Nassau

2nd Naussau-Usingen Regiment

I had bought a box of the Victrix French (1807-1812) Infantry to provide some variety to my Perry French infantry. However as the Perry are in the post 1812 uniform they are quite different and while a single unit in the older uniform might have been ok, I felt that they didn't look right for my Waterloo.

Having converted units of Belgian line, Dutch Militia, Brunswick Hussars and Dutch / Belgian Carabiners from the plastics on the market at the time I thought there was a potential to convert these chaps into some allied infantry. The Nassau contingent are shown in Hawthornwaites uniforms of Waterloo in both the pre and post 1812 French style uniform so it didn't feel like a great stretch to put them in the pre 1812 uniform.

While the French uniform differs from the Nassau uniform is that the French has a double set of buttons with the Nassau having a single row down the front. This I can cope with, and can be corrected with a little trimming.
The Backpacks are in the French style so no problems there, however they are equipped with 'British' style haversacks and canteens as well as the French Short Swords. From the set I can muster enough short swords to equip the flank companies on both battalions, the rest will do without.
The Haversacks and canteens I made from Greenstuff, (For the canteens I used a cocktail straw snipped down and filled with greenstuff). I carried the haversack strap all the way to the shoulder as the Nassau troops looked like they had cross belts rather than the single belt for the French Centre companies.
The Colpacks were taken from the spares from the Hussar set. With a little bit of trimming / remodelling on the cap bag.

This was much more work than I had counted on and I struggled to raise the enthusiasm to finish. Having bought the command for both battalions in metal from Perry Mins I felt I had to see it through and with gritted teeth I managed to finish both battalions.

Having fully completed both now I feel that a more uniform approach to the battalions might have resulted in a better overall look but I'll put this one down to experience.

French 2nd Dragoons

I had bought these with an eye on converting them to lancers but thought better of it after a test figure. I have already painted the 7th Dragoons, so I thought it would be cool to do the 1st Brigade of the 11th cavalry division at Waterloo, giving me an excuse to buy the metal commanders from Perry!

I have ended up with a few dismounted dragoons and i thought it would be good to have some active poses including a command group. I had some spare kneeling down troops from the Victrix French set and with a little trimming and some green stuff i managed to get some dragoons kneeling. Which in turn left me with some legs which allowed me to use left overs from the set to add some more dismounted dragoons!

Ensign Kennedy (1st Royal Scots) Waterloo 1815 Part 2

Moved by the story of the young ensign and brave NCO I thought I would have my own attempt at a tribute to the pair. It's still in the early stages however I thought it might be interesting to show the work in progress.

Its a combination of the different bits left over from plastic kits and still needs a little work.

Ensign Kennedy (1st Royal Scots) Waterloo 1815

On a recent trip to Edinburgh Castle with my family I spent a little time in the 1st Royal Scots Museum within the castle itself and came across the story of Ensign Kennedy. It's a great story and had me thinking about recreating it in miniature using some spares from the Victrix box set.

For anyone in or around Edinburgh or visiting the city there are two great museums that have a Waterloo connection, in addition to the Royal Scots there is another Ensign celebrated in the Scots Grays Museum which includes the eagle captured at Waterloo by Sargent Charles Ewart well worth a look for anyone with an interest in the period.

Napoleon's Old Guard Chasseurs

These figures are from the Victrix Plastic Chasseurs set.

This box set for me really underlines the progress that Victrix have made in quite short space of time. The Figures are excellent with great poses, so much so that I bought a further 2 boxes and will make a 'Marie Louise' unit and with some spare Perry heads.

Plastic Dragoon as Line Lancer

I suggested this on TMP back in August, although i made a start on it then I was unable to get the pictures up until now. Although this is a test figure i think it might be a stretch to do 12.

The figure has the legs of a hussar (overalls) Heavy cavalry carabiniers helmet, Dragoon body and a ACW standard bearers arm for the lance.

Brunswick Leib

Although I have mostly painted Plastic figures after converting the hussars i felt it would be good to have some infantry and the Perry Metal range was the obvious choice. I decided on the Leib o start with and plan to add a battalion of line and light in due course.

Having mostly painted plastic i think the crispness of the metal model was a joy to paint, however for the time being its back to plastic and Nassau infantry from French victrix . . . .hopefully pictures up by the weekend.

Dutch 3rd Carabiniers

Perry Mins french plastic Dragoons, pressed into action on the allied side!

Some left over bi-corns (from Victrix French, British artillery and Perry's British and French infantry) were used they needed a little TLC before they all matched and required a plum from the hussar box set. Once the Bi-corns were sorted all that was required was some trimming to remove the bayonet.

I wanted a more attacking look than my Belgian carabiniers so i have used arms from the Frency heavy cavalry set.

Although still to finish the basing i'm close to having my third plastic allied cavalry unit.

Brunswick Hussars pt2

Using the superb Mont St Jean website i felt there was sufficent justification to go with a easier conversion and use the sheepskin saddle cover with no under blanket. However this did feel like cheating so i Thought i'd do an Leib Infantry officer with under blanket.

Again this figure is a converted french husar but with a little additional green stuff this time!

Brunswick Hussars

There has been some issues with my camera and PC over the past few months and that coupled with a change in Job and the general summer malaise has meant that i have failed misrably in keeping my Blog up to date, but now to redtify this;

These are a pretty quick conversion using the excellant Perry bros French plastic hussars.

The shakos are also from the set and were pretty simple conversion using the a little green stuff.