The 45th Goes Forth

Fall In the 45th!

I was at home with a cold today, so had nothing better to do between sneezes than to finish my DK tribute to Ian's 45th.

At just under four weeks to paint from first to last, this battalion has got to be something of a speed-painting record for me.

Two whole companies devoted to grenadiers and voltigeurs was a bit of an extravagance, but I thought that as this was my first French battalion I should stint them nothing.

I think I'll need to do at least one more battalion to get the French Army well and truly underway before returning to the Prussians. The only question is, should it be another line battalion or some light infantry? I rather like the idea of an all-blue unit....

Many thanks again to Chuck for providing the vital command figures. It just wouldn't have been the same with a home-made Eagle. Having said that, I think it's certain that I'm going to have to have a go at this at some stage!


WM

The 45th Forms Up

The 45me de Ligne takes shape.

DK 9: French Line Infantry 1812, advancing.

My Der Kriegspielers tribute to the 45th has reached the halfway mark.

The marching officer is one of Chuck's splendid DK 13: French Line Infantry 1812 Command figures, and I have to say that I think he's come out rather well! Most of other the figures are DK 9: French Line Infantry 1812, advancing.

DK 9 is clearly modeled on the Hinton Hunt FN 5 figure, French Infantry of the Line 1812-15, Fusilier charging. However, there are some significant differences to look out for in case anyone else comes across these figures.

The first thing to note is the head position, which is facing directly forwards in DK 9 rather than to the side as in the FN 5 figure. Another difference is the musket sling. This is fastened tight against the musket in FN 5, but hangs loose in DK 9. Finally, the bases on the DK 9s are rectangular rather than forming the classic HH square. As with many DKs, they are also altogether lighter, slimmer and less detailed than their HH contemporaries. A final identifier is the "9'"inscription discernible under most of the bases

DK 9 musket sling variations

They may not be Hinton Hunts, but I'm delighted with them nonetheless. The lack of deep relief detail made them simple and quick to paint, and they look balanced and well proportioned. In short, I think it's entirely fair to say they have a charm of all of their own.

I also like them because while I was painting them I experienced one of those moments of pure geeky joy when I realised that there are in fact two variants of the DK 9 fusilier - one with musket sling starting in front of the left hand, and one starting after it! If this batch is anything to go by, the former is a lot rarer than the latter.

The next post will look at another unique DK feature - the inclusion of special 'Elite' variants within the French line infantry range. I have eight of the DK 9E variants, which will serve vary well for the 45th's grenadiers and voltigeurs.

WM

A Flag for the Forty Fifth

DK13: French Line Infantry Standard Bearer

Like a moth to the flame, I just couldn't keep away from Chuck's wonderful DK eagles.

The lettering was hideously difficult to do, and I feel I've been only partially successful. I would  probably have done better if I hadn't tried to conform to the  rather wonky original inscription. However, I suppose it's ended up closer to Marcus Hnton's original vision this way!

I'm not totally convinced by the colour of the flag pole and may opt for a plain brown staff in the final.

In the next post I'll take a closer look at the rest of the DK French line infantry that will be forming up in the 45th.

WM

The Bad News First...

DK 13: French Line Infantry Command; Drummer

I'm very sad to report that Ian's Prussian cavalry, which was the project I should have been working on by now, have still not arrived and are beginning to look as if they've been lost in the post. This is maddening, and all the more so as there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. Needless to say, if I'm being too pessimistic and they do show up they'll go straight onto the painting table. I am very, very sorry about this.

The only thing I could think of to try to take my mind off this depressing result was to press on with another project.

As someone once said, sometimes you have to just feel the fear and then do it anyway, so one of Chuck's French line infantry drummers it had to be.

He's the first man of the 45e de ligne, which will be my DK tribute to Ian's magnificent Hinton Hunt 45e and his altogether brilliant blog. Small compensation, I know, but it's the best I could think of in the circumstances.

WM

The Eagles Have Landed

Chuck's very generous donation

My cunning plan of starting whichever project turned up first has been completely derailed by the arrival of numerous fabulous things simultaneously!

4 Eagles.

Chuck Gibke in the USA, gentleman, scholar, DK connoisseur and all-round smashing bloke, has donated a fantastic collection of DK French command figures, and much else besides.

Perhaps most treasured of all are these four French line infantry eagle-bearers. My complete lack of eagles was the main reason I haven't made a start on the small army of DK Frenchmen I've been collecting to fight my HH Prussians.

Most of the figures are from the DK 13 set: French Line Infantry Command 1812: 4 drummers, 3 eagle bearers, and 5 marching and 3 charging officers. The final eagle bearer looks like he might be from the DK 7 set: French Line Infantry Command 1809.

Chuck also very generously sent me 8 x DK 121: Prussian Guard Infantry advancing, which is what I need to complete the 2nd East Prussian Grenadiers.

Officers and Drummers

Rounding it off were 12 Jack Scruby French and British standard bearers. Although very simple sculpts they are very well proportioned and I think they'll paint up very nicely. I certainly intend to use them if I can find a way to reposition their flags. This won't be easy as they've been very solidly cast.

DK 121: Prussian Foot Guards Advancing

Needless to say, I am heavily indebted to Chuck for his fantastic generosity. I'll just have to make sure that my painting efforts do them justice..

Scruby Standard Bearers

Suspected Hinchliffes!

In an entirely separate package were what I'm almost sure are a set of 6 Hinchliffe 20mm-scale French field guns.  I bought these from my good friend Richard in New Zealand. I'm not completely certain what they are but they certainly look very Hinchliffe-y - to me. The inward-sloping camber of the wheels may be a bit of a clue. I have the feeling that only Frank Hinchliffe  would have bothered with a detail like this at 20mm scale!

French Gribeauval 6 pdr?

They look to me as if they might be French Gribeauval pattern 6 pounders, but they would do very well as Prussian 6 pounders as well, in my opinion. Whatever they are, I'm completely delighted with them.

So the big decision is: will it be Prussian artillery or French infantry on the painting table this weekend? I'll keep you posted!

WM