Prussian Grand Manoeuvres

My last two Prussian commanders are all done and so, by popular demand (well, Michael, anyway) it's time for the Prussian Grand Manoeuvres.

The first of the new figures is Hinton Hunt PN 64: General, looking through spy-glass, with the head of PN 61: General Gneisenau. He is to be Lieutenant General Hans East Karl, Graf von Zieten, the commander of the Prussian I Corps at Waterloo.

Next to him is my other example of a PN 65: ADC to a General, painted as a flugeladjutant von der Infanterie. I've modified him by twisting his head ever so slightly to the right. Also distinguishing him is his mount, which is a Hinton Hunt BNH 4: British Light Dragoon Horse as I've run out of Prussian general staff horses.

Lt Gen von Zieten and his ADC arrive on the manoeuvre field in the nick of time
 and report to Blucher

The plan for the manoeuvres is delivered by the Generaladjutant von der Infanterie.
The orders from Berlin are that the Army is to practice the new Drill Regulations of 1812

The Army marches into position....

while Blucher leads his commanders over the manoeuvre field.

At long last the Army is deployed - infantry in the centre, artillery and cavalry on the flanks.
The 2nd Silesian Shutzen take up  position as the advance guard.

The Silesian riflemen and their supports shake out into skirmish formation.

Nearing the objective, the skirmishers fall back to the rear and flanks while the
Neumark Landwehr and 1st Silesians deploy into line.

The Guard and the 21st conduct a nifty passage of lines  and charge,  while the
cavalry swoop in from the flanks to complete the victory. 

Gathering his commanders, Blucher declares the manoeuvres a complete success!

There are 162 figures altogether: 115 Hinton Hunts, 46 Der Kriegspielers and one Lamming!

I have an awful lot of painting to do if I'm to catch up with the French.

.

WM

Bigguns and Not So Big Guns

The Guard Artillery coming into action.

My second Prussian foot battery has taken a bit more time to complete than I intended, but this is not altogether surprising given that I decided to make things rather complicated for myself. My idea was to finish off the first part of the Prussian army with something a bit special.

The battery was simple enough. It was all the extra bits that took all the time.

The figures on the battery are (from left to right) Hinton Hunt Prussian Field Artillery:

PN 32: Gunner with rammer;
PN 34: Gunner, with hand spike;

Another view of the diminutive field piece.

PN 31: Gunner with porte-fire; and
PN 35: Gunner, ammunition runner.

The gunners are painted as Guard artillery. If you click to embiggen you may just be able to make out the yellow litzen on their collars and cuffs and the red shoulder straps marking them out as Guardsmen.

The gun is a Hinton Hunt A4 Prussian Field Gun with its little 6-pounder barrel. I wouldn't be the first to point out that field guns were not Marcus Hinton's greatest strength as a designer, but it's nice to have at least one for the collection!

The Silesian Battery gallops into action.

Completing my Phase-One Prussian artillery are Hinton Hunt:

2 x PN 38: Artillery driver, positioned for riding horse;
2 x  H 1: British nearside draught horse; and
2 x H 2: British offside draught horse.

The limber traces are made with 15-amp fuse wire soldered on to the rather prominent lugs cast onto each side of the horses. They are attached to swingletrees made out of 2 mm plasticard. It took me a whole day to do this, but I thought it was worth having a go if only to create something for the limber pole to rest on.

Riding on the limber is what I think is the Der Kriegspieler version of Hinton Hunt PN 36: Gunner, riding on limber, right side.

A close up of the limber rider. I think  he's meant to be on the right side!

The limber, like the gun it is pulling, is a little mysterious but I think it may be from the Minifig S-Range. If anyone is able to confirm this, please let me know! The only identifiable mark on the underside is "NFA", which I assume stands for Napoleonic Field Artillery.

Only two more command figures need to be completed and the Prussian Army will be ready for the Grand Manoeuvres!


WM

A Prussian Grand Battery

Getting More Adjutated

I'm back. It was quite a trip!

It occurred to me while I was away that I'm still quite a bit short of the command figures needed to lead my Prussians. I'm going to need another three if I'm to have a commander-in-chief and enough regimental commanders to lead my four close-order battalions and two cavalry regiments.

Marcus Hinton made only four Prussian command figures, so I've decided to have a go at a few conversions for my final three commanders.

Pictured is my first attempt, He's been painted to represent a Generaladjutant von der Infanterie. Gneisenau considered that there was a little too much of the cavalry spirit at General Headquarters and so this promising young infantry officer was despatched from Berlin bearing important new orders.

The figure is a PN 61: General Gneisenau with the head of a PN 10: Guard Officer Charging. The Guards officer was one of the original Hinton Hunt Prussian Guards army that I bought way back in 2014. He'd been badly converted into a standard bearer, so there was nothing for it but to promote him to the General Staff!


I'm hoping that the next post will feature a newly completed Guards artillery battery. The Prussian Grand Manoeuvres will start as soon as these are ready!

Fabulous Frenchmen

FN 73: French Young Guard Tirailleurs, marching.

Despite my best efforts it looks as if I'll be unable to complete the last battery needed for phase-one of my Prussian Army before I head overseas at the end of next week.

However, all is not lost, as Steve C has sent me some more shots of his extraordinary Hinton Hunt Napoleonics.

I've had a stab at identifying them, so apologies to Steve in advance if I've got these wrong. I'll update this post if I get new information.

FN 9A: French Line Fusiliers, marching

I've posted these up as an inspiration and reminder to myself that I'll need to crack on with some more Frenchmen when I return at the end of May.

I'm hoping to see a lot of Hinton Hunts and other vintage figures while on my travels, so I'll try to grab a few photographs!

So long, and thanks for all the fish!

WM

FN4: French Line Infantry Colour Bearer, charging,
converted into a Prussian!

Prussian Special Reserve 3

The 21st march out...

The 2nd/21st are ready to take the field.

They took three weeks to complete from start to finish and so have taken my speed-painting record.

I think they have to be my favourite battalion to date, even if they do look a bit like Trumptonshire Fencibles!

...if a little  self-consciously!

Ready for all eventualities...

...with God for King and Country!

The Prussian Army is beginning to take shape!

 Happy Easter!

WM

Prussian Special Reserve 2

The 2nd/21st, trying not to look embarrassed!

The first two companies of the 21st Infantry Regiment/9th Reserve Infantry Regiment are finished.

I've painted them to represent the second battalion of the regiment, who were dressed in blue, British-made uniforms with white lace and red facings.

The new British uniforms issued to many of the reserve regiments attracted public ridicule and so there were efforts to "Prussianise" them by removing the lace. The 21st made themselves even more sombre-looking by blackening their belts. However, when I painted a test figure with white tunic lace and cross belts to see what this would look like, I thought the effect was so striking that I decided to paint all of them this way!

The rank and file figures are DK 243: Portuguese Line Infantry, charging. They were beautiful, crisp castings in mint condition and in their original packaging when I found them. I like their poses too, which are quite far down the "air guitar" end of the spectrum!

The officer is another of Don's Prussian command figures, Hinton Hunt PN 1: Prussian Line Infantry Officer, charging. I think he looks quite dashing with his red facings.

Last is the drummer, which is from the DK 154: British Light Infantry Command set. He's clearly a conversion from a Hinton Hunt BN 12: British Line Infantry Drummer.

With rain forecast over Easter, I'm hoping to get the other half of the battalion completed over the long weekend. I'll keep you posted!

WM