"British 3rd Division Talavera 1809" Topic

After a year my 3rd Division is completed. A mixture of Perry, Victrix and Warlord plastics with some Front Rank, Elite and Warlord metals scattered about.

Wonderful units, Tony!

I for one would enjoy seeing them up close. It looks like the left rear unit is using Victrix figures. Might you show us that in a single picture?

You are using 22 figures for a line unit. 4 in front of each line unit represent the grenadier and light companies?

I'd enjoy hearing about the gunners, officers, which units of which maker!

Well done!

GdeP

Nice looking unit

@ Garde de Paris, cheers will post some of the close ups when get to home computer. 18 figures for the formed unit including 2 grenadiers and 2 lights. The stand in front of 4 figures is used to represent the light company when deployed as skirmishers in front of the battalion and removed from the table when they reform into the main body.

I look forward to seeing more of you troops!

Interesting organization. My British units range from 20 figures (worn down, 2 each per 10 company battalion; 2 lites on own separate stands, other 2 each); 30 for some, 3 separate lights; all other 3 per company stand); and 40 – 4 separate lights, all others on 2-man stands.

I haven't tried to game them in 13 years, and rather worry about the survival of the plastics!

GdeP

Close ups and Info

Victrix plastic with Front Rank drummer and sergeant and Victrix resin officer and ensigns.

Warlord plastic and metal with Victrix plastic skirmisher stand.

Warlord plastics, Front Rank drummer and sergeant, Victrix resin officer and ensigns and plastic skirmisher stand.

Perry plastics with 2 Victrix plastics on skirmisher stand.

Perry plastics with 2 Victrix plastics on skirmisher stand.

Perry plastics.

From left: Front Rank, Elite, Front Rank x4.

Perry plastics, 6 more to do.

Victrix plastics.

@ Garde de Paris
They are based to match the thousands of Napoleonic figures already in use at the club I joined (New Buckenham Historic Wargamers) The primary rule set used was Shako II, technically the skirmisher base should cover the whole frontage of the battalion behind it but we use a single base for economy of effort. Eighteen figures on three bases is a standard sized unit, a forth base can be added for large units, ie British foot guards. Cavalry is usually three to four bases of three figures.
With this rule set frontage is more important than number of figures which is handy as we have started using Black Powder for our Peninsular War battles.
Eighteen figures for a battalion also keeps the cost down, more units for your buck, and also allows for more manoeuvre room on the table of battle.

Tony.

Wonderful, Tony!

You have a lots of variety of poses – really what is best about Victrix.

I limited my self to what cames in the Victrix boxes, and now I see the ensigns and officers they sell in addition, looks like the would be better than the officer in the box.

The one skirmisher in the yellow-coloured battalion, handing a cartridge to the other is a nice touch.

Did you use any Victrix drummers? They, and the officer figure, are the worst of the set.

Are you using the Victrix French, 1808-12 in Shako? Too many officers, so I have been making some "companie de bon tireur" grenadiers and voltigeurs, using Spanish belly-boxed, cutting boots down to white stockings with solapa sandle, and the like. Victrix figures are a lot of fun.

Great work! Thanks for showing us what officers, generals, gunners we can acquire.

GdeP

GdeP,

Thanks again, to be honest the Victrix resin officers required quite a bit of cleaning up, suspect the moulds are getting worn, but yes a bit of variety.

Haven't used any Victrix drummers yet and the only plastic officers are those on the skirmisher stands, one modified to have pistol in right hand and sword in left.

The two mounted officers on the ends are Front Rank ADC's with the fronts of the jackets modified a bit to give the appearance of the earlier double breasted style. Was trying for the look of regimental lieutenants assigned to act as temporary ADCs during the early to mid peninsular period.

As for durability of plastics, so far so good. I based those figures firing in the rear ranks so their bayonets don't overhang the bases, try to achieve the same on skirmisher stands where possible. I found that I caught them more getting them out of deep transport boxes, so have switched to shallower boxes with taller lids.

Haven't got any French, other club members have plenty to cover any needs there.

Tony.

Hello Tony,

Do the 9 riflemen of the 60th represent 3 companies of 3 each? I have been "building" the 4th Division for 30 years (

Hello Tony,

If I ever get to game with these plastics, I will certainly have to give up on 1 and 2 figure bases, and also provide a long front "lip," extending beyond the bayonets! I wonder if anyone makes clear plastic boxes to fit over such bases! Dust proof; damage resistant; and maneuver preventive as well! Always in line!

Do the 9 riflemen of the 60th represent 3 companies of 3 each? I have been "building" the 4th Division for 30 years (shows how much time I get to spend on the hobby!), and have 3 men of the 60th as rifle support to one of the 2 British brigades. I need 3 Brunswick Oels for the other division. The Loyal Lusitanian Legion provides a few rifles in the light battalion of the Portuguese Brigade.

Considering some Napoleonic Imagi-Nations elements, I have been toying with adding a "platoon" of 3 rifles to my 6-company flanker/voltigeur companies of the 2nd Nassau, 4th Baden, Frankfurt Bn, and Hessen-D Gross und Erbprinz regiment. I may use rifles from Wurttemberg; Saxony; Baden, etc = never happened but would give some rifle capacity to the "French."\\

GdeP

GdeP,
The nine 5/60th figures are to represent the five companies, ie half a battalion, attached to Donkin's 2nd Brigade of the 3rd Division at Talavera.

Tony.

A few pictures of the first units I completed on the field of battle at last years refight of Talavera. Hopefully this year will see a better result for the british.

Beautiful units!! I really like how you mix multiple manufacturers:) I was just wondering why you don't use the Victrix drummer? I'm painting a french one at the moment seems fine to me.

Oh what I have been missing these long 13 years with no wargame group close!

Marvelous setup and troops!

By the way, what source do you use for those marvelous colours?

GdeP

@Leo,
Thanks, no reason for not using the Victrix drummers yet, only done one unit using Victrix so far and had a spare Front Rank drummer so used him up. Will no doubt use the Victrix ones when I start on the 4th Division after some Portuguese.

@ GdeP,
The Colours are all GMB I believe, mine are at least.

Tony.