DBN - Plancenoit

It's been a while since my classic Napoleonics have had an outing so I got them out and played a quick solo DBN game using the Plancenoit scenario from DBNwargaming.

I used 50mm unit frontage so increased the table size to 30 by 30 inches and used 1.25" = 100 paces.

The Prussians opened the game with some effective counter battery fire with the first shot causing 2 hits and a shaken status on one of the French guns. Both French guns were destroyed by the end of turn 3.

With the French artillery destroyed their left wing is made up of a single unit of Hussars.

Plancenoit is defended by a unit of Alberken infantry. A detachment defends the cottage which represents the church.

Bulow pushes forward his troops in massed columns.

The French cavalry attack a unit of Prussian Light Cavalry.  Both units have 2 hits and are shaken so its winner takes all. The French win and get a breakthrough charge and hit the  leading unit of Prussian attack column who are able to form square and drive off the French cavalry and then destroy them with musketry.

On turn 6 the Young Guard reinforcements arrive and use a good CAP throw and STMs (Strategic Moves) to quickly reach Plancenoit.

Its turn 9 and the Prussians close on Plancenoit ready to launch an assault next turn.

A unit of Guard arrives on Turn 9 and moves up.

On turn 11 the Prussian assault goes in. The first column fails to break in. The second is however successful and takes Plancenoit.

On turn 11 the French Old Guard counter attacks. Both units count as in being in bad going. The French are on a 4 the Prussians regulars a 2. The French roll a 4 the Prussians a 6. The melee is a tie. Both sides take a hit and a the units are locked in a desperate melee. 

In Turn 12 the Prussians are able to take the Church ( a strongpoint in DBN). However even though the Old Guard are shaken they beat the Prussians regulars and recapture Plancenoit. On the final French turn the Young Guard storm and recapture the church. 

A french victory but it was close.

Another fun game of DBN.

Major W Robertson

During the Waterloo campaign the 1st KGL were commanded by Major W. Robertson.

I have used an Alberken colonel to represent him and lead the 1st KGL in action. There is less detail on this figure than a Hinton Hunt personality figure. I have therefore added the detail, such as buttons, using paint.

Although a less detailed figure he is a useful addition to my classic collection.

I have some French artillery crew on the go before I tackle some French cavalry.

Douglas Voltigeur

I have had this Voltigeur Officer for a while. Looking the shape of the base I think this may be a Douglas figure  possibly code NP17.

He is a bit thicker set than other Douglas figures in the range. I have nicknamed him the Enforcer.

This weekend I painted up an old DK Russian standard bearer to go with the old Alberken figures I recently got off ebay.

These figures are painted to a basic style how the varnish has yellowed with age. I have tried to age the DK standard bearer using acrylic ink to stain the paint. I will leave these figures as they are - at least for now.

So that is 14 Infantry figures completed this year. I have started my next unit - 12 JC recast French two piece  Dragoons.  I just need to decide which Green to use.

Chasseur Flankers finished

I have finished off the 12 figures of the Chasseur Flankers. The unit consists of 22 original Alberken/Minifig figures with a recast Hinton standard bearer and drummer.

The Green and yellow go together rather nicely although it took 5 coats of yellow paint on the flag. I am not entirely happy with the flag as the eagle looks like a pigeon.

Alberken officers have a strange pose which I have tried to alter by bending the arms slightly. I had to do this to make room for the Drummer to fit.

So I have finished my first 12 Figures of the year which earns me 12 points. I have a French Rose (?) Voltigeur Officer almost done. 

In other news I have decided to use the prepainted Russian Alberken figures (see previous post)  as they are yellow varnish and all.  True veterans in more than one way. There are only 20 of them so I am painting a DK standard bearer and coke can flag to add to the unit. The interesting part is I am painting him to match the rest of the figures including replicating yellow varnish. 

Battles of Yesteryear

Over the years I have seen pictures of painted box sets supplied by Alberken in I guess the mid to late 60s. These box sets cost £2 2s 0d or 2 Guineas in 1965.

I have a fondness for the Alberken range and I was pleased to pick up a box of these figures on ebay for a modest outlay (I was the only bidder)

The box contains 20 Russians and look to be Grenadiers possibly codes RN3 and RN4s.  The painting is basic and the paintwork, particularly the white , shows, the effect of age with yellowing varnish.

I will do a bit of paint refurbishment and generally tidy these figures up rather than a strip and repaint. I have 2 Russian DK standard bearers and couple of SHQ Grenadiers I can use to bring the unit up to full strength as the Arakcheyev Grenadiers.

Chasseur Flanker of the Guards.

I finished the varnishing this morning of the first  12 of my Chasseur Flanker of the Guard.

For this unit I have used the Alberken/early Minfig FN16 - Line Volitigeur Advancing figure for the Rank and File.  This is one of my favourite Alberken figures.

The Chasseur Flankers are a useful addition for 1813/14 French Armies and will form part of my Young Brigade along with a unit of Alberken FN20 - Young Guard Voltigeurs.

They look rather natty in Green.  I have had these figures since the early 70s and I bought them from BMW Models in Wimbledon.  I had originally painted them as Austrians.  For some reason I black lined them in yellow. 

