Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: Rob_bresnen on 12 March 2014, 10:28:33 PM
-
I would like some advice- I want to do a handful if Irish Legion to add a bit of colour to my Peninsular War French, and was wondering what figures to use. I want them to be Light Infantry, so does that mean they have uniforms like Voltigeurs or Chasseurs? I have found various images, but I am new to the period and my eyes are not yet trained to pick out the little details that make all the difference. I know they wore green and yellow jackets- but any other advice would be helpful...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Legion
(http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/Rob_bresnen/france_hl_03.jpg) (http://s443.photobucket.com/user/Rob_bresnen/media/france_hl_03.jpg.html)
(http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/Rob_bresnen/Irish_soldier-Copy.jpg) (http://s443.photobucket.com/user/Rob_bresnen/media/Irish_soldier-Copy.jpg.html)
(http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/Rob_bresnen/Lawless_Group_Shot1-Copy.jpg) (http://s443.photobucket.com/user/Rob_bresnen/media/Lawless_Group_Shot1-Copy.jpg.html)
-
With a lot of these units the actual uniform worn is not certain - as you can see from the pictures you have posted - so to an extent it depends on what you want them to look like!
If you want full dress light infantry then Front Rank do a pretty extensive range but I think there is a bit of a shortage of campaign dress French lights.
-
Try the new Front Rank reinforcement packs - the pre-1812 campaign dress packs may help.
http://www.frontrank.com/big_pictures.asp?prod=5368&pn=7
-
According to my internet research and a Brassey's book they wore the non-standard cuffs as shown in your first illustration. I used some Front Rank Young Guard figures as they had the right cuffs.
-
If you want to make them look like battle hardened veterans, I would suggest to use the Perry pre 1812 miniatures.
Here are two examples of the packs:
http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_28_54&products_id=2785
http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_28_54&products_id=2824
-
The ideal figures for these would be from Eureka
Amongst others
http://eurekamin.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=87_126_743_760&products_id=11832 (http://eurekamin.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=87_126_743_760&products_id=11832)
-
Although you want to make them light infantry you need to consider that they were not a light infantry regiment.
If you're not worried about historical accuracy you can use any figures that you like.
-
that is a good point, but I am just painting up a dozen or so for Sharp Practice to compliment my French Line infantry- I imagine them as a group of Irish Voltigeurs detached to support the French on a mission- Sharp Practice is strictly small scale skirmish- so I won't be painting a whole regiment of them.
-
It should also be remembered that the Irish fought in the campaign in Germany in 1813, where they distinguished themselves on several occasions -- being led by Napoleon at the Battle of Bautzen where they covered themselves in glory and were even granted the honour of guarding Napoleon's residence until the Guards arrived.