Ersatz Prussian Commanders

I am slowing building up my classic Prussian forces. So far I have 2 mounted officers a Blucher and a converted Lutzow. I knew I would need more.

As I don't have any Hinton Hunt Prussian commanders I decided to get some Newline ones and mount them on some recast British Hinton Hunt horses

In my organisation I need one mounted commander for my brigades which consist of 2 units of either cavalry or infantry.

In all I have the following to paint to complete my Prussuan army - phase 1.

- 2 Der Kreigspielers line units

- 1 Der Kreigspieler Jager unit

- 1 Hinton Hunt recast Landwehr Infantry unit

- 1 Der Kreigspielers Lutzow Infantry unit

- 1 Hinton Hunt Lancer unit

- 1 Hinton Hunt Dragon unit

- Half a unit of Alberken Prussian Dragoons

- 2 SHQ guns with recast Hinton Hunt crews and Newline Limbers and crew.

Should keep me busy for a while. I will keep looking for other bits and oices that may come up.

9th Prussian RIR - Completed

I have now finished the remaining figures for the 9th Prussian RIR (21st Regt in 1815).  I hoped to finish these by the end of March but they are a few days late. So far this year I have now finished 38 foot and 12 cavalry figures - so 62 points.

The infantry are Les Higgins British rifleman. The standard bearer is a LH officer who has had his arm adjusted and a pin added for the flag pole. The flag is made from a fizzy pop can, a la Wellington Man. The Officer and Drummer are old Hinton Hunt figures. They probably should have black facings but I have done them in red to match the flag and add a bit of colour.

The flag is painted free hand and the lettering is done using a fine pointed brush and little dots rather than painting the letters.

So what's next.  Firstly I am started 3 Prussian mounted Officers. The figures are from Newline,  mounted on Hinton Hunt British Scots Greys Horses as I don't have any Prussian horses.

I have also started prepping my next infantry unit - some DK Prussian Lutzow Infantry code 122. Hinton Hunt never made a Lutzow figure.

The command are DK Prussians and will need a little conversion to add a Milliput Litweka. I am also using Milliput to add a little height to the Infantry figures as can be seen in the middle figure.

I target to complete the mounted  officers and Lutzowers by mid May.

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.

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink is a song by the Psychedelic Furs from 1981. It also captures how these French Dragoons have come out - they are 'Pretty in Pink'

The figures and Horses are recast Hinton Hunt figures and the command figures are provided by Newline.

The Newline figures mix very well when mounted on HH horses. The trumpeter epitomizes Napoleonic French sartorial elegance. 

I have painted these as the 17th Dragoons. The flag is made from a diet coke can. 

The Hinton Hunt figures are in pre Bardin uniforms where as the Newline ones are latter period.  The Dragoons will be brigaded with my Carabiniers.

I do have another unit of Dragoons to paint but these are way down the painting queue.

Next up on the painting table are a unit of Les Higgins British Rifleman that have been previously painted.  This unit will be the 3rd Btth 9th Prussian RIR (21st IR in 1815).

I was going to add bayonets to the figures but have decided to keep it simple and not bother. As the main colours are black and green I am going do a paint renovation rather than a full strip and repaint.

Action dans la vallée de Plattville

South West France in 1814 the British and French are locked in combat. With each side manoeuvring for an opening the important of the pass through the Valley at Plattville is realised by both high commands.

Both sides despatch forces to take control of the valley and the small bridge across the River Belle Lona.  Each side has 5 bttns of foot, 2 companies of skirmishes, 2 guns and a cavalry brigade consisting of 1 light and 1 heavy Cavalry  regiment.

The French Leger advance whilst the light companys prepare to cross the Belle Lona and ascend La Colline de la Taupiniere. 

General Du Pont leads the Leger across the Belle Lona. Flags flying and drums beating. A cry of Vive La France can be heard across the valley.

Marshall Ney leads forward a Brigade of infantry in attack column. They splash across the Belle Lona and also ascend the Taupiniere.

The British are not slow to react with Picton leading forward the Fusilier Brigade supported by a battery of artillery.

The village of Plattville is occupied by the 9th Prussian Reserve Infantry.

