Grouchy

Nice job. Alot of the Hussars were all based on the Hungarian uniform no matter the country of service. So it was difficult to diferentiate regiments, and national identities in the fog of war.

My latest airfix based figure is a infantry of the 1 company, 2 Bn, 2 Bn, 2 Regt Nassau-Usingen Regt, that was heavily involved in the defence of Hougomont Farm. (see Waterloo Archives, vol V). This figure was based on a Frecl Line infantry kit. I had to alter the jackey, to shortern and thin out the tails, alter the front hasteing and buttons, then adapted the shako. I also has to adapt the swaord and bayonet strapping. I actully think this was a sucessful project and I like the result. I did notice that the moulding for this model werr very thick in places and needed a lot of thining out. I did think I might replace the ramrod, as the models is rather thick, but I just wanted to complete it in the end. /media/tinymce_upload/9f2cb8b4797f8cf7f423f5a4236d67f3.gif /media/tinymce_upload/5f76294545976476c813c580c0ae8864.gif

On this, the 205th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, here is a quick canter through the battle via 54mm models, please excuse the lack of Prussians as I do not yet have any models of them, so this is a particularly British perspective /media/tinymce_upload/b1c67c52f9a4e939ce93ba15d0d9f00a.gif Napoleon had landed back in France 1 March 1815 and commenced his march on Paris On his way he picked up support from many of his old soldiers and some of his Marshals including Marshal Ney /media/tinymce_upload/73c716f6a1ee7080524290d67021cdea.gif Napoleon after organising and deciding on his next course of action decided attack was the best form of defence, so launch his campaign on 15 June. After two bloody engagements at Ligny and Quatre Bras, Wellington chose to stand at what is now the battlefield of waterloo. Battle commence about 11:30 with the advance of Reille's troops on the farm of Hougoumont /media/tinymce_upload/1afcec9df5bc91eea5a8e35cf6b4597c.gif This battle within a battle lasted the entire day, the farms defenders consisting of British, Nassau and other Allied forces held the farm against repeated attacks. Notable amongst the defenders were the British Guards /media/tinymce_upload/67b73ae3fa7a6cafa16d12a6c14b9a4a.gif Whist this action continue Napoleon launch D'Erlon's troops against the Allied lines /media/tinymce_upload/67cc3c17f9333a74d0a29d2f37aa4ef4.gif They very nearly succeeded and it led to the death of Thomas Picton. But the attack was finally routed by the charge of the British Heavy Cavalry /media/tinymce_upload/4bf4b88cddae7712bfc0ed865a5cdf76.gif However, the cavalry failed to rally after the initial charge, and with the bit between their teeth charged the French gun line. Exhausted and with blown horses they tried to return, but in doing so were cut off and roughly handled by French Cavalry, including Lancers. /media/tinymce_upload/02afc8653dd3e232923245844fcd5df0.gif After more hard pounding, Marshal Ney /media/tinymce_upload/69814beafbc01c6e627a251361bb9bee.gif charged the British lines with the French cavalry, believing they were wavering. /media/tinymce_upload/312196e836bddf75861a18b6abe9d24e.gif Despite repeated charges over an extended period of time, the Allied squared held firm /media/tinymce_upload/e751c540c01683d33aca4f8c0b96a7c2.gif Later in the day, Ney managed a success, with the capture of La Haie Sainte which had been defended by many, most famously Maj Baring with the light companies of 2 Bn KGL. /media/tinymce_upload/a5a1d56713b70b1566f131ecd9f19f0c.gif This was a crisis point, but lacking troops to exploit the situation, Wellington was able to reorganise his line. Napoleon was otherwise occupied dealing with the Prussian advance on his right flank. When this was stabilised Napoleon play his last roll of the dice and launched the Imperial Guard against the Allied lines /media/tinymce_upload/322073415ebba8ded85482d4e8b0a6e4.gif This advance was ultimately unsuccessful, with the Guard repulsed French morale crumbled and the retreating French were chased by Prussians and Allied light cavalry, turning the retreat into a rout. /media/tinymce_upload/a625c8505a92572597e1d4b25fe8e78a.gif

My attempts at the Red Lancer. /media/tinymce_upload/e112921066c296e43e079243ffb686e7.jpg one in campaign dress /media/tinymce_upload/7c168135262ebe48d3349e5cdc736bd3.jpg And one of all three /media/tinymce_upload/d306cff55f7aed32d5e3ebe7230d6b9e.jpg

