter, white summer, and brown local replacement trousers to goive a mixed campaign look.

Der Kriegspielers - First UK Appearance 1971

From Wargamer's Newsletter 110, May 1971, the earliest UK reference I have found to Der Kriegspielers. Interestingly there is no mention of Hinton Hunt in this extract from that issue's "Must List" feature.