Young Guard Voltigeurs Update 3

Well, here they are at last. Rumours of approaching Prussian cavalry had something to do with it!

If their dressing is looking a bit skew whiff this is because they are not glued to their bases. These fashionable Frenchmen have a rather long flight ahead of them, so they'll need to be individually wrapped and packed.

Many many thanks to Roy for giving me the opportunity to paint these figures and experience them first hand. I think I can say I've had as close a look at these wonderful little sculptures as it's possible to get!

Going back to Prussians may be a bit of a disappointment after these chaps. I want to do some Frenchmen of my own now! However, I'm determined to be disciplined. No Frenchmen or their allies will be allowed until I have at least the makings of a proper Prussian army. By my reckoning I'll need one or two more infantry battalions for this, four to five cavalry squadrons and a battery of artillery. I think it'll probably be approaching Christmas before I get anywhere near that target!

Now, where did I put that that glass of delicious Central Otago Pinot Noir?....

Until the next post, cheers and Vive L'Empereur!

WM

Young Guard Voltigeurs Update

I've reached the half-way stage on Roy's Young Guard Voltigeurs.

Having got them off their wine bottle tops I can now see that the flag bearer is a lovely conversion of FN 70: Young Guard Officer, Charging. The Drummer is Roy's equally splendid conversion of the standard FN 75: Young Guard Voltigeur Charging.

Much as I wish I could claim to have suddenly acquired a war games table, I have to admit that they've actually been photographed standing on a bit of green paper, with some blue paper tacked up on the wall behind them. This had strange effects on the colour balance on my camera, so apologies for the colour variance in the photos!  However, I thought I'd give this a go to see what they might look like on the type of abstract terrain used by Charles Grant in his 1971 classic The War Game. This is the type of look I'm thinking of going for when I do build a games table. Some of you may notice that I've managed to get hold of a few "Merit" plastic model railway trees, which I think add a nice contemporary feel.

The Last photo is a shot of my Jaegers, which I thought they deserved as I've finally got round to basing them all. It's rather large for a unit of skirmishers, but I'll probably have them divided up into detached companies when my Prussian Army is finished.

Although I'd originally intended to finish my somewhat neglected Neumark Landwehr Infantry Regiment once I'd got though half of Roy's guardsmen, I've decided to crack on with the Young Guard as I've finally established a bit of momentum with them. I'd also be very sorry if I didn't get them finished in time for Vintage Waterloo!

Have a great weekend everyone.

WM