Advice Requested on French uniforms - Retreat from Moscow

[Sardoo]

Santa very kindly gave me the Perry figures from their  "Retreat from Moscow" range. I wondered if anyone could point me in the direction of sources which would help me identify / paint the French uniforms as accurately as possible. Any advice would be gratefully received as I prepare for my first Napoleonic project in over twenty years  - which project may last a further twenty years given how fast I paint!   

[joroas]

You could look at the Perry site, they are all labelled.

[Sardoo]

Thanks - good advice. Sadly, though,not all of the figures are labelled. FN175 / FNFN 194 / FN 195 seem to be just described as "stragglers" and so a reference guide might be helpful in identifying them.

Much obliged for the suggestion!

[Rogerc]

There is a "retreat from Moscow" uniform guide available by Blanford, there are some on ebay, not cheap but pretty good. Possibly available via amazon too.

Uniforms of the Retreat from Moscow (Philip Haythornthwaite - 1976) (ID:20868)

[Sardoo]

Thanks, I'll have a look!

[Elk101]

There is a "retreat from Moscow" uniform guide available by Blanford, there are some on ebay, not cheap but pretty good. Possibly available via amazon too.

Uniforms of the Retreat from Moscow (Philip Haythornthwaite - 1976) (ID:20868)

Is that the same one as Haythornthwhaite's 'Uniforms of Napoleon's Russian Campaign' as that is pretty good. The colour plates are supported by a brief description.

There is also Partridge and Oliver's 'Napoleonic Army Handbook' that covers the French and their Allies.

[Sardoo]

Cheers, very helpful!

[WimVdB]

Yes, it is the same (excellent) book.
Original it was a small hardback book, the later edition is softback and got slightly larger pages.

[Elk101]

Yes, it is the same (excellent) book.
Original it was a small hardback book, the later edition is softback and got slightly larger pages.

I have the softback larger sized one; highly recommended.

[Arthur]

Thanks - good advice. Sadly, though,not all of the figures are labelled. FN175 / FNFN 194 / FN 195 seem to be just described as "stragglers" and so a reference guide might be helpful in identifying them.

Much obliged for the suggestion!

I don't have the packs in question but most of the figures depicted in the photos appear to be line infantrymen, with the occasional dismounted cavalryman thrown in for good measure.

The frozen casualties (pack 195) are no longer wearing any kind of identifiable uniform and can be painted pretty much as you want.

Pack 194 features an infantry flank company private on the left, what appears to be a hussar stealing a blanket from a dying line or light infantry officer (the standing looter is wearing a hussar pelisse), an infantry grenadier 'liberating' the shoes from a dead infantryman (either line or light infantry since he is wearing a greatcoat and can be both) and finally a light cavalry trooper (judging by his sabre), most likely a chasseur à cheval : 



The three stragglers on the left and the second from the right in pack 175 are line infantrymen, while the one on the far right is either a cuirassier or a dragoon (I'd say cuirassier but it's hard to tell from the helmet in such a small pic) while the third from the right wearing a fur cap is a cavalryman - possibly a dragoon judging by his coat and buttoned cavalry overalls :

[Patrice]

I wondered if anyone could point me in the direction of sources which would help me identify / paint the French uniforms as accurately as possible.

Ahem, perhaps you'll have to check all uniform sources of the period and see which of them correspond to the miniatures? I was also wondering about that (unless the Perry Bros have done a list?)

You may also be interested by this thread:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=56872.0

[Sardoo]

Thanks Arthur, that was really helpful.

Thanks also Patrice, much obliged!

As a Napoleonic newbie I think I've now got enough info to narrow down my research and preparation for this interesting project.

Grateful thanks to all who have helped!

To the books!