I have now completed a conversion of the Polish Lancer, to a Red Lancer or two, having found enough pieces to complete two. So I was ablel to make one in campaign dress and another in full dress. /media/tinymce_upload/c32940f9cb35b8c8ad3d56c063e9a850.gif As you can see, I have covered the lancer cap (czapska) in a rough and ready weather proof covering. The Polish style jacket (Kurtka) was also altered to show it hastened right over left (other ranks, officers it was left over right). The carbine was on the left side, as many foudn that attached to the sling on the rigth it interferred with the lance. The trousers were the blue coveralls with the 18 buttons down the leg. As a result of the position of the carbine the belt with the carbine sling on was discared. The penent on the lance is also covered with a weather proof cover. /media/tinymce_upload/52da9c64fc642ceee53c9eb4f32d9b92.gif For the red lancer in dress unifrom, it is more or less the same as the Polish lancer from the box. /media/tinymce_upload/d69b796f6e183c2c43d657288974939f.gif All epaulette on the right shouler was yellow wool with a dark blue crescent, aslo yellow wool was theyellow shoulder cords on the left shoulder with extended to the aiguillettes (and also on the lancer cap). The tousers with red with a thick blue strip (which had red piping down the centre, no buttons, something that did not come out when painting). This example has the carbine on the sling attached to the cross belt, and as he was not in the first two ranks, he is armed with only his sabre and not a lance. /media/tinymce_upload/0087f1cc3f6ee8d9e3c5a5d32c83244d.gif And here they are together, along with an earlier example of the Polish Lancer built straight from the box for comparison. /media/tinymce_upload/b33d0737184ba6a35b5b50f1b494681e.gif /media/tinymce_upload/6764cdcd49f7e2fb68aa4a84da4ad27f.gif

Ratch, some nice work there. Grouchy

After along break doing other models, now back with 54mm Napoleonics. My latest is a trooper of the Horse Guards, a Life Guard kit with a different paint job. However, I did try to use another horse, from the Polish Lancer kit, however, despite what Airfix said back then, they are not interchangeable, so after may attempts, alot of sanding and other modifications to the sadle cloth and the riders legs, it would still not sit correctly on the new horse. So back to the original horse, however, some of the modifications I had made also impacted on the Horuse Guards posture on the horse! Anyway, enjoy. /media/tinymce_upload/7efa4e2809815d8b90f0b238408ab28f.gif /media/tinymce_upload/6313215c2b6ed4f5e24cbb764fe58b90.gif And for comparision with the Life Guard, one I did about a year ago. /media/tinymce_upload/7e7d0a5c9484f891a5095aeae4d5dfb1.gif /media/tinymce_upload/7ec915ca7aa848cab02edb0a0c0ec42e.gif

Well, managed to complete another 54mm figure, this time a conversion of a Coldstream Guard - Conversion in the loosest of meanings. It was just a paint job and finding some spare parts for the epaulettes and different arms. It is meant to represent the 30 Regt of Foot (Cambridgeshire). /media/tinymce_upload/4658d0c785bafd7c648a633197c6ee05.gif

FOr my latest model, I converted a 95th Rifleman to a soldier of the flank companies of the 2Bn KGL. the 2nd Bn KGL under Maj Baring were famously in involved in the defence of La Haye Sainte at Waterloo. Only departing the farmhouse when they had run out of ammunition. It was a relatively simple conversion, I need to shorten the jacket, removing the tails, and the rest was the shako, removing the braid and making a pomp pomp type tuft on the top. The rest was paint and green cotton. /media/tinymce_upload/962fef209b8ebf40cee12650880a59b3.gif /media/tinymce_upload/6428a5b351e19a98479eb4f5f5a9523d.gif I now have some Historex models to get on with, but if anyone has a historex horse to spare.... Airfix horses seem to be a smidge larger.

Well here they all are in their glory, not bad looking kits considering over 30 years old! /media/tinymce_upload/95ee39a3639b741b24d531f0bff83321.gif /media/tinymce_upload/8810def4ba22a5ff9448c2c71f505498.gif /media/tinymce_upload/ef99274c0e8014fa5492ae8e76fa112d.gif Now to start some converstions!

Well, this is it, I do not care to think how long I have been dooing Airfix, but I have finally finished all the Airifix 54mm Napoleonics. My final figure is the 10th Hussar, I had to do some work in the shako as the 10th did not have the busby at Waterloo, but all my resources differred sligthly on what the crest and badge was like. So people will probably have some other reference material that will differ, but here it is for better of worse. /media/tinymce_upload/7791a0def2f9488ad57f63ad718a731c.gif The shako was from a French Line Infantry kit, not a bad fit, with a bit fo filler. I had the usual trouble getting the rider to sit! He is riding high in the stirrups, as it all goes together well for the dry run, but when filled and painted the saddle and rider tend to alter and getting them on the horse is fun. /media/tinymce_upload/345d6b116cb8c9ee8740fedae7d8c5c1.gif Having just seen the image close up, i might need to do a bit of a paint clean up on the top of the shako, make it cleaner.

