Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 2 (1. Westpreußisches Dragoner-Regiment)

The Soon Dragoons are ready to make their entrance, so without further ado, here they are:

And here they are again brigaded with the Garde du Corps. You can see why I thought they'd need a flag.

The figures are Hinton Hunt PN81: Dragoon, charging, x12. Nine of them are vintage castings (of which one, whose sword had broken off entirely, is now the trumpeter), and three (the officer, standard bearer and one of the troopers) are recasts.

I think I'm going to need at least one more Prussian heavy cavalry regiment to round off Phase 2. The question is: should they be line cuirassiers, or more dragoons? I think either would look rather dashing

I have a wee backlog of generals and whatnot to work through first, however, so I'll have plenty of time to think about it.

Regards

WM

Going 4th

 As promised, I present the 4e Chasseurs à Cheval in all their shiny glory:

The figures are all Hinton Hunts, being:

FN 122: French Chasseur a Cheval of the line charging, x 8;
FN 318: French Cavalry of the Line Elite Chasseur a Cheval, on horse FNH 7: Line Light Horse, x 2;

FN 318: French Cavalry of the Line Elite Chasseur a Cheval, converted into a trumpeter, on horse FNH 7: Line Light Horse, x 1; and
FN 319: French Cavalry of the Line Chasseur a Cheval in shako, converted into an officer, on horse FNH 3: Guard Light Horse x 1.

No vintage Hinton Hunts were harmed during the making of this regiment as the two conversions were David Claytons.

Time for a bit more infantry, I think.

Yours,

WM

Hinton Hunters

It's been a while since my last post, which was really not my plan at all. For those wondering what happened, the abridged version looks a bit like this:

I went overseas for work for several weeks, then had to self isolate because half of my travelling companions came down with covid; I then had to deal with the mountain of work which built up in my absence; and then. just over two months ago, I had an accident resulting in three hospital admissions. It may take me up to a year, they tell me, to really come right again, but I'm very glad to say that I'm already sufficiently recovered to return to work in just over a week. It's all been a lot less fraught that it might have been, however, thanks to the wonderful support of my friends, family and colleagues. I'm a very lucky man.

Although I continued to mess about with the 4e Chasseurs à Cheval over much of that time, it's really only for the last two weeks that I've been able to concentrate on them. I hoped to finish them today, but alas it was not to be. Nevertheless, here's a wee peek at where I'm up to. They will definitely be ready for battle by the end of next week.

I'm very keen to get them finished as I have some very special infantry lined up to follow them which I'm desperate to have a crack at!

Yours, finally back in the saddle,

WM

Lance Heads

Greetings from the 'other side', as they say in these parts.

I was supposed to be painting gunners this weekend but somehow got distracted and ended up doing French line lancer conversions instead.

The officer is a conversion of a Der Kriegspieler Napoleoniques #49: French Guard lancer, with a Hinton Hunt French line lancer's head, a new sword to replace his lance, some new epaulettes and various other minor changes. It was nearly all done with solder apart from the sword, which started life as a Minifigs bayonet.

The trumpeter is a somewhat simpler recrafting of a broken Hinton Hunt FN 118: Light Horse Lancer in crested helmet, charging. Both are for my friend Rob G., by way of a swap and as a thank you for all sorts of vintage 20mm assistance over the last few years years. I may do a couple more like them for myself eventually....

We have a long weekend here in Welly, so there's still another day left to work on the gunners, but as the weather is rather glorious I don't rate their chances too highly.

Yours

WM

Update:

Rob reminded me that the trumpeter really ought to have fringed epaulettes of his own, so I popped some on this afternoon. The gunners never did get a look in.

Scruby Tuesday

Well it's Tuesday in New Zealand, although I suspect this hasn't yet happened for much of the rest of the planet.

My last post featuring Aly's wonderful Scrubys generated a fair bit of interest in things Scrubywise, so by special request I'm posting a few of the Scruby cavalry which I've picked up along the way.

These Polish Lancers are proper old campaigners:

As shown below, the horses have a faint trace of a bridle on their faces, but are otherwise completely nude. The lancer's portmanteau is simply moulded onto his bum!

I'm told there are other types of horse, however, which have reins moulded onto them, and that not every type of Scruby cavalry trooper is quite so lightly equipped. Scruby French dragoons, for example, are moulded with the troopers sitting  astride proper saddles and shabraques. 

I may even Scruby do these lancers some day, if I can find another pair of them.

WM

The Grand Review

At very long last I have finished the 8th Cuirassiers. It took two whole days to complete the final touches, which made me feel a little guilty yesterday as the weather was glorious. It was rubbish today though, so it was time well spent.

Marbot: General Nansouty has arrived with the cuirassiers, Sire.
Napoleon: He took his time! Very well, start the parade.

Nansouty: Cuirassiers! Let's show them what proper cavalry look like!

The 8th Cuirassiers defile past the assembled throng....

Nansouty: Nice one lads!

...and take up position on the right of the line.

Napoleon: Right then, time to thrash those Prussians!

The cuirassier figures are all vintage Hinton Hunt FN 102: Cuirassier Trooper, charging, with one converted into an officer and another as a trumpeter.

Lining them all up like that reminds me that I really need some more line regiments...

WM

Cuirassiers Coming Closer.....

I can scarcely believe that another week has shot by. Nevertheless, time was somehow found for painting and I'm pleased to report that the dreaded cuirassiers are finally nearing  completion.

Once again, it's really only the metallics and a few gauntlets and what not left to do, so I'm full of confidence that they'll be finished by next week.

Mind you, these have been an absolute curse so far, so anything could happen....

