Sunday 23 September 2018

The End of the Line 2

I found a bit of time this weekend to finish my French line infantry battalion, and so here they are:






The figures are all vintage Hinton Hunts from the French Infantry of the Line 1812-15 (in shakos, short tailed coats and long trousers) part of the range:

FN 1: Officer (charging) x 1
FN 4: Colour Bearer (charging) x1
FN 6: Drummer (charging) x1
FN 5: Fusilier (charging) x 21

There is an option to replace two of the companies with grenadiers and voltigeurs at some point, but I have to admit that I'm rather pleased with the all-fusilier look.

It'll be back to the Chasseurs for me now I think. This is likely to be a rather long and fraught process, so to the fill the gap the next post will probably feature another episode in the adventures of the PEF.

In the meantime, I'm off to celebrate with a glass or two of Central Otago Pinot Noir. I've wanted a battalion of FN 5s for ages. I think they're some of the nicest figures I've ever handled.

WM

22 comments :

  1. My experience of FN5 is that it's a bit like waiting for a bus, you wait years and years and then three units come along at once - so let's hope your next two are as wonderful as these!

    And all with blue Pom-poms how superb!

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    1. It was exactly thus, Ian. I have enough for a division - which isn't as impressive as it sounds, as that's only three battalions in my army.


      Blue pom poms is what the Great Man specified. Future regiments, however, will be sporting other colours.

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  2. Impressive job, glad to see them in formation!

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    1. Thank you, Phil. It's been a bit of a wait (er...4 years), but better late than never. I haven't decided which regiment they are yet. The top spot, the 45th, has already been snaffled by a battalion of DKs.

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  3. Lovely Jubbly. I do like a nice, uniform looking, line unit, and these are definitely nice - worth the wait. Looking forward to the next chapter in the PEF epic - and I do mean epic as there can be no doubt but that the PEF have out-marched Xenophon's 10,000 by some margin.

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    1. Quite so, Rob. I really need to get their adventures onto the blog as I can't really fight another battle until the full tale has been told.

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    1. Thank you, Stokes. They're rather plainer than my usual Frenchmen, which troubles me a bit. I may crumble and do proper flank companies. It all depends on how they look next to their DK brethren.

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  5. I remember the drawings for this figure way back when sculptors couldn't afford photography, they were brilliant then and still are, well done.

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    1. Cheers, Robbie.
      They are wee charmers, these figures, and very hard to track down!

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  6. I must admit the uniform fusilier only approach looks very good. And as you say you can always mix 'n match with flank companies as needs arise. Beautiful brushwork as always.

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    1. Thank you Dave - as I said to Stokes, I haven't quite made up my mind....I'll post a picture of the division later this week to see how well they all work together.

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  7. There is something about an all fusilier that is just manly. No flashy uniforms, just the grizzled veterans of the line. I really like it, and as I said on TMP - how you pick out the lettering on those flags is an utter mystery to me! Clever use of Rocks as a terrain element in the background I must say as well.

    David

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    1. It's a bit of a mystery to me too, David. I just shut my eyes and hope for the best.

      Ah yes, the rock. I really must get some proper terrain pieces painted. It's there to help with the colour balance more than anything else.

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  8. Fantastic looking unit. I see you have not been tempted by alternate basing options.

    I have a few FN15s and I my plan is to paint these as the 45th.

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    1. It's too late change, Mark. This is my eighteenth battalion!

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  9. That's one of the joys of "vintage" collections - you can recreate them as you remember from back in the day. Lovely brushwork.

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    1. Thank you Matt!

      I never saw these "in the lead" back in the day. It was just a sea of Minifigs by the time I started wargaming in the late 70s. My memory of Hinton Huns is really derived from the old photographs in the wargames books I spent so many happy hours pouring over. The glorious and none-too historical eclecticism of Peter Gilder's armies in particular have been a very heavy influence on me.

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  10. Beautifully painted sir.

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Thank you Aly. They were a wish come true, so I had to try my best.

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  11. This week has been just one long learning curve for me. For years I have muttered "what is it with blue pom-poms?". So it's what appeared on the original painting instructions... By the time I got around to painting French battalions, I was completely under the thumb of those who had stuck to the six company model. You are right again, WM, this obsession is not about the history of the wars, but the history of our memories. Salut!

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