Marshal Ney Reports to Camp

Marshal Ney has reported to camp in his new uniform and mount.  Because he is the highest ranking soldier in camp, he has been named the new camp commander. 

FN/354 MARSHAL NEY with riding coat worn over his shoulders

On Approp. Horse FNH/10

Facing left (before refurbishing)

Facing left (After refurbishing)

The Marshal's uniform and horse is based upon the uniform and horse shown above in the painting of  Marshal Ney by Jan van Chelminski  (1851 - 1925).

From slightly above

Facing right

From the rear

For additional "before" photos, to see what the figure looked like before it was stripped of paint and varnish and then primed and repainted, see this blog post.    Note:  "The Bravest of the Brave" still needs his coat of varnish (to withstand even the coldest of Russian winters).

Three "New" Leaders

The consensus of the commenters to this blog are that the figures pictured below are Marshal Bessieres, General Baraguay d'Hilliers in Dragoon Uniform, and a standard French General.

They have all had their bath in paint and varnish remover, and here is how they turned out,  showing the before and after photos [click on the photos to see more detail].  The "magic" of the paint and varnish remover is apparent in the group photos below:

 

 

Facing to the Right are: 

FN/224 French General, FN/353 Marshal Bessieres,

FN/363 General Baraguay d'Hilliers in Dragoon Uniform  (Before)

 

 

 Facing to the Right are:

FN/224 French General, FN/353 Marshal Bessieres,

FN/363 General Baraguay d'Hilliers in Dragoon Uniform  (After)

 

 Facing to the Left are:

FN/224 French General, FN/353 Marshal Bessieres,

FN/363 General Baraguay d'Hilliers in Dragoon Uniform  (Before)

Facing to the Left are:

FN/224 French General, FN/353 Marshal Bessieres,

FN/363 General Baraguay d'Hilliers in Dragoon Uniform  (After)

I am very pleased with how these turned out as well.  Though there is a bit of paint residue that was not removed, it does not appear that it will obscure any detail after priming and repainting. 

Now that these have been "refurbished" I need to get back to the 6th Uhlans and Marshal Ney.

After the Bath - Marshal Ney is Like a New Man

I ordered some 3M "Safest Stripper" (an Eco-friendly paint and varnish remover, safe for indoor use and no evil fumes) from the internet, and was somewhat disappointed to learn upon arrival that what I ordered was a "semi-paste."  Nonetheless, I was determined to give Marshal Ney a bath and remove his old uniform, so I put enough in a jar to cover the figure and left him overnight.

The next day, I fished him out of the paste and used an old toothbrush to scrub the figure.  Traces of his uniform remained, so back in the jar went the Bravest of the Brave, and the next morning I gave him the toothbrush treatment again and below are the results.  First, photos of the dusty and battered  uniformed figure, fresh off the retreat from Moscow, and then the bathed and refreshed Marshal of the Empire, ready for a new uniform and the challenge of the Hundred Days.

The mounted Marshal in his old uniform (before).

The mounted Marshal after his bath (after).

From the front (before)

From the front (after)

In reverse (before)

In reverse (after)

He is now in line for a new uniform and a fresh mount after the Prussian 6th Uhlans (though, being a Marshal, he will get his primer coat this evening.  Rank has some privileges).  We are starting to build up a log-jam on the painting bench.  

O.K., time to get busy and paint!

Two Mystery French Soldiers - Who are they?

 

 

Can you help me identify these French marching soldiers?  I took a look at the Hinton Hunter and there were some similar figures, but none that I saw with their arms and hands positioned in quite this way (note the hand is away from the rifle and not entirely across the body).

 

The fellow on the left looks somewhat like the:

FN73 French Young Guard 1810/15 Tirailleur Guard marching

 

The fellow on the left looks somewhat like the:

FN 78 French Young Guard 1810/15 Voltigeur Guard marching

 

 

Here is the reverse

 

 

There are no markings on the bottom of the bases and it does not appear that they have been filed.

 

Your ideas are most welcome.  Thank you all for your help.

Can You Help Me Identify These Fine Gentlemen Soldiers?

I would like help identifying these Hinton Hunt figures.  Who do you think they are:

 

#1 Marshal (?) - Who am I?

 

 

#2 General (?) - Who am I?

 

 

#3 General (?) - Who am I?

 

 

More clues

 

 

In reverse



If you have any information about the identity of the above suspects, please leave me a comment below.  Thank you for your help, as always!

Happy 203rd Anniversary of the battle of Waterloo!

Prussian 6th Uhlans to Join the 3rd Silesian Landwehr and form a Regiment of Allied Cavalry

 

The Prussian 6th Uhlans will join the 3rd Silesian Landwehr Uhlans to form the first allied cavalry regiment.  

 



This unit was formed out of Uhlans from Lutzow's Freikorps and Uhlans from the Bremen Volunteers.  Note the picture above is from 1813.  By the time of the Hundred Days campaign, the pennons were black over red as pictured below.

