Landwehr Review

Attack Column

It is time for Generals Gneisenau and Bulow (for it is he) to conduct the by-now traditional review of the newly-raised 2nd Neumark Landwehr Infantry Regiment. Their drill has improved immeasurably now that they've been put onto their bases.

I've stuck to my original basing scheme on the grounds that I can't think of too many occasions, if any, that I would want to field a single row of close-order infantry figures. I've always thought that double rows of close-order infantry looked best in a Napoleonic game.

Form Line!

The battalion bases are made up of three 40mm x 30mm stands, and one each of 40mm x 15mm, 26.5mm x 15mm and 13.5mm x 15mm to allow for casualties. The generals are on 20mm x 30mm bases. As I have only two generals, adding individual names to their bases didn't seem very ugent!

About Turn!

The material used for the bases is 2mm plasticard. This is an excellent material: stiff, robust, easy to cut accurately and to shape as desired with a little light sanding. The only drawback is that the paint doesn't stick to it all that well. My solution to this problem is to lightly sand the surfaces.

The bases are painted with two coats of Humbrol 80 Grass Green. This is quite a pleasingly bright colour taken on its own, but turns much darker and muddier in appearance when a protective coat of varnish is applied, as seen here. I've yet to find the right shade of green to combat this problem. I may try some experiments with suitably coloured housepaint!

Column of Route

I'm still dithering about whether to start some cavalry, artillery, another battalion of infantry or just throw discipline out of the window and make a start on the enemy! However, as most of these projects depend on things that are currently on order or in the post, the answer may be provided by whatever turns up first!

Have a great weekend everyone.

WM

Form Square!

Landwehr Update 2

The 2nd Neumarks shuffling into view.

A mere 8 weeks delayed, but better late than never, I present the 1st Battalion, 2nd Neumark Landwehr Infantry Regiment.

All I have to do now is wait for Ian's cavalry to arrive, which ought to be any day now.

This is my fourth Prussian battalion, and something of a milestone. I have now painted 99 Prussians. I just wish I could do them a bit faster!

Landwehr Update

PN 17 in fine smiting posture

The first half battalion of the 2nd Neumark Landwehr Infantry Regiment is almost complete.

One of the many fun things about starting a project like this is that each new figure is an adventure. One can never quite be certain how they are going to turn out.

The officer on the left is PN 17: Prussian Landwehr Officer, Charging. I think he has to be my favourite to date - something to do with the shape of his hat, I suspect. I'm also getting a lot more confident about putting on the buttons.

With steel bands on their muskets, naturally!

The rest of the battalion will be a little delayed as I have a new little project on my hands, about which more in the next post. However, normal Prussian service ought to resume in a couple of weeks or so.

Once the Landwehr are complete it may be time to make a start on a few cavalry.

Many thanks to Steve, Richard and Old John for making it all possible!

.PN 18s at the charge. I think I'm reconciled to the knapsacks.

WM

Looking at Landwehr

I can still remember the excitement I felt when I first opened my copy of The Campaign of Leipzig 1813 (London: Osprey Publishing, 1979) by Jeff Parker with photos of figures supplied by the legendary Peter Gilder. It was produced as part of a series of Osprey wargame books edited by Terry Wise that didn't seem to go any further for some reason. One of the most spectacular images in the book was of the fighting in the streets of Mockern on 16 October 1813. A French column, preceded by a skirmish screen of voltigeurs, is confronted by an enormous mass of Prussian landwehr marching into the town square. Those in the lead had red facings and carried a red flag. I've wanted some red Prussian landwehr of my own ever since!

PN 18: Prussian Landwehr Infantry Charging

I haven't done any other test figures so far, but in this instance I felt compelled as I wasn't at all sure about the best way to paint his linen bread bag and canvas knapsack, or whether to paint the whole of his cuffs in facing colours or just the piping.

The results of the experiment are shown here. The figure is PN 18: Prussian Landwehr Infantry Charging, painted to represent the 2nd Neumark Landwehr Infantry Regiment. I chose this regiment for its attractive red facings and because it was brigaded alongside the 10th (1st Silesian) Infantry Regiment within Count Bulow's Prussian IV Corps during the Waterloo campaign.

Not sure about his knapsack!

I'm not sure about his knapsack. I think I chose this particular shade of grey as that was the colour of the 1950's pattern webbing pack that I bought from the Oxford Army Surplus shop in about 1984, and after years of using it to cart around university library books this is pretty much what it ended up looking like. Not sure about how it works on the figure, however! Comments welcome.