"Waterloo - well lit" Topic

the light on this is just right

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link

Very cool. The squares are wonderful, but sadly the cavalry is just scattered all around with no formation at all, like in a Hollywood movie.

They are very brave cavalry to be attacking so close to squares, as individuals indeed.

Wonderful modelling of the squares and terrain and I do agree about the photography and lighting.

But imagine if truly at eye level…..

Also, the squares aren't properly positioned. If you rotate them 45 degrees and space them properly then all four faces can shoot without hitting any nearby squares. Some of the ones in the photos would definitely be hitting each other. I don't know exactly how the squares at Waterloo were really arranged, but by the book tactics called for forming the squares 'obliquely'.

I had the impression that;

Squares were strictly rectangles with more companies front and rear than sides, to give frontally attacking cavalry a warm welcome.

But also in a chequerboard pattern, for the reason given by ScottWashburn. These seem to be so, although I accept some do risk Blue on blue!

Not sure rotating 45 degrees would help though. What is essentially a diamond formation facing cavalry, requires some guts from the poor devils, at what is the most advanced corner!

I think the problem here is simply they are (inevitably with limited space) a bit too close together. Interesting point though.

I'm afraid I mis-interpreted the meaning of the title. I thought "well-lit" referred to the state of a group of players gaming Waterloo after imbibing a bit too much port or brandy.

Which is a fun way of re-creating the "fog of war."

Love it.

I honestly thought "well lit" was a term that would never have crossed the Atlantic.

There is a PhD dissertation somewhere for the role of alcohol in the Napoleonic Wars (actually, do I recall reading something here quite recently?). Whether the alleged drunkenness of the Netherlanders according to Mercer, or the retreat to Corunna, much mention of strong liquor. (Probably often safer than the local water though)

Deadhead -

My mum was from Luton and a WREN. She brought a lot of things across the Atlantic with her.

Cheers,
Mark