Basing Voltigeurs

[Ockius]

Hi guys,
I have just begun a Napoleonic French army and I’m currently painting my first battalion of line infantry.

I’ve got some Voltigeurs marching (like the rest of the battalion) and I’m not sure whether to base them the same as the others (I’m going to use General de Brigade rules btw) or whether they should be in skirmish order. What would people advise?
 
To be honest, as they are in march poses they would probably not look right in skirmish order anyway, but perhaps someone can advise what would work best for the rules.

[OB]

I think it's quite tricky given the pose.  Perhaps you could use a space between the bases to indicate skirmish order when deployed in that role.

[vodkafan]

I have exactly the same problem with one of my British Light Battalions, they are all in  (relaxed) marching poses.
I have decided to put them  4 on  35 x 35mm bases but with rounded corners ( my usual bases are 30mm frontage with 90 degree corners)
They will be a  one-off, my other French and English Light Infantry battalions are all in skirmish poses and they will all be on round bases.

[edit]

Ockius, I mis-read your original post. I see now it is just the one company of Voltigeurs. I would base them same as the rest of the battalion. However, I would also buy a few more in skirmish poses and put them on round bases, either singly or in pairs, like Olicana does. It is a small additional outlay but it gives the option of swapping them out during different phases of the game.

[Ockius]

Thanks chaps, two different but equally good suggestions.
Think I’ll do OB’s one first, and then when I can eventually paint up additional skirmish pose figures I’ll switch to Vodkafan’s!

[Ockius]

Here they are so far - a long long way to go!

I’ve got three battalions of undercoated figures to do, by Xan and Battle Honours, plus one squadron of Old Glory dragoons.

[IronDuke596]

I base my French Line Voltigeur company's six  figures on individual 15 x 20mm 3mm MDF stands (most collectors use 20mm x 20mm stands but I prefer a more realistic tighter elbow to elbow dressing). Each stand has a round magnet inserted into the base so that they can stand/attracted on a thin magnetic sheet  45 x 40mm (similar to a fridge magnetic sheet) company base. Most gamers will use 20mm x 20mm stands on a 60mm x 40mm company base. With my method I can deploy the voltigeur company onto skirmish stands (my home made stands are spaced 20mm apart) when necessary or leave them in their formed company formation.

I too use GdeB (a superb rule set) and although it recommends individual stands for skirmishers it also allows for fixed company stands to act as a skirmish screen for those who do not wish to make individual stands as I have. In this case just double the frontage of your company stand for the skirmish screen coverage.

The ideal method is to have a marching voltigeur company fixed as per their center company brethren and have separate skirmishing figures on individual stands that can be swapped out with the fixed company when skirmishing. Some of my voltigeur companies have these twin skirmishers, however for most gamers this not practicable.

I hope this helps and let us know how you are progressing.

[vtsaogames]

In 15mm, my close order infantry are 3 per 1 inch wide base (single rank). My skirmishers are 3 per double-wide (2") base with the odd bush or branch. Don't know if that helps.

[olicana]

I had much the same dilemma when I was working out what to do for mine. In the end, so I could keep the formed unit to four stands, I decided to simply double up and take the hit on cost and painting time. I then based the duplicate skirmish figures on round bases to throw out in front as required without disturbing the parent unit - as with these Nassau.



Obviously, the cost in time and money mounted up but, I persisted and I'm glad I did. I'd hate to have to go back and do it later - I'd need to do so many that the thought would be daunting. Best a decision made early in the project.







I also decided to use the bases as 'skirmish factor' indicators. My line have two stands (SK2) my legere have three stands (SK3).

[Ockius]

Cheers for all the info guys.

Olicana, lovely army and useful to see the examples.
It’s definitely the extra painting that daunts me, but my mates and I like to take pics of the spectacle when playing so I will definitely eventually paint up separate skirmish stands so they look right on the table. Probably after I get the couple of hundred other figures done!

[has.been]

if you do go on & base skirmishers on round bases,
I would make them individual bases. Then you could
use them for Skirmish games.
e.g. Silver Bayonets, Fistful of Lead etc.

[olicana]

unless you don't play skirmish games.......

[has.been]

unless you don't play skirmish games.......

Ah, the fly in the ointment.   

[olicana]

 

[Warboss Nick]

I base my French company wise and my voltigeurs on half Bases. So in large Units a Company of 6 models is based 60x40mm and the 6 voltigeurs on 2 Bases of 20x60mm. That way they fit up nicely when deployed with the rest of the bataillon. When thrown out skirmishing this still gives a reasonable screen.

Extra skirmishers look better of course, but are a bonus IMHO.