"Helmet vs Shako?" Topic

So I started sorting my Austrians on Friday night, and discovered I had equal(more or less) amounts of pre and post 1805 Infantry and later Grenadiers.
So my question is, which period should I focus on and obtain more troops for?

My preference would be for the later years when the Austrians could put up a better fight.

Both, of course. One simply never stops raising forces when one is gaming in the Napoleonic period. I've never seen or heard an Austrian commander object if the reinforcements were uniformed in a style that technically belonged to a different year.

Rick

Which ever ones you want to paint more of.

Wait till you see my next question…

1809 would allow you to use both

Saber6 is correct 1809 is your friend. I believe that the Hungarian regiments recieved the shako first, but it is the only period to be able to use both headwear types.

I vote for 1809 as well.

Yes, 1809 allows you to use both. That's how mine are done, although it doesn't stop me from using them for Marengo or for Leipzig.

A friend with Russians did them for 1812, with a mix of pre-1812 and 1812 (Kiver uniforms). No army changed all of their uniforms at once because HQ dictated it.

And for 1809 you can build @ 10 Corps of troops!

go for 1809 its the best of both worlds..good troops variety in headgear and big battalions..whats not to love

As an aside, as I was going through the French, there was a bag I had labeled "Early War French" per my friend Randy's instructions when we sorted the lot. Not French at all, but a big Scrum of… Landwher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I figure at least 50 or more, to ad to the 20 that were already in with the Austrians.

That does it! 1809 is mighty fine!

I prefer the shako.

Purely because I think they look smarter and more napoleonic. Easier to paint aswell.

Well being able to use them together just doubled my infantry
forces.

My Austrian's were done for the 1809 period. I have both types of headgear. If you have someone who's going to nitpick tell him to paint his own or shut up and play.

1809 – just paint all your new guys in shakos so you can do 1813 too!

Nobody is going to kick you off an 1813 tabletop because some of your Austrians are wearing helmets.

The idea of painting all those white-clad figures makes me think I would want as many variations as I could, just to keep from going nuts.

Helmet every time. Its entirely possible that an 1809 or 1813 Kaiserlich was still helmeted, but extremely unlikely that his 1800 or 1805 counterpart would be bimbling around in a shako ahead of time – even if his dad was the QM….

Helmets. Because everyone else had shakos…..

Agree with comments above. 1809 is a good choice for you – both helmets and shakos, first campaign with Landwehr, its well documented, the Austrian army fought well, you can then also do 1812 in Russia, 1813 & 14 in Germany & France and 1815 in Italy – what's not to like?

Nick

not much more to add other than another for 1809. (Started mine in '91).
Germans in Helmet and Hungarians in Shako. Later had some spare shakos so did them as Germans.
Still fighting well….well.

White uniforms, but also blue trousers for the Hungarians, and all those different facings colors. And Landwehr, Grenzers and Jaegers dont wear white coats at all. 1809 is a good year.