| Kellerman | 09 Feb 2017 9:41 a.m. PST |
Just completed what, undoubtedly, is one of my favorite french units. After a long period considering whether to go for Perry's (no full dress), Front Rank (poses too statuesque) and Foundry, I went for the latter. Letort and its Etat Major. [URL=http://s1355.photobucket.com/user/PieroCrespo/media/IMG_0035_zpsiog7wmkk.jpg.html]
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[/URL] The Old Guard squadrons, four of them. [URL=http://s1355.photobucket.com/user/PieroCrespo/media/IMG_0036_zpsba3rixt1.jpg.html]
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[/URL] Now the Young Guard squadrons, two of them. I displayed them in habit veste to distinguish them. It took quite a while to carve off the aiguilletes!. [URL=http://s1355.photobucket.com/user/PieroCrespo/media/IMG_0039_zpskaiaaijn.jpg.html]
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[/URL] And the whole regiment [URL=http://s1355.photobucket.com/user/PieroCrespo/media/IMG_0041_zpszpvk7dwt.jpg.html]
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| Grunt1861 | 09 Feb 2017 10:00 a.m. PST |
Un spectacle magnifique. Vive l'empereur! |
| Captain dEwell | 09 Feb 2017 10:09 a.m. PST |
Super impressive. I adore your style of painting and your style of base. Well done. |
 Flashman14  | 09 Feb 2017 10:13 a.m. PST |
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| Todd McLeister | 09 Feb 2017 10:29 a.m. PST |
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| DisasterWargamer | 09 Feb 2017 10:30 a.m. PST |
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| rustymusket | 09 Feb 2017 10:43 a.m. PST |
The Empress Dragoons are one of the first units I painted. Yours are much, much better! Thanks for sharing! |
| Frederick | 09 Feb 2017 10:55 a.m. PST |
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| Blue Max | 09 Feb 2017 10:55 a.m. PST |
Very inspiring! Where did you get the sapper? Is this a conversion? Sappers are missing in most napoleonic units, that's a pity… |
| AuvergneWargamer | 09 Feb 2017 11:03 a.m. PST |
Very very wonderful! These Foundry sculpts are great and the painting is fabulous! Well done and thanks for sharing. Cheers, Paul |
| wrgmr1 | 09 Feb 2017 11:15 a.m. PST |
Beautiful work! Big unit. |
| Markconz | 09 Feb 2017 12:42 p.m. PST |
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 deadhead | 09 Feb 2017 12:56 p.m. PST |
For some reason, this unit seems poorly served in 28mm. I did not know anyone did them in full dress to this standard. I thought Perry were reasonable, but surprisingly ill proportioned by their standard and in campaign dress (possibly right for 1815…possibly). Front Rank obviously superb castings but very stocky indeed…Hobbits. Foundry I had not even contemplated I had understood them to be bit too small, but they do fit in well with Perry commander. Have Foundry seen these? They should. Best I have ever seen Dragoons of the Guard Intrigued by the sapper. I have heard it rumoured….and wish it was the case…but any evidence he existed? |
| von Winterfeldt | 09 Feb 2017 12:56 p.m. PST |
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| HP2Sport | 09 Feb 2017 1:04 p.m. PST |
Super stuff. Those are the better Foundry cavalry castings. |
| dBerczerk | 09 Feb 2017 1:23 p.m. PST |
My MINIFIG 25mm French Dragoons look on in envy. |
| stoneman1810 | 09 Feb 2017 2:45 p.m. PST |
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| Lord Hill | 09 Feb 2017 4:14 p.m. PST |
Very nice painting – lovely looking unit! |
| plutarch 64 | 09 Feb 2017 6:06 p.m. PST |
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| Scharnachthal | 09 Feb 2017 11:45 p.m. PST |