It's good to get these figures resurrected after so many years.

On Manoeuvre

I have a few items on the painting table but they are not yet finished. Instead I share some views of my classic Napoleonic collection so far.

In all the collection consists of 10 infantry battalions each of 24 figures, 4 cavalry regiments of 12 figures, 6 batteries of artillery with 4 crew. There are also 4 companies of skirmishes each of 6 figures. Finally there are 7 generals and a few odd single figures. 

In all there are 347 figures mostly Hinton Hunt, both original and recasts, Alberken, Les Higgins and Garrison and the odd Rose and Douglas figure.

British Rifles or Prussian Reserves

On my last post Rob made a point about the British rifleman figure perhaps holding a musket as it was too long for a Baker rifle.

This has got me thinking about my plan to use these figures and some other minifigs 20mm I have.

The figures all have Stove Pipe shakos and I have mussed about using them as Prussian Reserves.

Here is how a battalion would look.

I would perhaps need to add bayonets, at least to the front rank figures, as Prussians always had them attached.

As these figures have shoulder wings they could be used as the 1st battalion 9th Reserve Infantry , 21st Infantry Regiment in 1815.

The picture is from Knotel however they would look rather good with white belts rather than black.  Artistic licence perhaps

If I go down this route then I will wait to see if I can get some HH Riflemen on ebay. In the Interim my British skirmishers will be provided by the 51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment using these, rather odd looking Garrison Figures.

As I live in West Yorkshire it seems appropriate to do this unit. I have also realised the regimental museum is located in Doncaster.

http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/culture-leisure-tourism/king-s-own-yorkshire-light-infantry-museum

British Rifles

Having finished the French Carabiniers I have moved on to my next unit  - the 95th Rifles.

I have 10 Riflemen and 2 Officers to paint that I picked over the last year. Back in the day I had 6 of the very same figures. I understood they were Alberken/early Minifigs but on closer examination they look rather like Douglas figures. Perhaps another case of Peter Gilder 'borrowing' someone elses design.

Here are the figures before the dip.

And afterwards.

As this closer view shows there is a bit of flash that needs cleaning off the figures.

The final picture is of Peter Gilders Waterloo game from the front cover of Miniature Warfare from September 1970.

On closer examination you can see one of these chaps almost single handed defending La Haye Sainte from the French masses.

French Young Guard - Recruitment

Last year I picked up some Alberken/Minifig FN20 Young Guard Voltigeur advancing however well short if what I needed to form a complete unit. I thought it unlikely that I would be able to find any more.  But I lived in hope that some would turn up.

I was very pleased therefore that
this week I was able to complete the unit after an ebay purchase.

The YG are now added to the awaiting a bleach dip/painting  pile.

Included in the ebay lot was one of those odd figures you get with classic Napoleonics. This is a FN23 YG Officer charging. Although why this pose is described as charging is beyond me. He looks like he is directing traffic. I will try bending the arms and perhaps his head to see if I can get a better pose.

Marshal Murat

Marshal Joachim Murat (1767-1815) was one of Napoleons most flamboyant and dashing cavalry commanders, but he was perhaps less impressive later in the wars, when he was promoted beyond his abilities. Which is perhaps true of many of Napoleons Marshals particularly in the later campaigns.

This morning I finished painting my Alberken/Minifig Murat. 

I have based the uniform on the one he wore in the earlier campaigns and the battle of Austerlitz.

Many of the pictures show him riding a white horse. Whether he did, or whether it was artistic licence, I decided to go for a darker horse to act as a contrast to the uniform.

Pictures also show his white uniform festooned with gold but I decided to tone it down a bit. 

Having got a Murat perhaps I should paint him a unit of Infantry to lead and in my 1815 armies my Murat will be present at Waterloo.

Old Guard Artillery

It has taken longer than planned but I have completed my Old Guard Artillery. There are 5 original Hinton Hunt figures and 3 Alberken/minifigs. The artillery are I think Warrior pieces I picked up at the old Harrogate show about 20 years ago.

Here is a comparison of an Alberken and Hinton side by side. The pose is similar and the two could almost be twins.

For those of weak disposition look away now.

Years ago I painted some plastic HaT 1806 Prussians as Spanish. The other day I found them and decided to give them a couple of coats of good old gloss and put them on new bases.

A bit rough and ready around the edges but usable whilst I slowly build up my classic armies

Will I be burned at the stake as a heretic I wonder.

The 'Monster' himself

I have dipped and cleaned up the  next batch of figures ready for the painting table.

First up a vintage Napoleon.  When I was a callow youth I had a Minifig S Range Napoleon and I am looking forward to painting him.

Next to him is a rather flamboyant Alberken recast of Murat. He will need a suitably exotic uniform to bring him to life.

I have also got some Old Guard gunners ready to go.  Three are Alberken figures with the remaining ones are Hintons which I bought from Camden Passage.

I had to do a bit if repair to the gunner with the hand spike.  It was miscast when I got the figure from Hinton Hunt. I used the plastic brush from an old broom and super glue and pva to effect the repair.  This drys rock solid and far stronger then super glue on its own.