Prussian 1815 army

[joroas]

While I hum and ha over a War of 1812 army, my butterfly mind has alighted on the new plastic Prussians, simple easy to make figures that even I may be able to finish.

A quick look at Waterloo orbats shows a corps with 4 brigades of 2 line and 1 Landwehr  regiment with some attached skirmishers, sounds good so far.  Guns and command are already out.  That just leaves cavalry. 

In the interim I have looked hard at the Perrys French hussars, if what I read is true then figures would wear hussar dress with overalls and a covered shako.  The horse furniture changed in 1815 but I doubt that it was widely issued by Waterloo.  That would just leave some medium/heavy cavalry and some Reserve plastics to form a decent corps.

Thoughts?

[richard jackson]

Not thought of the Perry french Hussars as possible conversions to Prussian cavalry-probably wont work for Uhlans but maybe the hussars will do it.
You could also use the plastic prussian Perry line infantry with plastic or metal British stovepipe shakos from various maunfacturers by head swapping as there were a few prussian reserve units I think that had British produced uniforms.

[joroas]

No they won't work for other regiments, but my thought is a Hussar brigade will be easy to make. 
As Dave Bickley says, there's no point in buying cheap plastic figures if they take so much time to construct that it negates the saving.    Warlords Landwehr are one piece and Perrys have 3.  I just got a box of Wargames Factory's Zulus, but the thought of constructing them stopped me from continuing ..................... 

[Colonel Tubby]

Joras - I share your pain!

There is lots on nice plastic stuff around now but most need to be built and I just don't have the time!

[Lt. Hazel]

The warlord Landwehr disappointed me. OK they are 1-piece-castigs, but they got six pionts where they are connected with the sprue. one point is at the middle of the (slimm) bayonett. And only 3 different Poses. I assembled some Perry Prussians yesterday and it wasn´t that time consumin. And they are much better.

[joroas]

Thanks, I am looking at two regular to one Landwehr units and two small jager units, and if the hussars fit, then at least it will be a quick and cheap army to produce.  Need to source the boxes at £15 each now ................... 

Do you get many spare covered shakos in a box?

[Lt. Hazel]

10-15 Spare heads in covered shako I think.

[richard jackson]

The two regular and one landwehr regiments in what is called a Prussian brigade consist of 3 battalions of each.
Regulars had 2 musketeer and one fusilier battalion in a regiment.Landwehr had 3 similar battalions.
The fusiliers had I think black strapping ( musketeers had white ) and the men were moustached.I think they also had the wood on the muskets blackened and a slightly different sword.
Have a root round on Peter Fitzgeralds Calpe site-there loads of info on there.

[joroas]

Thanks.

If I paint 6 of the 20 figures with black webbing and black rifles should be enough.  The supply issue of swords will have been undelivered in my corps, which, judging by Prussian logistics is not unreasonable.  The spare covered shakos will do for the Hussars.

[joroas]

Well I bought the fusilier conversion pack and now they have released 3 new cavalry regiments .......