| davejl | 31 Mar 2014 11:04 a.m. PST |
Couldn't believe it when I opened "Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy" and saw the Gringos advert. French Engineers – not only fantastic figures but lovely painting as well. And since then, I've also seen the Marines of the Guard. Fantastic figures Ged and hopefully the start of a great new range of 28mm Napoleonic figures. Looking forward to seeing the range "IN THE FLESH" at SALUTE. Great work Ged DaveL |
| Cerdic | 31 Mar 2014 1:22 p.m. PST |
Ooohh, goody! Gringos does lovely figures but I have never had an excuse to buy them before! |
jammy four  | 31 Mar 2014 11:52 p.m. PST |
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| Dexter Ward | 01 Apr 2014 2:14 a.m. PST |
The sculpting is nice, but the proportions of the figures are very odd; the legs are very short, and I know French engineers had big helmets, but these are a bit over the top.
They remind me a bit of Dixon figures; the same rather cartoony proportions. If you like that style, you'll love these. |
 deadhead  | 01 Apr 2014 5:05 a.m. PST |
Dexter (Nice TV series by the way) these pics off Facebook may confirm what you suggest. The castings look so good and the figures so unique, I would be tempted to lengthen the legs with wire and Greenstuff. I built up the shoulders of my Eureka Garde du Corps for exactly the same reason. Great castings, with what I thought was one slight flaw. And again apologies to davejl for missing this post. At least I am putting it back top with this! link |
| jammy four | 01 Apr 2014 6:25 a.m. PST |
Deahhead/Dexter thanks for the interestc chaps. just a note to file..i think
you will find he figures are in proportion legwise .the
castings are way different in the flesh..the Helmets were
ovesizes in real life ..seen one in the metal.same thingreally28mm figures they have to be cartonish otherwise
bits would fall off.!!
looks like i may have almost sold out my current stock for
Salute so have ordered more regards
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com |
| deadhead | 01 Apr 2014 8:36 a.m. PST |
I'll add the links for the other Facebook pics, even some Marines of the Guard to join the engineers in taking that bridge in June 1815! Must agree the helmet in Musee de l'Armee Paris is a massive thing indeed. (Worth flicking through the entire series actually on their Facebook site. See Bowie meeting his maker for example!) link
link
link |
| jammy four | 02 Apr 2014 1:57 a.m. PST |
Deadhead thanks for the additional postings/pointers regarding my
site……
to update you the Marines of the Guard will comprise
a couple of officers..drummer..buglar ..standard bearer
two marching variants..standing and kneeling firing..
advancing..and possibly a mounted officer….i may have
a few castings at Salute..well at least the officer as you rightly say the Marines of the Guard supported the
Engineers at Charleoi ..storming the barricades..with
no casualities it seems.the Auge print was the inspiration regards
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com |
| GOTHIC LINE MINIATURES | 02 Apr 2014 7:28 a.m. PST |
They are amazing !!!! Well done !!! Like the one with the log just fantastic!!! |
| John Franklin | 02 Apr 2014 10:26 a.m. PST |
Hello Gerard, I'll start by saying that the new figures are an exciting addition to those available, and look great! I noted your comments on the attack at Charleroi with interest. The return of the strength of the Garde Impériale dated 10th June 1815, shows: Sapeurs – 3 officers and 113 other ranks, Marins – 3 officers and 104 other ranks. The sketch by Jean Augé of the Sapeurs and Marins de la Garde Impériale, removing the barricade from the bridge at Charleroi, is one of my personal favourites. For those of you who do not know it, here's a link to the ligny1815.org website (which is in French): link The sketch is the fifth on the page (down and to the left), and certainly shows that the helmets were greatly ‘over-sized'. As you also rightly state, there are no recorded losses on the 15th June. This leads me to believe that the role of the Sapeurs and Marins de la Garde Impériale was more orientated to the removal of the barricade (abatis) at the end of the bridge from Marcinelle to Charleroi, than the storming of the town. The latter was undertaken by the cavalry commanded by Comte Pajol. Here is an extract from the account written by Renée Bourgeois, Surgeon-Major of the 12é Régiment de Cuirassiers (translated from French):
‘The light cavalry of the centre followed the movement of the II Corps on the road to Charleroi and sweeping a passage through all that was opposed to them with several successive charges, repulsed the enemy with force onto the Sambre, behind which he hastened to take positions to dispute the passage. A serious engagement ensued in front of Charleroi, and was maintained for some time with great vivacity. While numerous sharpshooters defended the approach to the bridge, the Prussians took great care to ensure that they were able to evacuate the city, and their columns were formed on the river. They received the French with a brisk fire, which briefly stopped the impetuosity of their [the attacking French] advance, but they soon regained their vigour, and with such fearlessness that the Prussians, who were pressed so strongly and shelled by our batteries, were compelled to abandon the bridge without being able to destroy all of it, although they managed to cause some damage which was easily repairable. The Sapeurs and Marins de la Garde Impériale soon overcame these difficulties, and then the enemy hastily withdrew from the city and reached the heights which border on the side of Brussels [sic]. Our cavalry pursued them very closely, and the army made its way without experiencing other obstacles, immediately took possession of Charleroi.' There are, of course, a number of other French accounts of the episode, but I'll save these for another day. Best regards John |
| jammy four | 02 Apr 2014 11:09 a.m. PST |
John good to hear from you again ! appreciate your interest
in this thread and the kind comments regarding my figures.