Excellent figures. Intrigued by the sapper. I have heard it rumoured….and wish it was the case…but any evidence he existed? @deadhead may be right. Line dragoon regiments were allowed 8 sappers commanded by a brigadier from 1808. The men were part of the elite company. To my knowledge, the Guard dragoons had no elite company, so this organisational difference alone should raise doubts on the existence of sappers in the Guard dragoons. As a matter of fact, in his Osprey title on the Guard dragoons, Pawly cannot substantiate his belief in the existence of (inofficial) Guard dragoon sappers. I think this guard dragoon sapper thing originates from an illustration by Bucquoy who's not wasting a word about his sources… Maybe, it would help to check the registers of the Guard dragoons. If sappers are expressly mentioned there, the matter would be settled, I assume: link Signatures GR 20 YC 149ff. |
| Kellerman | 10 Feb 2017 3:04 a.m. PST |
Thanks for your compliments gentlemen, they are very encouraging. The sapper is indeed a conversion, and a simple one too. A horse grenadier figure, grown beard with green paste and added a scratch build axe, plus green paste blade cover, riding on a dragoon horse, and there you have it. According to Lachouque's The Anatomy of Glory, both Dragoons and Horse Grenadiers mustered sappers [URL=http://s1355.photobucket.com/user/PieroCrespo/media/IMG_0045_zps6wwk6xww.jpg.html]
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| Scharnachthal | 10 Feb 2017 4:24 a.m. PST |
According to Lachouque's The Anatomy of Glory, both Dragoons and Horse Grenadiers mustered sappers I didn't check on the horse grenadiers but as far as the Guard dragoons are concerned there apparently is no evidence whatsoever that they ever had sappers. Sappers are not mentioned in the regimental organisation, there are no contracts of whatever nature concerning the manufacturing and acquiring of equipment for Guard dragoon sappers. As mentioned, the registers should mention them if there had been any. I don't have the time to do it right now but please feel free to check yourself. Lachouque is not always reliable. He mixes up truth and fiction. If I'm not completely mistaken he relies heavily on secondary material, starting from the unreliable stories made up by Marco de Saint Hilaire… BTW, could you indicate the page number in Lachouque's Anatomy? I'd like to check that passage… |
| Scharnachthal | 10 Feb 2017 5:08 a.m. PST |
Checked on the horse grenadiers as well. No sappers. "Ouvriers" and "maréchaux-ferrants", yes, but these are not sappers but craftsmen and farriers. |
| Kellerman | 10 Feb 2017 5:14 a.m. PST |
I agree with you that the registers are a far more reliable source.
Be as it may, being misled by Lachouque, I shall take the historical license of including a sapper in my regiment! |
| Scharnachthal | 10 Feb 2017 5:25 a.m. PST |
If you call it "artistic license" instead of "historical license", I don't mind  … |
| wrgmr1 | 10 Feb 2017 9:48 a.m. PST |
Beautiful detailing on him, cords and braiding! |
 Il Granatiere | 10 Feb 2017 10:47 a.m. PST |
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| deadhead | 10 Feb 2017 10:57 a.m. PST |
For me this is one of the best posts I have seen in ages. I had rejected Foundry, unseen, as everyone said they were too slender. I keep comparing them with the "true" Perry officer and they might be slightly smaller but……… I would also compliment you on the detail of the lace and the shabraque ornaments…the panther skin turban spots….the creases and highlights on that green (what a perfect green, what is it?) I hope my question did not sound like a criticism. I love to see the experts debate such issues. I recently saw a beautiful print of a Sapper of the Gendarmes d'Elite (my favourite unit of the era). I was bowled over and reached for the saw and scalpel, until someone pointed out the word "Neapolitan" in the title…..weep. Heck, my Bridge at Charleroi will feature Engineers and Sailors of the Guard in full dress heroically dismantling the barricade…it looks right and is obviously totally wrong….. I would be extremely proud of your Sapeur Dragons Garde Imperiale…if he never existed he should have done. I wish I could do that crown, as you have, on the saddlecloth. Admit it, you top photo is focussed right on it! |
| Kellerman | 11 Feb 2017 1:27 p.m. PST |
Thanks so much once again.
Foundry's are Indeed slightly smaller. But I have noticed that some units are smaller than others, compared to Perry. But this unit in particular seems to be fine.
