9th Prussian RIR 3rd Battalion

I seem to be painting a lot of Green recently.

Last year as part of a trade I got a bunch of Les Higgins figures including 30 Rifle types painted green.  The 3rd Bttn of the 9th RIR were equipped with British Rifle uniforms in 1813 and wore them all the way through to Waterloo.

This weekend I finished the first 12 rank and file and got them based and ready for inspection.

I had originally planned on adding bayonets but in the end left the figures alone.

The next 9 rankers are 50% done and the command will be provided by a Hinton Hunt officer and drummer in standard uniforms. This will add contrast to the unit. The standard bearer will be a Les Higgins officer, the type pointing, which will be adjusted to take a fizzy can flag. 

I hope the get the unit finished by the end of March.

In other news today I took a short trip of just over a mile to Ilkley Moor for a breath of air and to stretch my legs.  I got to practise some Social distancing.

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.

10th Legere - completed

One of the advantages of working from home is that you can find some time here and there for the hobby.

This lunchtime I finished and based the remaining 6 figures needed for the 10th Legere.

The drummer and standard bearer are HH recast figures and once painted tmix OK with the more statuesque Higgins figures.

The standard bearer has the battle honours and regimental details engraved into the flag. To paint this I painted the basic red, white and blue of the flag and then applied 2 washes of diluted gold paint . Allowing time to dry between the washes I then touched up the red, white and blue around the now filled in lettering. It is probably of no surprise that the engraving on the flag is for the 45th Regiment de Ligne.

The finished unit advances in column.

10th Legere

As part of a trade last year I got a bunch of Les Higgins figures. They consisted of both original and copied figures. The bases of original figures are very distinctive and include Les Higgins signature where as the copys had malformed bases

I was originally not going to use the figures however I decided I needed to get more units finished if I wanted to have enough painted figures for a game. 

So I have undertaken a relatively quick painting refurb of the figures to form the 10th Legere. The first 18 figures are done with just a second coat of Humbrol green needed on the mdf bases.

The Officer is in the classic Les Higgins pose pointing to where he wants the unit to advance.

I used this picture and my trusty old Funken (in French) for the uniform.

The last 6 figures are underway with 4 original Les Higgins elites and a Hinton Hunt recast standard bearer and drummer to complete the unit.

The final pictures are close ups of an original Les Higgins figure. Beautiful detail but a little wooden when compared to Hinton Hunt or Alberken figures however are welcome in the ranks of my classic Napoleonic armies.

The underside of the base shows the distinctive manufacturers makings.

Flanqueurs-chasseurs of the Garde Impériale

In September 1811 Napoleon created a two battalion regiment of Chasseur Flankers of the Young Guard. They fought in the Campaigns of 1812 to 1814.  They look rather nice in Green

I am thinking that a batch of Alberken/Minfigs I have will be rather splendid as Chasseur Flankers.

Do I paint these next or do some more Prussian Lancers and French Hussars. I also have a Napoleon, Wellington (both original Hintons) and a JC recast Blucher in the queue along with 3 battalions of Prussian Infantry, 3 battalions of French, 2 battalions of British plus some riflemen. I also have 1 1/2 Austrian units as well as some French Guard and Guard Horse Artillery.

These are a mixture Hintons, Alberken/Minifig, Der Kreigspielers, Rose and Les Higgins

Decisions decisions - so what do I paint next ?

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.

Austrian Artillery - WIP

Making slow progress. Hopefully get these chaps finished over the weekend. The eagle eyed among you will have noticed that there are now 8 gunners. Thanks to Stryker for the extra 2 figures.

Next up I am going to refurbish a unit  of Les Higgins French Light Infantry. I have started by blocking in the blue using Humbrol 104 - Oxford Blue.

One thing I have noticed is that there are slight differences in the figures snd some have malformed bases. Could these be copies? The detail looks fine.

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.

Les Higgins - WIP

I have been able to get some painting done this week on a 30 figure unit of the wonderful Les Higgins 20mm WSS figures I bought earlier this year.

They are 75% done.

They look a bit vivid due to using the flash on my Iphone.  They are for my imagination War of the Saxon Succesion collection. This unit is the Hessian Erbprinz.

I have another 30 man unit to paint up as tSaxons as well as some Cavalry figures.

Les Higgins WSS

I originally bought some Les Higgins WSS figures back in the early 70s. At the time they were the best figures around real beauties.

Having seen a number of pictures of games using these figures I decided to purchase a few to paint.

Picture of Iain Burts excellent collection. 

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg223/timhall1955/Battle%20Reports/073_zpsb62ec2c5.jpg

My order was quickly turned around by John Cunningham who now owns the moulds along with a range of other classic figures.

I have started painting my first unit of a French inspired imagination. I am not sure if these will represent the Duchy of Calvados, my 40mm Prince August imagination, or perhaps a new entity altogether.

A couple of photos of the early stages of the first 30 figures being painted.