having the Engineers of the Guard without the Marines
of the Guard in my 28mm range was never going to happen!! and am i right in saying the 1st eme Hussars under Colonel
Clary took the bridge after dismounting a squadron to
pepper the prussian infantry..the regiment no escapes me
!with carbine fire a favourite tactic of French
ist empire ;ight cavalry………..they must have been a
sight dressed in Sky Blue with Cylindrical shakos! look forward to your comments regards
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com |
| John Franklin | 03 Apr 2014 4:36 a.m. PST |
Gerard, I've just been reading some of the French accounts I have amassed, and it is clear that the initial attack on the bridge connecting Marcinelles with Charleroi was made by the 4th and 9th Chasseurs à Cheval, commanded by Baron Jean-Siméon Domon (which had reinforced Comte Pajol's cavalry). The fire from the Prussian Schützen belonging to the 2nd Brigade of the I Corps, commanded by Generalmajor Otto Karl von Pirch II, who lined the hedge and ditches along the slope of the embankment, repulsed the initial charge by the French cavalry. Despite dismounting and engaging the defenders, the cavalry were unable to make any further progress without infantry support. Once the Marins and Sapeurs of the Garde Impériale had removed the barricade, or a sufficient part of it, a charge was led by the 1st Hussars (Colonel François-Joseph Clary), which secured the lower part of Charleroi. I will check for more information on the role of the 1st Hussars, but at the moment neither Comte Pajol, in his report to Grouchy written at 10 p.m. on the 15th June, nor Colonel Hubert Biot, Pajol's Aide-de-camp who wrote a detailed account, state whether the 1st Hussars had dismounted and were engaged with the Prussians prior to charging. Best regards John |
| jammy four | 04 Apr 2014 8:21 a.m. PST |
John many thanks for the informative post bringing to the
fore previously unheard of information. i wonder what
casualities the 4th and 9th Line chasseurs a cheval
suffered?
interesting they reinforced Pajols 1st 4th and 5th hussars
i wonder where the 4th eme and 5th eme Hussars were and why
they were not used? .all seems a bit jumbled! question of whats avaialble i guess amd thrown unto the fast
developing skirmish and major contact in the end..
much under discussed event in my opinion…….
regards
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com
gjmfigurines.com |
| John Franklin | 05 Apr 2014 5:24 a.m. PST |
Gerard, There are a number of reasons the 4th and 9th Chasseurs à Cheval formed part of the vanguard on the 15th June, not least the poor marching discipline of the III Corps commanded by Comte Vandamme. But that is another discussion for another day. I congratulate you on the new figures and wish you all the best with the expansion of the range (and recommend that you produce several members of the 1st Hussars to complement the Marins and Sapeurs de la Garde Impériale). Kind regards John |
| jammy four | 07 Apr 2014 2:56 p.m. PST |
John many thanks indeed for the support with the range
the next choice for me French Cavalry wise gives
me plenty of scope!! i wonder if any
other French light cavalry units aside from the
three mentioned were involved? regards
Ged gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com |
| deadhead | 08 Apr 2014 11:12 a.m. PST |
There is a helmet in the Brussels Musee De l'Armee also. It is just above a very battered carabinier's helmet and it is noticeably bigger indeed. |
| jammy four | 08 Apr 2014 2:21 p.m. PST |
Deadhead your quite right they were huge in comparison to how
they are sometimes portrayed………..and the reverse
is true for the uniforms Marbots uniform (Colonel
of the 7th eme hussars as worn at Waterloo is tiny) though
the shako (cylindrical) is fairly large………very tasty
bit of kit though! regards
Ged gringo40s.com |
gets started with Flintloque.
