Hi,
This update will include a lot of planning. First of all a couple of box have arrived. 2 sets of Zvezda French Artillery, 1 set of Hat French Chasseurs Marching (REALLY IMPORTANT), 1 Hat Peninsular War British Infantry and 1 Hat French Command. This boxes will be essential for the future of the Project.
Now to the update. After some consideration I decided that I should focus on the French first and when I am tired of blue I could work on some brits or French cavalry.
This is the book that I am using as a reference:
I don't have a uniform book to guide me. If anyone knows a good one please do tell. So far I've been able to find photos on the internet but a book would help.
So let´s take a look at II Corps led by Reyniers.
This core was composed by 2 Divisions a Cavalry Brigade and 3 Batteries.
II Corps Jean Reynier
1st Division GD Pierre Merle
1st Brigade- GB Sarrut
2e Légère (4 Battalions)
36e Ligne (4 Battalions)
2nd Brigade- GB Graindorge
4e Légère (3 or 4 Battalions I am planning to do 4)
2nd Division Étienne Heudelet Bierre
1st Brigade- GB Foy
17e Légère (3 Battalions)
70e Ligne (4 Battalions)
2nd Brigade- GB Graindorge
31e Légère (4 Battalions)
47e Ligne (3 or 4 Battalions I am planning to do 4)
Cavalry Brigade
1e Hussards (4 Escadrons)
22e Chasseurs à Cheval (4 Escadrons)
8e Dragoons (4 Escadrons)
Hanoverian Chasseurs (4 Escadrons)
Artillery
3 Batteries (24 Guns)
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Corps Total- 14 676 Infantry 1 397 Cavalry 24 Guns
In the scale of the project this roughly translates to 1 460 Infantry 140 Cavalry 24 Guns
I had to choose what Figures I was going to use to represent this regiments. And decided to use this boxes to represent my line infantry regiments:
I was able to find the Emhar boxes for 7€ each but sadly I am unable to find alternatives for the Hat French Middle Guard Fusilier Grenadiers (Voltigeurs). If anyone has any ideas, please do suggest since they seem to be out of stock, and I don’t have any in my stash. The Zvezda French Imperial Old Guards Grenadiers Box is a bit Expensive (12-13€) but the figures are so nice that I don´t see using other options.
For this Corps I don’t need any more Emhar French Fusiliers. I do need 4 boxes of Hat French Middle Guard Fusilier Grenadiers and 2 Boxes of Zvezda French Imperial Old Guards Grenadiers.
And this boxes for my Light Infantry Regiments:
This are the though ones… I am unable to find the French Chasseurs Marching Box and I need 10 more boxes to this Corps (sounds crazy I know). Same thing with the Carabiniers of which I need 4 boxes. The Hat French Chasseurs Command and Action are now available at Hannants for 7€ a box and I will probably be able to buy them on the next semester (4 boxes of each). As for the Zvezda Elite Voltigeurs the same problem of being more expensive comes even harder because I need 4 boxes to the project.
But enough of this complaining and lets start painting!!
I will need to allocate certain figure positions to specific Regiments according to what they did historically. For example, the 70e Ligne was leading the French assault on the ridge. This means that this regiment will be composed of figures mostly charging.
I decided to start with that lot. Out of the 12 Boxes of Emhar French Infantry there is a total of 516 figures and 12 mounted officers.
The figures that I am going to use for regiment 70e are this 3:
Thanks Plastic soldier review for the photo!
12*12=144 which are the number figures in those 3 poses
Regiment nr 70 has 4 Battalions. Each Battalion has 4 Companies of Fusiliers (40 Figures), 1 Company of Grenadiers (10 Figures) and 1 Company of Voltigeurs (10 figures).
4*40= 160 Figures. 160 – 144= 16
As you can probably guess those 16 figures are going to be officers, drummers, and standard bearers. This is where the Hat Command set comes in. By using every single figure except the mounted officer and the sappeur there are exactly 16 figures. 4 Standard bearers, 4 Officers, 4 NCOs and 4 drummers. 1 of each to every Battalion.
Working with the Hat plastic was certainly a pain. I had enjoyed previous figures, but this set had soft plastic and the molds were missing bits. Short swords and only one pole with a detailed eagle is frustrating. From what I gathered it seems to me that only the First Battalion had an Eagle so there isn´t a big loss with those other 3 poles.
This are the Hat Figures:
The Detailed Eagle:
And the rest:
The Painting Chart of the French Fusiliers as well as the officers (next update) can be found here:
1º- Vallejo Grey Surface Primer
2º- Vallejo Game Air White (This will cover most of the pants and white straps)
3º- Citadel Colour Maccrage Blue 21-08 (Jacket)
4º- Citadel Colour Mephiston Red 21-03 (Trimming and Cuffs)
5º- Citadel Colour Doombull Brown 22-45 (Musket)
6º- Citadel Colour Bugman’s Glow 21-18 (Skin)
7º- Vallejo Model Color Black 70.950 (Hat, shoes, …)
8º- Citadel Colour Leadbelcher 21.28 (Musket and Bayonet)
9º- Citadel Colour Retributor Armor 21-35 (Gold)
10º- Citadel Colour Agrax Earthshade 24-11 (Wash on Everything)
11º-Highlight Skin with Citadel Colour Cadian Fleshtone 22-36 or Vallejo Model Color Basic Skin tone 70.815 (for variety)
12º-Highlight white parts with Citadel Colour Ulthuan Grey 22-56
13º- Winsor and Newton Silver (Metal Highlight)
Different Pants and Hairstyles are painted with different browns, yellows…
Here are all the figures charging with the second pose:
I have also decided to try and base some of the painted figures. I will hopefully have a dedicated update on the basing part. I hope one day to decorate the bases with tufts but for the time being they are perfect to store more figures.
I am currently painting more charging figures, but in the next two months I have college exams which aren´t going to allow me to paint as much.
With that said I hope that I am able to post more of the project in the next few months. Thank you very much for your time!!
If anyone wants to help the project, feel free to pm me!