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Author Topic: Venta de Pantalones - Vistula Lancers  (Read 37971 times)

Offline Digits

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Re: Marshal Frederick du Pied Douteux.....Napoleonic French
« Reply #45 on: August 16, 2019, 10:06:23 AM »
So, I’ve had a break this week but as I have this weekend to myself, I should be able to get in a little painting.  With luck I may the the lions share of one foot regiment done....

Anyway, the reason for this post, I have been having a think.

I know I’ve loosely based my army plans around the French at Albuera, primarily as it gives me a focus and structure around which to build.  But as I’m starting to enjoy the painting, I’m realising I want to stretch it a little bit. 

I find myself fascinated by the Federation of the Rhine collection of minis by atheists Perry’s and I have been reading about them a little.  As such, and if for no other reason than to add colour to my army, I’ve ordered figures to paint the Anhalt battalion of the 5th Regiment.  In time I will also add the Lippe.  My idea being I’d like a “Foreign” Brigade to add a little interest.  I’m looking at other foreign units that fought for the French in the Peninsular, and though I have considered Vistula infantry, I’m conscious they never really fought in the same battles as their Lancers, a unit that will feature prominently in my army.  (Indeed it’s their starring role at Albuera that prompted me to use Albuera as my focus).

I have a great book I picked up at a 2nd hand book shop “Napoleons War in Spain” written from the French perspective and with great colour plates of French allies etc which I’m reading through so I will pick another foreign contingent to add once I’ve found another interesting and hopefully colourful unit.

Then their is the fact I am a gamer first, painter definitely last!  I love the idea of adding a regiment of Cuirassiers too my army.  Yes, I know they didn’t appear much in the Peninsular and certainly not at Albuera, but as a gamer, I would obviously welcome their addition as a hard hitting element that should my army come up against say an Austrian army on the tabletop, I would be sorely missing otherwise.

As such, and to try and keep some tenuous thread / reason for being, I have ordered the fascinating cuirassiers standing at ease, some arms folded as I shall be putting them into my reserve as a nod to their lack of participation.  I will also paint them as the 13th, the only regiment I am aware that fought in the Peninsular (Spain I think).

If I can find a reason to add in a little Guard Cavalry, I would love to add in a few other bits....but I may be stretching it 😌

I don’t really have a question as i’ve Decided that’s what I’m going to do, though I am interested to know what other gamers do?  Do they typically pick a given army at a point in time or Battle as their “focus”, if so, do they too try to find tenuous links in order to expand it, are they more rigid?  Or do they just go with the rule of cool and pick from a wider range of units available at the time?  Are there power gamers that just opt for the the best units or how do they go about picking their regiments to portray a more balanced army?

Offline Digits

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #46 on: August 18, 2019, 05:11:15 PM »
Must be talking drivel....oh well 😏

Anyway, I have come to realise that painting greatcoats is NO quicker than painting without!  May be something to do with my daft idea to paint two units at the same time however.....

Still, progress made, I shall persevere!


Online Warboss Nick

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #47 on: August 18, 2019, 07:39:43 PM »
Don‘t despair! Napoleonics are never the quickest of paint jobs. Greatcoats are still quicker for me because (a) at least some will do with base colour + wash instead of a triad and (b) they don’t have all those details red trims etc.

No matter if greatcoat, full dress uniform or a mix of both, I will only paint one unit at a time to get Progress and a sense of success from finished units.

Online Warboss Nick

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #48 on: August 18, 2019, 07:55:26 PM »
As for your thoughts on army building that’s certainly not drivel. For me it startet with Vandamme’s IIIème Corps at Ligny and will probably end up with 8th and 11th division. That suits the Perry range well, and I started out alone. Plus there is the Cent Yours website as excellent reference for uniforms. Since then others have picked up napoleonics, too, but we’re focussing on the Peninsular.

Since we’re flexible within reasonable bounds I can easily use the same units. With french you don’t see the difference between regiments anyway unless you start reading the number in the flag.

That did however mean I need some dragoons. So roughly on keeping with the 100 days I’m now also building the 9th cavalry division.

As for colour, I fully understand what you mean. I will add four Swiss bataillons even though there was just one at Ligny. Two of those will be wearing pre 1812 uniforms so I can have bearskins. And I will add two kingdom of Holland bataillons solely for the Peninsular - because I can and they were present somewhere. Those white uniforms will make for an nice change.

Apart from that I have decided to depict one brigade / two regiments with a total of four (maybe six) bataillons as ragged by mixing in some of the lovely Perry national guard conscripts. It helps to tell brigades apart and offers a chance to depict different training levels.

Just some thoughts...

Offline Digits

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #49 on: August 20, 2019, 01:41:33 PM »
Thanks for the reply Nick, much appreciated and I’m glad to see you have a similar thought process.

With that in mind I have re jigged my target army organisation to include a “German Division”  to give myself a little colour on the ground.  It has bumped my target figure count a fair whack though.....😩




« Last Edit: August 20, 2019, 06:46:51 PM by Digits »

Offline vodkafan

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #50 on: August 20, 2019, 05:20:29 PM »
Definitely not drivel! I am way behind you but I am recreating the British/Portuguese 2nd Brigade of the Light Division for my British Peninsular force, but the French will be more of a "fantasy" brigade. As well as the French units in blue I intend to have a battalion each of the Legion Irlandes and a Saxony unit in the white uniforms...
I am going to build a wargames army, a big beautiful wargames army, and Mexico is going to pay for it.