Whilst the British Lifeguards begin a long flanking march around Plattville.

On the British right the 95th cross the Wheatfield to threaten the bridge.

Murat arrives and leads the French cavalry Brigade over the Bridge.

Without pausing to dress ranks they charge straight ahead against the lighter Brunswick Hussars. The melee is short and the heavy Carabiniers send their lighter opponents back pell mell towards their base line. Things look to be going well on the French left.

In the centre and left however the British are poised to strike. Their first artillery shot hits and with a 6 rolled for effect the French lose a battery. Not a good opening.

The British are able to concentrate whilst the French Columns struggle forward on the Taupiniere.

The Lifeguards force a French Battalion into square before advancing past them to form up in the French rear.

The French launch their cavalry at the Nassauers who are hit in the flank. Although a victory for the French cavalry they are too far away from the critical action on the Taupiniere.

The French Columns form line and advance to close range in the hope they can beat the British Infantry before the Lifeguards can reform and attack them in the rear.

The Chasseur Flanker are routed after only losing one stand. (Yup I threw a 1)

The French now trade musketry with the British. This should be deadly at close range. But not when you throw dice like this!

The last hope for the French is to rally the Chasseur Flankers. They have only lost one stand and this is the first rally attempt. A 3 or more is needed. You guessed it - another 1.

The Lifeguards hit the French rear whilst the British Infantry pour close range musket into the front of the French infantry. The game is up. Another victory for my son Max.

On the Workbench - French Dragoons

I have my next unit well underway.  These are a unit of French Dragoons. I have gone with Pink facings which add a splash of colour against the Green uniforms.

The unit consists of 12 figures. The 9 troopers are all recasts, as are the horses, with the command provided by Newline. I have used Newline command with my Briitish Lifeguards and they had slightly shorter legs. These Dragoons however have longer legs.

They match very well. I have added a Coke can flag to the standard bearer.

I have enough figures and horses in the lead pile to do another unit of Dragoons.

Afternoon game - Battle of Le Souffle

I set up the Dining Table for a quick game with my classic Napoleonics toys. I was going to play solo and test out some changes to my rules which are basically Charge.  Whilst setting up my Max my son asked if I needed help and could he play.   So we spent a couple of hours playing an enjoyable game.

The scenario was basically a French force depending against a larger Anglo Allied army commanded  by my son.  We played the game without any
reference to rules or quick play sheets. In all it took just over 2 hours.

Truffle Hill and its windmill are depended by a unit of Poles and the Guard Artillery under the watchful eye of Marshal Ney.

 Lutzow leads the Prussian 9th RIR and the Austro-Portugeuse Legion in a flanking attack on the village of Le Souffle.

The French skirmishers depending a sunken lane are no match for Lutzow command who despite the attention of the Guard Artillery take the position.

Marshal Murat leads the French elite Hussars in a flamboyant charge against the Lutzow Lancers but no no avail. In the ensuing the melee 5 hussars are list 3 lancers. Max needs to throw a 4 or more for the melee to continue. He rolls a 1 and the melee ends with both side retiring.

The Poles advance to hold Lutzow in check. 

Whilst the attack on the Allied right is going well Max launches further attacks in the centre. The village of Fondant is defended by French skirmishers and the 10th Legere who drive of the attacking Nassuers but are overrun by the Brunswick 1st Line

The Chasseurs de Flankers  with artillery support hold the Flotant Hill. They are however attacked by the Brunswick Hussars. Max wins for the initiative and the Hussars catch the Chasseurs before they can form square and cut them to pieces.

Le Souffle is defended  by the 5th Regt de Ligne. Who suffer from the attentions of artillery.

The British launch the Fusilier Brigade against Le Souffle. The Welch Fusiliers lead the attack but are quickly reduced to 50% and forced to retire. They are however supported by the 7th Fusiliers who drive the 5th Regt out of Le Souffle. 

With the loss of Le Souffle the French withdraw and concede.

A panorama of my dining table. The terrain is simple. The streams, woods and town sections are made from thin cardboard. The hills are mdf. The table measured 5 by 3ft.