Napoleonic Restoration Project

[Archie]

The History

I grew up fascinated by a box of Napoleonic figures that my parents had painted together when I was very small. My dad then gave me the figures when I was around eleven or twelve and I messed about a bit with them using them on a very basic level. A year or so later I was introduced to Dungeons and Dragons and Citadel Miniatures followed shortly after - back then they made figures for other games systems ... yes the 'good old days' indeed.

These are the figure that brought me into the hobby originally and despite the armies of Spacefarers, Micro Tanks and Space Marines that I have bought, used and then sold these boys have always been here ... sometimes to hand, sometimes living in the attic.

Anyway despite all the house moves, and changes that have happened to me in my life I have kept the figures and now, something like 30 years after I first saw them and fell in love with them, I think it's time to renovate them.

I think it's time that they get fixed up and then expanded upon and finally see some action. I have a copy of Henry Hyde's Wargaming Compendium (currently my only wargaming book) and I thought I'd use the rules from in there.

But I get ahead of myself - they need renovating before they see action!

Why I am Sharing This Personal Project

Before I show what I've got let me explain why I am sharing - quite honestly having got back into miniatures last year, upon recommendation from my wife and my doctor to work less and relax more I have flitted around the internet into different forums and I'm going to wear my heart on my sleeve and say that you folks on LAF seem to be a very decent bunch of people. I've had people send me free figures and other stuff, give me free advice and generally be very pleasant and nice.

Also if there is one overriding thing that I see on the forum (apart from lead piles) it's that people here really care about this hobby. And as someone who has always found it an isolating hobby, which is unknown to most people I meet, I find it very refreshing.

Hence why I am willing to open up and share this personal project because I suspect it will resonate with some of you reading this.

And I figured you guys might enjoy seeing some 35 year old figures getting fixed up and made whole again.

Oh and I might need some advice along the way!

Anyway that's the deal and here are some pictures of the cavalry situation which is phase one of the project.

The Project

For the life of me I can't work out how to put text underneath pictures in this forum so let me explain what you see - the first picture with a bunch of horses stuck to green card bases.

That was my first attempt at basing things. My 12 year old self only had limited resources and I used double sided carpet tap ... and then slapped some paint on to try to stop EVERYTHING sticking to the exposed tape ... I didn't know about basing back then obviously!

Believe it or not but I didn't add the paint for a few years and used to just have to be careful about moving the horses around. And the paint didn't really work - the card is really sticky even 25 years I stuck the tape on - I can only guess my dad had bought good quality carpet tape!

So I thought the first thing to do would be to cut the horse free. I can't pry them off the backing without damaging them I don't think but the extra hight that the card will give them won't be noticed when they are based properly so that should be okay.

I'm also gluing the horses to their bases which was never done before.

Question One

Does anyone know what regiments / sides those horses are from?

I believe the grey looking ones with blue plastic showing through are Scots Greys but I might be wrong and I have no idea what the other ones are.

All the figures were Airfix 1:72 plastic kits I believe.

All help appreciated.

Final Note

As far as I know my dad was working without reference material apart from the boxes the kits came in so the colours on the figures and horses might be wrong (this was the 1970's remember). Whilst I am going to be repainting them I might also keep some of them as they are for old times sake or keep the colours. Do please bear that in mind when commenting.

[von Lucky]

Happy to join you on your journey and provide advice and praise at the right moments.

[Archie]

See that's what I mean - people say nice things and I'm still uploading photos. 

[rumacara]

Hello Archie

Seems that you have also french dragoons horses.
I remember to have some many years ago.
Check the web site  Plastic Soldier Review for reference on 1/72 plastic soldiers.
There you can find images of the boxes and the miniatures.
Very usefull.

Cheers

Rui

[bulldogger2000]

These are Airfix miniatures.  Looks like you have a combination of horses from different sets. 
The figures with the lambskin covers are from the Cuirassier's set, as are the horses with the two front feet off the ground.
The three  horses in the front row are from the American Civil War cavalry box.
The Horses with the long, pointed saddle blanket come from the British Napoleonic Hussar set.

[Archie]

Thanks guys ... american civil war horses 

Genuinely shocked by that. I dont recall ever seeing any non Napoleonic riders ... apart from the six American indians on horses that I also still have. (Even though one got chewed by the dog!)

[von Lucky]

For the life of me I can't work out how to put text underneath pictures in this forum so let me explain what you see - the first picture with a bunch of horses stuck to green card bases.

Quick explanation: there's many ways to add pictures to your forum posts. You're selecting the method similar to attaching photos to an email (and won't be able to add explanitory text underneath each picture). Another method is similar to adding pictures into a Word document (and can add text wherever you want).

The first has the photos hosted on LAF (and may be easier for you), while the second method requires you to host the photos on another website (ie photohosting websites like Flickr, Photobucket, etc) and then refer/link back to them in your forum post.

I think we'll understand when you post (nothing stopping you from posting/commenting on one photo at a time). Anyway, this'll be fun to watch.

[Archie]

Thanks von lucky that makes sense.

Here are the next batch of ponies that have been cut free. Two tails snapped off and a leg broke. I think I have managed to glue the leg back together. The metal rod is weighting down the horse so the hoor and leg press against each other as the glue dries.

Some of these horses were not on the card bases so I have just glued them down to their plastic bases. As I remember I ran out of carpet tape and very glad of that I am now!

Six more sets of three horses each to liberate.

[bulldogger2000]

The standing horses in the upper right side of the latest photo are command horses from the Napoleonic Highlander Airfix set.

[Harry Faversham]

Two quick tip as regards the horses/riders...
warm up an old scalpel blade and 'weld' the horses to the stand. You can usually do this from underneath where the locating pin fits or gently 'weld' a bit of the base to the horses foot (oops, hoof!). Glue the riders on then give both a really thick coat of gloss varnish when you've retouched both, this will seal the bloke to the horse better than any glue... you can always matt varnish over the gloss if you don't like the glossy look.
Good luck with your project.

[julesav]

The horse ID's above are spot on! One give away is that the Napoleonics used to be moulded from cream coloured plastic, the ACW stuff were moulded in blue and grey plastic.

One of my pals swears by plumbers plastic pipe glue for gluing these polythene figures. He squirts out a dollop onto a bit of scrap card and then uses a toothpick to get it where it's required. Of course a layer of paint will prevent the glue getting a 'plastic to plastic' weld.

Do keep us posted on the progress of your project.

[Rob_bresnen]

I look forward to seeing the labours of your activity. Good Luck.

[Malamute]

Happy memories seeing these. Good luck with your project.

[Lowtardog]

Cor these take me back

[Archie]

Thanks for all the comments guys ... yes they are a bit of a time travel job cwrtainly for me. I dont remember when I first saw them but it would have been 1975/6 when I was 5 or 6. I believe they were painted the year  before.

Do they still make these sets of figures? I heard that Airfix were rereleasing some WW2 boxes this year and it made me wonder if you could still get these?