Prussian 9th Reserve Infantry - Test figure

I have completed a test figure of the 9th Prussian Reserve Infantry (21st Infantry in 1815). This unit used British/Portuguese uniforms from 1813 all the way through the Waterloo campaign.

I have used a Garrison British Light Infantry figure and cut down the base so that 4 figures will fit on on my 25 by 30mm bases.

I have 20 of these chaps so I will need to find/convert some command figures.

As a reminder the original figure looked like this.

I have 3 choices on my short list to paint next.

1. 12 Alberken British Riles as the 2nd KGL Light Bttn.

2. 6 Hinton Hunt recasts British Horse Guards.

3. The first batch of 12 figures for the 9th Prussians.

Which one should I do ?

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

Classic British Napoleonics - comparison

A recent Ebay purchase has added to my British Napoleonic refurb pile. I now have a few figures from a number of the ranges available in the early 70s.

The first image shows figures which I am fairly sure are Alberken/early minifigs.  The codes I believe are left to right:-

BN4 Rifleman Officer
BN3 Rifleman on Guard
BN23 Light Infantry Firing ?
BN22 Light Infantry Advancing ?
BN26 Line Infantryman on guard ?

Update.  I have added a link to Old Metal Detector blog which shows the first 2 figures in an old Alberken boxed set.

http://theoldmetaldetector.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/alberken-painted-sets_22.html?m=0

The full list can be found here:-

http://www.vintagewargamingfigures.info/rblack/minilist20.htm

The next image is a comparison of some the classic figures, from different manufacturers, I have awaiting refurb.

Left to right these are:- Hinton Hunt, Minifig, Minifig,  Rose, Les Higgins and Garrison.

The Higgins figures are a bit wooden and The Garrison is taller.

French Fusiliers

Over on the Hinton Spieler blog Matt has been showcasing his new Battalion, of rather nice French Infantry, using Garrison miniatures.

The Garrison figure pose is a classic used by many of the figure makers of the time. In all I have 4 different Fusiliers in a similar pose in my lead pile.

From left to right they are Garrison (FN7), Alberken/Minifig (FN30), Les Higgins (NF11) and finally Hinton Hunt (FN5)

The Alberken  and Hinton figure are stylistically similar. The Alberken was I understand designed by Peter Gilder and does appear rather similar to the HH one.

I think they are close enough that I may even mix Alberken elites with HH Fusiliers in the same unit. Is this sacrilege ?

Of the 4 figures the Les Higgins figure has the crisper detail but, as is common with this range, has a rather wooden demeanour.  I have enough Higgins figures to make a couple of French units in the lead pile.

The Garrison figure has one difference in that he his advancing with his weight on the left leg. His body is moving forwards whilst the other figures seem to be in a more defencive posture.

Does this make the Garrison figure more Gallic?

I  am currently painting a French Alberken unit and hope to have the first figures finished for the New Year.

UPDATE.

Following the comment by LG I have added a few more photos of the FN5 figure.  The underside of the base has the HH code.

I have compared the figure with another FN5. They look similar but.

The pose is different with the head position and shako size shown up below.

So its the figure in white a Hinton Hunt ?

As I intend to mix them with Alberken/minifigs in a unit the answer to that question is perhaps not important.

Garrison and Les Higgins Napoleonic reinforcements

Today I visited Graham to pick up a box of old Napoleonic figures which had been gifted to me by Donald. Donald was one of Grahams school wargaming friends in the early 70s.

Graham had recently met up with Donald after many years and when Donald realised that Graham knew me he passed on a file box of his old figures from school. Graham remebers they use to buy their figures from Blunts of Mill Hill Broadway. A shop a I occasionally visited.

Although there were no Hinton Hunt figures the box did contain over a 100 Garrison and Les Higgins figures. There were also 150 (ish) Hinchcliffe and Minfig 25mm figures and my son has got these out and is says he wants to play with them. He also asked about painting some.

Panorama of the LH and Garrison figures including some artillery.

Les Higgins  French Grenadiers/elites.

Garrison French Infantry

Garrison British Infantry. This has a code BN5 but I cannot find it on any list. There is a photo on Tony's Prometheus in Aspic blog.

 http://prometheusinaspic.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/garrison.html?m=1

Tony mentions that these don't come up very often perhaps because they had a short production run as they are a rather 'distintive' pose.

Garrison British Officer and Infantry.

Les Higgins British elites.

Any finally some Garrison French Chasseur a Cheval.  Back in the 70s I had a unit of Garrison Hussars so its nice to see these figures again.

Quiet a few of the figures have broken bayonets so I need to make some repairs. Of course I could just use them as they are as bayonets would only be fixed for a charge.