Flames of war - open fire Germans

I was given this as a present for Christmas (after some rather in subtle hinting from me) Mrs Kipper treated me, like many of a certain age I've had/ played with 20mm WWII before I knew they were 20mm, and weened on airfix and matchbox it wasn't a simple decision to switch to 15mm, but with a box set, you can't go wrong! My first impression was amazement, they squeeze a LOT into the box, but the real eye opener was the quality of the plastic infantry, these were nothing short of brilliant. I thought I'd have a stab at the figures, get them painted and gave a game, I've got them painted, I just need to put a paintbrush down long enough to have a game! Here are the Germans;

23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers (victrix plastic and foundry metal)

I picked up some foundry british flank companies on eBay, never too sure what to do with them I thought I'd have a go at the 23rd. The flags also came from eBay, however I was a little worried about the height difference, so added a small disc of platicard under the foundry figures to keep them in line. For a change I thought it would look different to some of my other battalions to have a mounted officer on the command base, he started live as a victrix Austrian officer, before swapping torsos and adding a green stuff sash. The ever reliable Internet, identified that the RWF kept the ribbons in their hair, for officers at least, I have added a small black ribbon in greenstuff,

British 6th Cavalry Brigade Waterloo - Perry plastics

I started this project a year past christmas when I got a couple of the boxes, I wanted to do a Brigade that had the most veriety and idealy it would be all Hussars. The Perry figures are great and are a joy to paint, although the KGL suffered fromme losing my reading glasses which are really required for that close detail work.

1st Kings German Legion Hussars at Waterloo - Perry Plastics

As part of the 6th Brigade under Sir richard Vivian Hussey the 1st KGL Hussars were involved in the final charge of the day between Hougomont and La Haye Sainte, sweeping everything before them. These Figures are from the Perry British Plastic box set and I decided to give them the peaked fur cap as it is distenctly 'German'

Brunswick Artillery in Plastic (Part 2)

More pictures of the converted Brunswick Artillery, including an injured gunner loafing around the Limber.

Brunswick Artillery in Plastic - Converted

Brunswick Artillery in Plastic After attempting the french in Plastic, i had used two wheels and axles from the British Victrix Artillery set, which left me with a few spare guns. The dutch used French/ Austrian style guns and I think there is a pretty strong case that the Brunswickers also used Austrian style guns, however it just possible that some of them might have used the British gun, and with that in mind I thought i'd give it a go. I could't do Horse Artillery, as there were too many difference to overcome but foot Artillery would be possible. For the gunners I'd use Perry's British Riflemen with French Shakos with the tufts added in green stuff and arms from the Victrix Artillery set. The conversion took a little trimming of shoulder tufts and other bits and bobs to get them looking right, although the most challenging part was fitting the riflemen poses into Gunners, but with a little patience it fell into place. As the Perry Rifles are in two basic poses I thought it might be better to have one gun loading and the other gun moving or being run out. The guns would be 6pdrs straight out of the Victrix box. For an officer I had a spare from the Perry Wounded Brunswickers kicking about in my bits box and he would do nicely as an officer in the Artillery.

Brunswick Avant Garde Jager

These figures are a mix of Perry Miniatures Metal command and some converted plastic British Rifles.I have borrowed the heads from the Austrian Landwehr, shortened the rifles and added a blanket role in Greenstuff.

Sir Richard Vivian Hussey

I have been working on the 6th Brigade and wanted a figure to represent Sir Richard Vivian Hussey who commanded them at Waterloo, I had hoped that the Perry Bros would do a command figure in Metal, but after waiting for a month or two I thought that that I'd use the plastic command figure from the hussar box set (available direct from the website for £5). Hussey wore a uniform of the 7th Hussars which would make him look different from the rest of the Brigade, and to make him a little more different from the regular command I used one of the french hussars sword arms, raised the horse up making it rearing up slightly for a more dramatic effect and to make it look more like he was leading the troops forward. In addition I though he would need a trumpeter to ensure he gets understood. Forward the 6th!!!

French Line Artillery (converted Plastic).

Having waited patiently for the French Artillery to be launched by one of the companies in the plastics game , I have eventually given up and taken a stab at converting some. The obvious starting point was the Victrix British Artillery box set, which will provide the Barrels, Wheels and Arms for the gunners. The Bodies will come from the Victrix's French Grenadier box set wearing Greatcoats. The headgear will come from left over french Infantry from either Victrix or Perry's french sets. The Guns are a bit more of a challenge, I picked up some plasti-card from my local brick and Mortar Store (Wonderland in Edinburgh - can't recommend them highly enough)and using a Perry Bros Metal French gun as a template I created the gun bodies, although not at my first attempt and it took a few go's to get some thing i was happy with. Then the tricky bit, gluing them together in a 'Gun like' shape, being low on patients i tried to get it done in one night and had to abandon the effort in a 'Rage Quit'. Trying again it was easier doing smaller bits. then the wheels were added. I used the axles from the BR Art set, which are built to match the wheels. I was reasonably happy with the guns and ran a little green stuff along the edge of the plasti-card and across the gun as on the metal template. The Gunners were next, I had a set of the Perry Miniature extra crew hauling Guns, that i had picked up at Claymore a few years ago and never found a use for, Some of these chaps would be pressed into service. The Remaining gunners would come from 2 Voltigeurs from the Perry French plastic set and the rest would be great coated Victrix. I wanted the crews to look a little more rag-tag than my existing Artillery. Looking back this was maybe a little more ambitious than i had realised at the outset and it took a lot longer than i had anticipated. But it can be done and it's another one added to the list of 'possible' plastics with whats currently on the market.