Green is Foundry's French Dragroon Green three colours set. Most of my colours are (no I am not a Foundry's shareholder, next tyme I will post some Calpe's) |
| John Miller | 11 Feb 2017 4:46 p.m. PST |
Really fine! Talent tells! Thanks for the photos, John Miller |
| von Winterfeldt | 12 Feb 2017 7:16 a.m. PST |
I am not aware of a Sappeur in the Dragoons of the Guard either – and would not do it as a miniature – however – even regimental registers might not give the whole truth, the Saxon Garde du Corps – formed an ad hoc Sappeur formation in the campaign of 1812 so you would see some equipped with an axe, this is an interesting information I found in the Memoires of Burkersroda – Die Sachsen in Rußland 1812 |
| Scharnachthal | 12 Feb 2017 9:46 a.m. PST |
even regimental registers might not give the whole truth Either this or, as an alternative, don't mention explicitly what we would like to know… So yes, agreed. Anyway, from an artistic point of view, these are splendid figures. Who could deny it? |
| deadhead | 12 Feb 2017 9:55 a.m. PST |
If he never existed…he should have. If he did exist he may never have sported a bearskin and beard, but, if you can paint the crossed axes on the shoulder/sleeve like this…why not. Naples could do it….why not France? All I know is the skill gone into this……and how it has encouraged me to try my first ever venture into WG Foundry. |
| von Winterfeldt | 12 Feb 2017 10:29 a.m. PST |
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| Kellerman | 12 Feb 2017 12:37 p.m. PST |
Apparently, the argument of Empress Dragoons sappers existing or not, is not new. link Painting the crossed axes on the sleeve is no big issue (actually, now that I looking at the existing pictures, I should have painted a crown on the top angle), just a steady hand, a brush with an acute tip and very, very little paint on it. |
| deadhead | 12 Feb 2017 1:13 p.m. PST |
That is a superb reference directly above. As for the crossed axes….wish my hand was that steady…. Much that says truly Dragons Gardes Imperiale….. White lapels, triple holsters on saddles, aurore aigulettes on right shoulder, There is that danger of confusing with Naples Guard, but no suggestion in the subtitles. Marvellous modelling whatever, but I do hope this prompts more responses A Saxon Garde du Corps Sappeur…….that is too good to be true. Has anyone ever seen such illustrated or described….? If so, that is worth a new thread on its own! |
| von Winterfeldt | 12 Feb 2017 1:41 p.m. PST |
@Kellerman Thanks for the interesting link and discussion there, it is stated that Rousselot is silent to this topic, however he isn't in plate 53 Guard Dragoons second part – he clearly states that the "collections alsaciennes" show sapeurs aus dragons de la garde, however he did not find any definate source / proof (preuve) for that – and the invoices of the uniform makers don't mention anything which would confirm their existence. For that reason he is not showing any – Bucquoy does show one and most likley Knötel based on Bucquoy, as well as Courcelle follow en suite – so far – I would agree with Scharnachthal and call it artistic licene. |
| wrgmr1 | 12 Feb 2017 2:39 p.m. PST |
Kellerman, I can't wait to see your Calpe's. |
| deadhead | 12 Feb 2017 3:06 p.m. PST |
The odd thing would be why they would not have had sapeurs in a Garde unit, when they had them in Line cavalry regts. I accept no elite squadron, obviously. Thinking about it, we see chaps in beards with axes in the Hussars or line Chasseurs, but not Chasseurs a Cheval de la Garde….actually I cannot think of a single mounted Garde unit with them…… How odd….they were not just for decoration and Garde a Pied had them…… Must say again…Foundry need to see these. They are far far more impressive than their website images. I now want these, as my first ever venture into their products. |
| Dr Jeckyll | 13 Feb 2017 7:33 a.m. PST |
Wow!! Awsome lookinh unit/figures!! |
| von Winterfeldt | 15 Feb 2017 4:06 a.m. PST |
for the eagle and colour and carrying – not carrying – see this interesting link TMP link |
| Marc at work | 15 Feb 2017 4:48 a.m. PST |
Well, don't ever mention this to the Old Glory UK of old – my pack of 15mm Empress Dragoons has three figures in bearskins that, when I queried (read – complained) was told they were the elite company (yeah, right, in the Empress Dragoons) and I couldn't have three replacement figures in horsehair helmet. But otherwise, I agree with the positive comments expressed above. These look really nice, and like so many units I se these days, make me want to paint up my own unit. Sadly, in plastics, for me that would have to be the Italeri set, so that is a lot of work to make them suitable. Oh well, I can dream |
returns to Flintloque to paint an Ogre.