2019 Painting Challenge :
figures bought: 500+
figures painted: 57
9 vehicles painted
4 terrain pieces scratchbuilt

Offline Digits

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #51 on: August 20, 2019, 06:56:02 PM »
Cheers Vodkadrinker.....yes I toyed with Irlandes but preferred the Anhalt figures so there is my green uniformed regiment...besides, needed a name so “German Division” sounded credible.

I’ve updated my post above to show my target.  The couple of bits done are worded in green....clearly, the start of a LONG journey.   Soon be able to add a pair of foot regiments......

Offline Roo

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #52 on: August 20, 2019, 07:27:59 PM »
Good stuff.  Keep up the great work, trust me Greatcoats are way faster...but my Neapolitans are uniform coats only (March to May) in Italy being too hot...at least in my mind...for the wearing of greatcoats into battle 😂

Offline Digits

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #53 on: August 20, 2019, 08:48:04 PM »
I gather it rains in Spain....at least mainly on the plain 😏

I do want some colour so I don’t intend doing all in coats....I kinda gathered  it would get me half a dozen quick win units before I can start taking my time with coloured uniforms.  I’m not convinced the great coats are actually saving me much time though!

I think my planning is about done.  I actually have the following figures already bought and ready to build / paint

Vistula Lancers - metal
3 x Chasseurs a Cheval - plastic
Chasseurs a Cheval standing - metal
Cuirassiers Standing - metal
Dragoons x 2 - plastic, horses painted

Four boxes of plastic infantry 2 Perry, 2 warlord
Enough metal figures in greatcoats for another regiment
Anhalt regiment - metal
2 more horse guns
4 line guns


So...I think I need to crack on.  It may not be the most exciting thread to follow but I hope a little encouragement  will keep me motivated and I will look to post an ever expanding army roster of finished units.  If I find a new gaming partner or group along the way, even better...

Vive la France! Vive l'Empereur! Vive les soldats miniatures!


Offline FifteensAway

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #54 on: August 21, 2019, 04:02:26 AM »
Painting miniatures, done right, is an act of meditation. 

Now, whoever told you meditation does not include the occasional profane moment, well they were out-and-out liars, honest they were.  Or, would that be profanity moments?  I get all confused about that.

It is a way to relax in a productive manner, surely.  Good music in the background helps.  The TV on hurts.

Offline Digits

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #55 on: August 22, 2019, 02:03:00 PM »
Fully agree with that statement!

Those who know me from other forums
Know I’m a modeller first and reluctant painter second.  There is no point me trying to convert massed battalion minis as even I would loose them in the throng.  So this exercise in painting only is really a first for me.

Now back on topic.  I suspect the answer is a no but does anyone know of any Imperial Guard units detached from the guard and leant to other Marshals for their campaigns?

I’m trying to find a reason to add a guard/veteran / elite battalion, squadron or battery  to the army.

Offline Digits

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #56 on: August 23, 2019, 09:19:53 AM »
Ok I found something.....in Ospreys Napoleons Guard Cavalry,  the war record shows Chasseurs a Cheval in Spain 1808...presumably with Napoleon.  But then it references “a detachment in Spain : Elione” 1811  - 12.

I can’t find any details about the Battle of Elione, but may have reason to include a little Guard.

Offline ARKOUDAKI

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #57 on: August 23, 2019, 11:46:45 AM »
WOW!!!!!!!!! You are making excellent progress. Keep up the good work!

Offline vodkafan

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #58 on: August 23, 2019, 04:39:06 PM »
Ok I found something.....in Ospreys Napoleons Guard Cavalry,  the war record shows Chasseurs a Cheval in Spain 1808...presumably with Napoleon.  But then it references “a detachment in Spain : Elione” 1811  - 12.

I can’t find any details about the Battle of Elione, but may have reason to include a little Guard.

You could have a small unit of Guard as an escort to an important personage, or on a special courier mission....war is a very fluid thing .
Just as an example from my own family history, My dad's WWII wartime records were declassified a few years back and my younger brother got hold of them. As far as we ever knew, dear dad spent most of his RAF service in North Africa finding and disposing of abandoned bomb dumps lost in the desert. But it turned out he had on his record a Top Secret classified mission to Italy for a time, which we know nothing about... :o

Offline Littlearmies

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Re: Digits builds Napoleonic French Army
« Reply #59 on: August 25, 2019, 11:02:37 PM »
If I may make a couple of suggestions - I would take your two boxes of Perry plastic French Line and sort them into two groups - greatcoats and non-greatcoats - and use them to do two battalions; the decision to wear greatcoats or not was made by the Chef de Battalion rather than the individual. The Perry boxes also contain some very nice plastic heads that fit the  Warlord French infantry very well. I would then look for options to add some individuality to each battalion. Obviously you have the Perry metals but I've never been been wild about their metal figures due to the hit and miss casting quality - I'd take a look at Calpe - they fit very well with both Perry and Warlord plastics and they have oodles of different command sets. Another option would be the Front Rank re-enforcement packs - the command pack would do very nicely.

 

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