"Victrix Old Guard Grenadiers" Topic

My first french. Am doing 60 more of these guys so criticism is appreciated. These 4 are part of the 32 man/4 company first battalion, and then another 32 for the second battalion of grenadiers. I was going to put them on a base 4 wide, and 2 deep, 80mm by 40mm, but I feel that may make the gap between them too wide. I have not yet decided. To put it into perspective, my British battalions are 10 4 man companies, and my french line are 6 6 man companies.

Thanks

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Well any 28mm figures that can be shown with this degree of magnification must have something going for them. Great detail here.

Fine while you stick with the grenadiers. But the Dark Side will get you. Drummers, Eagle Bearers and escorts, officers, sappers/pioneers, NCO lace and their epaulettes……..don't be distracted. Love the eagle on the cartridge pouch and the buckles on the backpack straps in brass. 60 to go………..easy…….

Before you do them all one tiny suggestion. The red piping at the tip of the sleeve…it belongs slightly higher up. The cuff is turned up, so the red line belongs about a hand's breadth above the end of the cuff. It looks better as well actually.

I was also sure that the bearskin grenade was aurore not white….but guess what….leave it as is!

Noted on the sleeve cuff. Pity I cannot change to sleeves on these ones. When the other 60 are done that way and these like this, I'll always think of it. No one else will notice I'm sure. Guess these 4 are going in the rear rank

Very neat brushwork! If you do more, I'f consider dry brushing the bearskins with a dark grey to bring out the texture.

You probably know this. I learnt it recently on this forum, from von Winterfeldt.

You may think paint a thin red stripe halfway up a blue arm.

No, the stripe will be uneven and surely too thick.

Paint the whole cuff red (seriously). Now, once dry of course, paint it from the bottom, down by the hand, up to the top of the cuff in your dark blue…but stop just short of the edge. It is remarkable just how thin a true scale red piped edge you can achieve on a good day!

I take no credit for this idea!

Thanks for posting.

Please note that you have accurately depicted the grenade ornament at the top of the bearskin in white. It was aurore (a soft orange) for grenadiers a cheval only..

I agree with @gonsolvo a light dry brush with a darker grey colour will really bring out the the detail in the bearskin. Something like a vellejo dark sea grey works well.

Further, the grenadiers a pied greatcoat did not appear to sport the red stripe at the cuff, this seems to be a distinctive of the chasseurs a pied greatcoat only.

Its always best to treat advice on this forum with some measure of caution as there are those who some speak brimming with confidence about things they have little real knowledge….

How did you base these in the end? I have got a similar decision with liking French Line Infantry Battalions as 36 strong with 6 companies each of 6 strong with bases 45mm wide by 40mm deep.

I was thinking about French Guard Infantry in 4 companies. I was recommended making them either 32 or 24 strong with 8 or 6 figures respectively on each of 4 bases.

If I went for 32 strong Guard Infantry then would have 8 figures on a company base with 60mm wide by 40mm deep base. My one concern with that is how it would look in Black Powder column of attack. As formation would be 120mm wide by 80mm deep.

Thanks

James

Just noticed this. I see lead people is doubly right. The grenade was white. That is what I meant, saying leave it as it is. I had thought aurore till I checked…….sorry if I was not clearer.

"I was also sure that the bearskin grenade was aurore not white….but guess what….leave it as is!"

He is also right about about the red stripe for chasseurs only. My comment was only what I have recently learnt about how to paint a really thin red stripe….not whether they should have one at all!

I certainly could not claim to be brimming with confidence about any uniforms of 1815. Indeed the claim is an oxymoron……I am not sure how much the term "uniform" really did apply to La Garde within a month or two of the departure of Louis XVIII and the end of the First Restoration.

A lot has been already said about the painting, looking at the figures themselves – they raise one or two questions, the grenadiers carry already great coats, so what are some of them carry on the pack? – which you painted grey, couldn't be great coats – could it?

Also the martingale, that is a white strap at the left hand side of the catridge box, it sculpted badly, it wasn't that long – they idead was that is was either buttoned to a button on the back of the taille or onto the sabre cross belt – this is however only possible it it is moved much more to the rear and not creating such a mega gap between catridge pouch and sabre belt

Also how they carry the musket- odd, not one of Victrix best figures, I would go for Perrys next time.

in case looking for excellet information for the Old Guard Grenadiers and Chasseurs and much more –

Coppens, Bernard : Les Armées de Waterloo 1815 – Réédition Revue et Augmenté
Editions de la Belle Alliance
Bruxelles 1999

In French – yes, but each unit in colour A4 multiple illustrations and also back views either on the colour plate itself or in the text

Brunswick, Dutch Belgian, French, British, Nassau, Prussians

A slim volume packed with excellent information

Can't resist it……..just cannot.

To I see lead people…..the grenade on the bearskin "It was aurore (a soft orange) for grenadiers a cheval only.."

What about foot artillery? Did not their patch have an aurore grenade?

and, worse, Grenadiers a Cheval did use aurore material, but it was a cross, not a grenade…..

"caution as there are those who some speak brimming with….etc"

Only kidding, honestly. You were still right about the red piping! Merry Christmas!!! You cannot take this too seriously

@Deadhead

In case you can get it

Carnet de la Sabretache Special 1972
Les Grenadiers à Cheval 1676 – 1830

and

Napoleon's Gods

Grenadiers a Cheval de la Garde

by Paul Lindsay Dawson

as well as

Napoleon's Gods
Uniforms and Horses

Identical author – books on demand

Many thanks. Some things I do economise on, but not books…….I got Summerfield's book on the Leib Garde Cossacks yesterday. It is not cheap. It is worth every penny.

I will certainly seek these out.

Much appreciated and best wishes for Christmas

and did they really wear white trouser overalls in June 1815? I have never portrayed them as such, it looks awful. The mud and rain would have made it insane….but on other days folk complained of the oppressive heat. Many an image suggests they were meant to and I suspect the answer is either no one knows or they were grateful to have anything on below the waist?

GentsSeen This YouTube link best to you al erge joe