Well the tartan paint finally arrived, so I have managed to complete the 42 Higlander. Not a bad little kit, but it was a bit dirty, with lots of excess flashing and extra plastic, but nothing that could not be overcome. I did enjoy paintng the tartan, three different shades of green and a blue were used, althought you cannot really distinguish the differences in the photo. Next will be the 10th Hussar, the last one of the Airfix Naploeonics figures to make. But I will need to replace the headgear as the 10th wore a shako at Waterloo not a busby./media/tinymce_upload/eaf5f96393d907d075cf3f1d0f2890f4.gif /media/tinymce_upload/df2b989d004e8169904dc0583389b103.gif

My latest was the French Cuirassier, which I found to be a really good kit, really enjoyed doing this one. However it was used to divert away from doing the Highlander, whch WILL be my next kit. /media/tinymce_upload/918d7e49967d72c8f45f84bec6ff90e3.gif You will also notice a non airfix French Imperial Guard Engineer in the background. /media/tinymce_upload/38131e939eb0b48ad3457bc8acc13e75.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/790fb5833ab84052d324b11af7db701d.gif

My latest figure, a small adaptation of the French Grenadier of the Imperial Guard, this is a Chasseur a pied. Filled in the brass plate on the bearskin and filled of the bearshin granade and replaced with a white cross. The rest was just a paint job, green epualettes with red trim, red over green plume and a green sword knot. /media/tinymce_upload/5e8211583076bd6bd02735de895e92ef.png /media/tinymce_upload/ec3b46edcb061967c51ca7f183dee73f.png

How do you get the lettering on the valise. Tried stencils and trying to cut out letters, but not really cuttping the mustard, any ideas?

Latest addition to the collection, my attempt at a royal North British Dragoon, (Scotts Grey). Next project will be a simple adaptation of an Imperial Guardsman. /media/tinymce_upload/2d0ffa3113d7cf0dfe478b0073fbf763.jpg

Yes I saw your pioneer and it has sparked lots of ideas for conversions. But I will start small. I also have an old Airfix magazine guide on figures which has a 95th rifleman adaption in, so one day. But first I will have to master kilts! I have seen your highlander, so will use that as my guide.

Is there any chance the 54mm range of figures will be re-issued as part of the Airfix 'Vintage Classics' range

I have rediscovered the Airfix figures, bringing back memories of when they were first released So I thought I would have a go and see what I could come up with. Istarted with the British Coldstream guardsman, and it took me ages, and looks as if I had done it 30 years ago. But persevering I then did I the French guardsman followed by the 95 th Rifleman. Thinking I was doing alright with these, I had ago with the cavalry. The Polish lancer is not bad, a few moulding issues but it worked out. As you can see I was still using the plastic card that came with the kit, but my next, and favourite so far, is the Lifeguard, for which I switched to metal foil. The results were better, easire to work with, but still trying to capture the skill I used to have, bigger fingers do not help. Thinking I had managed to get the hang of it all again, I tried the French infantry, which caused me no end of grief. So I am still trying! As yet not managed to do faces as I wish, but I will keep practicing. Any way I am attaching so photos for comments. /media/tinymce_upload/9b63a5e9219129e68452c2bf05f63b40.jpg The collection so far /media/tinymce_upload/976854f891773aed7f42cc9817462ee6.jpg The first after sooooo many years /media/tinymce_upload/6045588ff4c54d8c95ea17ddf90bfd4c.jpg I seem to remeber the Old Guard coming with another option for a hat - or was it the line infantry, a hat that was used in barracks, a sort of headover type head gear? /media/tinymce_upload/98d625039caae88372905fcc816b72d7.jpg Hiding in the bushes, the detail was good on this /media/tinymce_upload/3476b642603ba4805472fc15babd55f3.jpg Trouble getting the lance to stay in the correct position and also the reins, being plastic card have a mind of their own /media/tinymce_upload/f240b61482f59a0514fa0f56ccfc4001.jpg Metal foil reins a lot better, my favourite so far /media/tinymce_upload/f73774583cd22923f3dd2c2ff6a52bf5.jpg I thought this would be quick and simple, but oh not, lots of issues but got there in the end. I am now thinking of doing the Scotts Greys but we shall see what my patience in like.