Yours, fingers crossed,

WM

Six Eighths Make a Half

 The first half of 8th Cuirassiers is complete (or at least they will be when the varnish dries).

A cavalcade of cuirassiers

Nansouty is just a little too sticky to mount on his horse, so he'll be appearing next week.

So, what do you think? Should I press on with the second squadron, or take a break and have a crack at some gunners?

Yours, as always

WM

Even Heavier Going

I've been very busy with other things again this week, but a bit of progress was made on the cuirassiers.

They don't look like much yet, but I'm pleased to say that most of the particularly tricky bits have been done. It's really only the metallic parts, plus a few other odds and ends, that need to be completed now. To keep my spirits up I'm also trying not to remember that there's another whole squadron to go when these are finished.

My friend Rob G, who challenged me to a horserace, notwithstanding my massive head start, is already way ahead of me. Pictured below are his wonderful takes on General Nansouty and the Brunswick Hussars.

Nansouty Reports for Duty

The Pride of Brunswick, with added Ponsonby

I think they're absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to see what the second squadron is going to look like, which will be light dragoons by all accounts.

Have a good one,

WM

Lemon Squeezer

By Jings, what a busy weekend. I've been shopping, repairing, transporting, cleaning, cooking and fighting a battle, but by some miracle I somehow managed to squeeze in a trumpeter.

He is, of course, a Hinton Hunt FN 102: Cuirassier Trooper, charging (One Piece Casting), converted by yours truly into a trumpeter.

He's almost finished. My brushes are all hopelessly blunt and in dire need of replacement, so there are numerous wee areas that need tidying up. I really must do something about it as the rest of the squadron is not going to go well otherwise.

I can't help feeling a bit guilty about this one as he's the first completely intact, pristine and vintage Hinton Hunt I've ever dared to chop up.

Nansouty is well underway, so there's a reasonable chance that he'll be appearing next week.

I am, etc.,

WM

Heavy Going

Yes folks, it's an actual post, although not a very good one.

My failure to paint anything over the last few months has been one of a variety of set backs and frustrations, but I'm pleased to announce that I'm finally back in the groove. This is now urgent, as the collection has continued to grow in leaps and bounds, despite my slightly desperate attempts to offload some of it. There are, as a result, all sorts of wondrous and spectacular things waiting in the painting queue, so there was nothing for it but to knuckle down and crack on with the cuirassiers.

Below is a shot of the progress to date. As you can see, the horses are basically all done, and a decent start has been made on the troopers.

I've promised myself to post something every week until these accursed cavalry are complete. This may make for some rather uninteresting posts, but I'm at my wit's end and it's the only motivational device I can come up with at the moment.

What do you reckon - should I aim for a completed Nansouty or the trumpter for next weekend's installment?

Wish me luck, whichever it is.

WM

Cuirassier and Curiouser

As you know, while working on the Grenadiers, I've also been experimenting with a few test figures. Below is my first ever attempt at a French cuirassier. No French army would be complete without at least a regiment of these.

He is a vintage Hinton Hunt FN 102: Cuirassier Trooper (mounted) charging, painted to represent a trooper of the 8th Cuirassiers.

I had a number of false starts with this one as it was really difficult to work out exactly what it was that Marcus intended in some areas, so it took a bit of guesswork.

I'm reasonably satisfied with the results.  I'll get cracking on the rest of them as soon the Grenadiers à pied are finished, which shouldn't be toooo far off now.

Yours, as always

WM

Testing Times

Painting time has been a bit hard to come by lately, so there isn't a great deal to show apart from the test figure I finished this afternoon.

He's the first of my Lützow Lancers, which will complete the cavalry component of Wallmoden's Corps.

The figure is a Der Kriegspielers Napoleoniques  from set no.139: Prussian Landwehr Lancers. The rest of the regiment will also be DKs, apart from the two command figures which will be conversions of Hinton Hunt recasts.

I'm hoping these won't take too long as I've just found out that I'm to be on my travels again before too long. I'd really like to get another infantry battalion under my belt before I set off. My work stress is mounting rapidly, however, which is usually quite good for my painting rate....We'll see how we go.


WM

Fit for a Prince

My much delayed Estorff Hussars, AKA the Prince Regent's Own (by 1815), are finished.

I was able to grab a few quick shots of them before racing out for a social engagement.

The figures, as before, are all Der Kriegspielers Napoleoniques from set 164: British Cavalry 1815, Hussars, albeit with two conversions to make the officer and the trumpeter. As is ususal with DKs, they are a little on the slim side, but were beautifully crisp castings made from strong, bright, high-quality metal. I wish all DKs were as nice as these.

The Estorffs have not gone down in history for their martial prowess. My main reason for painting them was...well...er..I had them to hand and I needed to get something onto the table for Wallmoden's Army. I hope JC enjoys weilding them. They'll be able to threaten a charge at least!

Toodle Pip.

WM

Dörnberg: Charge!........!!?!&$@#!

Estorff Salad

One of the glories of Napoleonic wargaming is the riot of colour that results once you've managed to paint up a few of the opposing regiments. Hanoverian hussars, however, manage to be a colour riot all on their own.

The regiment I've chosen to do is the Lüneburg Hussars, more popularly known as Estorff's Hussars after the Hanoverian notable who raised them in 1813. I'll say a little more about them in my next few posts, but in the meantime suffice to say they are painted according to one of the versions of the uniform they are thought to have been wearing by 1815.

The figures are all Der Kriegspielers from set 164: British Cavalry 1815, Hussars. My intention is to keep plodding away on them until the regiment is finished, but there's a distinct possibility I'll crack and do something else for a while.

Speaking of which, I must be off to finish the Sunday roast!

Best regards,

WM