Jeune Garde Tirailleurs (1er Bn., 2eme Regiment)

This is my first Young Guard regiment, the 1^er Bn. of the 2eme Regiment de Tirailleurs.  The uniforms are based on a plate in the Hortoulle "Soldiers and Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars", showing Tirailleurs and Voltiguers on campaign in Spain in 1809/10, based on period drawings.  I particularly like the greatcoats in brown Spanish cloth, trimmed with red piping.  Do have a click!

All the minis are plastic Perrys, except for the metal standard bearer.  I suspect that the mounted officer is converted from a Dragoon officer; he’s lovely!  The fanion is GMB.

All the minis were painted for me by Dave Davies, who did such a splendid job that I’ve barely touched them (I just muddied the hems of the greatcoats up a little, to match the rest of my Garde), and based them.  I have a couple more battalions to base, and I’m trying to coax one more battalion out of Dave to make a brigade... his painting is exceptional!

My Very Own Spanish Boot Sale

I bought a big lot of figures a while back that are based on 20mm-frontage plastic magnetic bases and have decided to sell them on, rather than re-base to my 15mm standard.  All the minis are Victrix, from the French Line sets, all pics clickable. 

The first unit are 20 French c.1805.  I’ve spent some time on these bringing them up to quite a respectable wargames standard, using dips, highlights and static grass tufts (the same could be easily be done with the other 4 units, in around 2 evenings per unit); I am quite pleased with them!  £45

6 French Light infantry, below, same standard as above £15

4 units of 20 French Line in shakos (4 Command stands, 12 line stands, 2 Grenadier Stands and 2 Voltiguer stands), and 1 stand of light infantry (84 minis total).  These are complete and quite useable but would benefit from dipping and highlighting as above.  £30 per unit and I’ll throw in the light infantry for free.

I can post at cost (will be cheap as these are all plastic miniatures), or deliver at Salute if you’ll be there.  I’m happy to split.  Buy ‘em quick; if they don’t sell by Friday, they’ll be in the bring and buy on Saturday!  You can email me at simonmiller60@gmail.com.

Cheers, Simon 

General de Division

I forgot to post this; he's the general for my dragoon division, lightly converted from a Perry plastic dragoon.

I'm pleased with him, but might give him some white feathers on the crest of his bicorne.  And a medal, in anticipation of his great deeds!

Garde, Garde!

These are my Garde Chasseurs a Pied, which consists of the 1^er and 2eme Regiments, each of 2 Battalions of 36 foot and 6 deployed skirmishers, and a small band of drums.  All photos very click-able.

The 1er (below) are led by General de Brigade Cambronne, he of the alleged “Merde!” incident at Waterloo (which I first read about in Zola’s “Les Miserables”, as a teenager).

The 2eme (below) are led by Général de Brigade Baron Pelet-Clozeau.

The two Brigades are led by General de Division Michel, who was killed, leading the attack of the Chasseurs a Pied at Waterloo.

All the foot figures are Victrix, and the mounted command Perry’s.  The foot were painted by 3-4 different painters (the majority by Shaun Duncan), although all were stained, detailed, varnished and based by me.  I painted a few foot, the officers and the Tambour Major and assembled drums (below).

Later, I plan to add additional stands with the earlier style of flags with the diamond design, and the later simpler flag used at Waterloo (for the 1^st Regiment only; the second won’t have a flag). 

I’m currently working on the 2/1 Grenadiers a Pied and hope to finish those by the weekend.

BRB's Away Day: La Garde!

Below you can see French reinforcements arriving, to support the faltering attack on the Fleches.  The front Brigade is of Swiss and Italians (returning from the table after a blunder), and beyond them are no less than seven battalion of Garde in their blue greatcoats, and a unit of lancers.

The above shot is of part of La Garde.   These are mostly my figures (4 bn. of Chasseurs, and one of Grenadiers a Pied), and I'll take a few shots of them later this weekend.  They came on behind the centre, but were somewhat delayed by the press of troops to their front...

And finally for today, above is a shot of my three regiments of Dragoons cantering onto the table, late in the game.  I still need to detail and base the fourth regiment and the horse artillery to finish off this Division... but they do have a certain impact...

BRB's Away Day: Brave Poles

Here are some shots of the attacks on my wing, led by Roger's new Poles.

Above is 75% of the mixed brigade of Roger's Poles and my Line, hurtling towards the right hand fleche.  And becoming disordered.

I discovered that in Black Powder, infantry can almost automatically form square at the drop of a hat; so my heavy cavalry were reduced to a "supporting role".  

Here the French and Poles have pushed on into the fleche...  the Polish unit at right rear, achieved wonders;  routing a Russian unit it became shaken, and was then charged simultaneously in front and flank by two fresh Russian units.  It routed, one, turned and then routed the other!   The heroes can be seen, below.  Eventually they had to reluctantly retire after their brigade was broken.

Roger (RTB) designed this range of Poles, which were sculpted by Paul Hicks.  I can testify that they are lovely minis, very compatible with Perry/Victrix.  There are some closeups on Roger's blog.  If you want to buy some, then you can reach Roger at roger.murrow@mmc2100.co.uk.

BRB's Away Day: Part Deux

In yesterday's post I showed the starting positions of the Russians, and here are the French!  Everything is clickable.

Above is a view along the French front line.  L'Empereur had 20 battalions of 36 infantry on the table (with another dozen off table!), and half a dozen cavalry regiments (with 4 in reserve) and a grande battery (14 total guns).  Indeed the force was so numerous that it was extremely challenging to fit it on the table!

A head-on shot of the French centre, shows some of the 14 battalions le Petit Caporal committed to the frontal assault on the fleches.

... and here you can see RTB's 2 battalions of Poles that later distinguished themselves (on which, more in due course!).  

Our light cavalry brigade was commanded by Lasalle, himself (gesturing with pipe).

And finally, below, le Petit Tondu himself, with General Staff; lovely painting by Roger, particularly worth a click.  That is Ney with his back to us, at the table.

Most of the French shown are Rogers, but some are Ken's (and a very few of the line, my own).  Tomorrow will follow some shots of the action!