"Perry Prussian Reserve Battalion with Captured Equipment" Topic

I worked on these chaps prior to Christmas, but only got the flag attached last week. I am using them as a reserve battalion for my 10th Silesian Regiment. When I started my Prussian Project in 2012, I did not have any plans to do any unit in greatcoats, but that all changed when I found a box of Perry French Infantry in the discount bin at my LGS.

The box had 12 men in greatcoats. At first I thought it would be as easy as just putting a spare Prussian rucksack on, but I forgot that they have a greatcoat roll already molded on. So, Plan B was to us the provided rucks, chop off their heads and replace them with Prussian heads and shakos. I then ordered 12 metal Perry Prussians to fill out the ranks.

The results below are that I have the first and second companies in standard Prussian battle rattle, and the third and fourth with liberated French equipment. I also added an extra long pike as the flag staff, just to make this battalion stand out a bit more.

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A fine body of men!

Nicely done! For some reason one doesn't see Prussians in Greatcoats much, unlike the French and Russians!

Very nice.

Nice!

I like your thinking – good figures too

Bonjour,

Great unit and how unique!

I've got a couple of Perry metal Prussians in greatcoats too but they're just plain ordinary.

Very well done and thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

Paul

Well done!

Just one thing – you need to cut down that flag pole. Waaay too long. Probably by 50%.

Thank you for the kind words, gents.

Widowson, as I mentioned above I added the extra long pike to make them a bit unique. I read that landwehr battalions used pikes for flagpoles. I assumed the same for reserve battalions. This would equate to an 18 foot pike.

In the 17th century pikes where between 14 to 18 feet,
I think in the 19th century term "pike" is more like a 1/2 pike 8 to 10 feet long, like the navel boarding pike or the spontoon carried by British Sargent's.

I am no expert on the Prussians but I have see 1813 Landwehr units on a wargames table with pike (1/2 pike) because of their shortage of weapons.

Still a good paint job and nice basing.

Great work. Your bases look great, could you explain your basing techniques? Thank you.

I started with a layer of Vallejo grey pumice. Once dry, I paint it with German Camo Medium Brown. Then I liberally apply a layer of Woodland Scenics Blended Turf – Earth Blend. After that dries, I add a bit of Woodland Scenics Blended Turf – Green Blend. Lastly, I add the tufts of tall grass and flowers I found at a local train shop (not pictured).

The Reserve Infantry Regiments did not have flags. The Landwehr flags were officially abolished in September 1813. Lovely painting.

Currently re-writing my book on Prussian Landwehr that has been out of print for a few years.
Stephen

As Dr. Summerfield points out – neihter Landwehr nor Reserve infantry did carry colours in the field, (as well as for example Prussian grenadier battalions in the 7YW and in 1806)

A lot of wargamers are fond of them though, but I wouldn't mount them on pikes.

I like the mix of equipment, especially captured French one, which was used – for me a pity that it seemed to be a must trend fashion to field fantasy colours

Also consider the height of the staff. That one is over 20 feet (6 m). Flag staffs were invariably about 11 feet (3.4 m) high.

I know that most rules have devolved to Warhammer. There seems to be a requirement to have standards, mucisians and officers.

Consider a wider variation in the grey of the greatcoats.
Stephen

Dr. Summerfield,

I very much look forward to your book. I think a copy would have answered many of my questions I had when putting this army together! Is there an ETA on the re-issue of your book?

I think I will chop the pole down a bit. But without the Fahnenträger, I would only have 23 men! So I think he and the flag will stay.

I did the greatcoats in two shades of gray – Vallejo's Dark Sea Gray and Dark Bluegrey. How many more shades would you recommend? And would shades of gray be the most common or should I throw a few tans, browns, and blacks in as well?

Dear Pentex
It is not a re-issue of the Landwehr book. It is a new book with new illustrations with Ken Trotman Ltd rather than Partizan Press.

No the flag is fine. It is a wargame afterall and not reality. Also it is over 200 years ago. We know what should have happened and what has survived.

Finding and obtaining greatcoats was a serious problem and would have come from many sources. You could add patches etc… Some could be wearing a long Litewka instead. The Prussian army had almost no stocks to supply uniforms for its expanding army. Most had already been lost to the French when they occupied and ravaged.

Stephen