There are some small differences between the Lutzow's Freikorps uniform/equipment (black collars piped in red, and black over red lance pennons) and those of the Bremen Volunteers (red collars, and red over white pinions). 

Pictured below are the Der Kriegspielers Prussian Uhlans as they appeared upon arrival at camp.

 

The first squadron on the left has already been painted as the 3rd Silesian Landwehr Uhlans.  See the prior post here.  The middle squadron will now become the Prussian 6th Uhlans.  I will have to decide what to do with the other 4 figures.  Time to get busy painting!

 

 

Captain Tacon's 1st Battery, 6th Artillery, of Foy's Division Has Arrived

Today was a momentous one for the French Armee.  Not only did Marshal Ney arrive in camp, but Captain Tacon's 1st Battery, 6th Artillery of Foy's Division also clattered into the French bivouac on Quatre Bras Day.

This fine French artillery crew arrived in today's post, and is a donation from Don (from Ian's blog) to the fledgling French Armee.  They came fully equipped and wearing their uniforms (primed and painted).  The fellow holding the porte fire had his feet severed at the ankles in transit, but he has been to the infirmary and is standing on his own already [he must have avoided the surgeon].  It looks like he has made a speedy recovery. 

Here they are manning a French gun that the Dutch recently abandoned.

Here they are, shown from the other side, after pivoting their gun to provide counterbattery fire against the Allies.

I am hopeful of obtaining at least one more French Artillery crew.  Each army will then have two batteries (which will be plenty of artillery until I paint up several more infantry battalions and cavalry squadrons/regiments).

Marshal Ney Arrives to Command at Quatre Bras

Marshal Michel Ney, 1st Duke of Elchingen, 1st Prince of the Moskva, known as "Le Rougeaud" to his troops, arrived in camp today looking a bit ragged.  He arrived, on a white horse, just in time for the 203rd Anniversary of the Battle of Quatre Bras.

 

The Bravest of the Brave will need a bath in paint and varnish stripper (the eco friendly kind; on its way to camp as I write), and then a fresh uniform, as well as a fresh mount (a bay).

 

 

FN/355 "MARSHAL NEY with riding coat worn over his shoulders (approp. horse FNH/10)."

 Marshal Ney arrived with three other Marshals/Generals.  They will be featured in a future post.  Perhaps you can help identify them.

 

Captain Thomas Roger's Royal British Foot Artillery Battery Arrives in Camp

Today Captain Thomas Roger's Royal British Foot Artillery Battery came rattling into camp.  The battery is pictured below. 

They still need to be mounted on stands and have their gloss coat applied

Hinton Hunt BN144 RFA Gunner w/spike

Hinton Hunt "Field Gun (British)"

Hinton Hunt BN143 RFA Gunner w/ball

Hinton Hunt BN140 RFA Officer w/map

(Captain Thomas Rogers)

Hinton Hunt BN142 RFA Gunner w/rammer

 

Hinton Hunt BN142 RFA Gunner w/rammer (in reverse)

 

Hinton Hunt BN143 RFA Gunner w/ball

Hinton Hunt BN140 RFA Officer w/map

(Captain Thomas Rogers)

(in reverse)

Hinton Hunt BN144 RFA Gunner w/spike

Hinton Hunt "Field Gun (British)"

(in reverse)

Captain Rogers taking command

Captain Rogers directing the gunner with rammer.

 

Two Hinton Hunt "Field Gun[s] (British)"

Pictured above is the bottom of one the guns, with the marking "HHF" for Hinton Hunt Figures (?), Upon closer examination of the photo after I posted it, I noticed what appears to be an A2 just to the left of the axle!)  A2 is a "Field Gun (British)" per the Hinton Hunt catalogue!  These are, in fact, original Hinton Hunt cannon.

This is the remainder of the artillery needed to complete "Phase I" (though I would love to locate two French gun crews.  Let me know if you have any for sale, trade or donation in the comments below). 

When I locate some French gunners, I will move the Dutch-Belgian gunners over to one of the above British/Allied guns, and let the French man the French guns pictured in my prior post.

Dutch Belgian Foot Artillery Enters Service in Time for Quatre Bras

The first artillery battery has been painted, just in time for the 203rd Anniversary of the Battle of Quatre Bras (June 16, 1815).  Unfortunately, due to limitations on the availability of French Hinton Hunt gunners, it will have to serve with the French army until suitable Frenchman can be recruited.

 Dutch Belgian foot artillery commanded by Captain Emanuel Stevenart.

Shown here with two French guns.

Here they are shown looking into the distance near Quatre Bras, Belgium.  

Two pieces of French ordinance pack a punch.  These are Hinchcliffe guns from John Cunningham. 

 

 

Ready for action.

 

They still need a coat of gloss varnish and bases, but they are enthusiastic and ready for battle. 

I have finally tracked down and ordered some acrylic varnish (all the gloss without the toxic fumes)

 

 

Close up in reverse.

 

The Royal Foot Artillery battery is next on the painting bench. 

 

If you have any French Hinton Hunt gunners you want to sell, trade or donate, please leave me a message in the comments below.