Sweet Child of Victory

We have a long weekend here in Wellington and as tradition demands the weather has been completely awful, so I've been hard at it again on the Grenadiers. They're not quite ready for their photoshoot, however, so as promised I have a new Marshal to show off instead.

Sharp-eyed readers of this blog will have noted, I'm sure, that my fusiliers were lacking a regular commander. At Dappol they had to make do with a hastily recruited Alberken Marshal Ney, still in his 1960s factory paintjob, which may account for their strange reluctance to become engaged. Moreover, a persistent rumour, despite furious denials by Imperial Headquarters, that they ran away from the Lützowers has left the Emperor with no choice but to find another marshal to command them. He is none other than André Masséna, Duke of Rivoli and Prince of Essling.

The terror of the Austrians in his prime, Masséna was well passed his "best before" date in 1813/14, which is the period around which I've rather loosely based my armies, but I couldn't leave such a splendid figure out of the order of battle. He's a really lovely David Clayton version of Hinton Hunt FN 356: Marshal Massena, in marshal's uniform. He's basically the same figure as FN 355: Marshal Davout, but with his hat on.

We'll see what the fusiliers make of him....

Next post: Grenadiers, I promise.

WM

On Guard

I've been hard at it on the Grenadiers à Pied this weekend, and have a command group to show for it:

They're a bit of a mixed bag of figures, being (from left to right):

Hinton Hunt FN 28: Grenadiers of the Old Guard 1804-15, Sergeant, marching;
Der Kriegspielers Set # 20: Guard Infantry 1809-1815, Infantry of the Guard command group, Eagle bearer;
Hinton Hunt FN 27: Grenadiers of the Old Guard 1804-15, Officer, marching; and
a David Clayton casting of a Hinton Hunt FN 25: Grenadiers of the Old Guard 1804-15,, Drummer, charging.

I'm particularly chuffed by the sergeant, who is an absolutely glorious little casting.

Only eight more grenadiers to go!

Yours,
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

Vintage Vignette

The second half of the Grenadiers à Pied have a way to go, so to fill the gap I present a vintage vignette.

A lone sentry stands guard while the Emperor considers his next move.

General Dorsenne, Colonel-General of the Foot Grenadiers, arrives with the relief.

Dorsenne: Guard, Halt!

The ceremonial switcheroo is soon effected....

….and the Guard marches on.

Dorsenne is a vintage Hinton Hunt FN 360, on horse FNH 10. He may just have stolen my favourite spot.

More grenadiers to follow in the next exciting episode, all things going well.

WM

Troop Inspection

The Lamming castings I posted a few weeks ago seemed to go down quite well, so I decided to slap a bit of paint on them.

To recap, from left to right, the figures are:

FI/3: Imperial Guard Grenadier advancing;
FI/1: Line Voltigeur or Grenadier elite; and
FI/8: Line fusilier

They're a wee bit bigger than Hinton Hunts, but it's nothing  that can't be cured by using slightly thinner bases.

Hinton Hunt FN 254 and Lamming FI/1

Hinton Hunt FN 5 and Lamming FI/8

Lamming FI/3 and Hinton Hunt FN 234s

It'll probably come as no surprise to anyone that I also couldn't resist painting up one of the FI/1s as a Fusilier grenadier.

And the final lineup:

I think that some of these will definitely be making their way into Phase 3.

Best Regards

WM

Touchdown

Rout du Roi

Belatedly realising that discretion might be the better part of valour, Felop withdrew back towards the stream. The triumphant Prinz Karls, led by their ferocious commander, Lutz Jahnke, launched themselves in pursuit.

Herr Janhnke:  Felop by name....

If Felop's plan was to lure the Saxons away from the Blasthof Bridge, he was only too successful. As the Saxon dragoons smashed into the depleted ranks of the Garde du Roi, Felop watched helplessly as his men were ruthlessly cut down. It was simply too dreadful. He longed once more for the peace and tranquility of the family estate, the Chateau de Thongue.

Jahnke:...und Felop by nature!

As the last of the Gendarmes fell, Felop snapped out of his reverie. 'At least I can save the Kettle Drummer!', he cried. 'Come on Taps, let's get out of here!'

Kornberg watched the unfolding tragedy on the flank and steeled his heart. Nearer the bridge the Imperial artillery superiority was beginning to tell.

A Coup de Main

The Schönburgs were falling fast. There was just enough time, thought Kornberg, to seize the objective! 'Now's your time, Diesbach's!', he thundered. Drilled to perfection, the elite Swiss infantry wheeled and advanced. The bridge was taken!

Soubise was aghast at Kornberg's audacious Coup de Main. 'The Elector will have my guts for this!', he exclaimed. Kornberg was beginning to wonder what it might be like to be an Imperial duke.

By the fading light of the setting sun, the Swiss prepared to do or die while the Prinz Karl's and Schönburgs wheeled to face them. As the volleys crashed, the Saxon horsemen made a desperate charge around the Swiss flank and seized the bridge. Soubise had snatched victory in the final moments!

La Soumise au Soubise, as it was remembered forever afterwards in the Empire, was commemorated in a doleful woodcut.

In the Electorate, on the other hand, Kornberg's Come-Uppance, as it was known, was depicted much more colourfully.

My sincere thanks to Rob for what was the most gloriously entertaining game. I was really caught out by the speed at which the squadrons and companies can manoeuvre in the simple version of Charge!

My sincere apologies are also due for the endless delays in producing this. There is, however, one mitigation, which is that there are now lots and lots of newly painted soldiers, which will be following in shiny succession over the next few weeks....

Till then,

WM