"Chasseurs a' Cheval Garde in 28mm" Topic

Hi all

I have just uploaded some pics of my latest Nap unit in 28mm on my blog at vellamike61.blogspot.com

Hope you enjoy and carry on painting while we're all at home :)

Mike

Beautiful work.

VERY Nice… Well done!

Thank you gents!

Just one comment – a horse's eyes have almost no white at all. Also, I would expect this unit to be on matched mounts, like all bays of a similar coloring. Great painting, though.

Agree, very nice.
Though please lose the telephone pole!
Replace cast lead ones with steel wire of better proportions!

Widowson- agree about mounts- a certain person was very picky about that, at least before the 'big freeze' event.

Just a note that the 'scarlet' looks a tad pinkish, tho that may just be the photogs aura. Leave crimson to the trompettes!

I'm also re-repainting my men of worth, after many years in blankness,
Regards d

You will see white in a horse's eyes if he is about to crash into a formed square, mind you! otherwise black I would agree, maybe the brown iris.

These are terrific figures and remind me that I never, ever, even seen a figure from this range, Foundry. I was put off by the suggestion that they are noticeably small for current beefed up 28mm, but a unit painted up like this makes me wonder, plus they do make "properly turned" Empress Dragoons.

Thanks for posting these. That eagle staff is a bit thick, he is right…..not easily replaced though

Chasseurs should be smaller than other cavalry. Everything about their uniform is about looking bigger.

No offense to Mike, but Stoppage isn't that the current trend I see. Bigger, bolder, better(?) figures being made?

Personally the smaller scale farcical and disproportionate caricatures offend me more!

deadhead -if "noticeably small" is what WF get called (who I think started the 'taller/ chunkier' trend way back) then I wouldn't want to know others. They are 'just' a match as opponents for my true 25mm, so I'll leave it there.

>>That eagle staff is a bit thick, he is right…..not easily replaced though.

Slice off the current one above and below hand. Drill precise hole thru hand for steel wire (sized?), trim eagle flush at box casting and drill hole deep enough to get a good purchase of material abt 2-3mm- or I use Hinchliffe cast eagle for me 'other French' as they are available separately.

Drill hole in right foot cup (what is it called/ stirrup) to retain staff. I assemble and paint standard completely while size fitting and then use CA on both hand and stirrup for stability. Job done.
I added some unit pix to flickr account of most recent, 9eme Dragons guidon and eagle.

I went to see some cavalry lectures at the NAM in Chelsea a number of years ago.

Outside there was a re-enactor kitted-out and mounted as a light dragoon.

He charged past waving his sabre and was ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING. The speed, the ferocity, the potential; all totally awesome.

I went to chat with him and was astonished to find that he didn't even reach my shoulders – he was tiny.

Apropos, Stoppage, in conversation some ten years ago with a former soldier (Brigade of Guards), I was told of his experience in a form of re-enactment, that is, an event at Windsor Castle during which his Regiment, and perhaps others (didn't think to ask), in full dress uniforms, dutifully formed square(s) while the Household Cavalry acted the part of French Cuirassiers. Well, they've got the armour. Anyway, he told me that it was among the most frightening things he'd ever been involved with. He commented especially on the noise, the speed, and also the vibration of the ground. Don't know what heights the cavalrymen were, but I'm confident that none of them would have come up to ---------'s shoulder. In fact, the kettle-drummer's horse's ears wouldn't have come up to his shoulder!

The Light Cavalry above are a joy forever, storming through shot and shell as they are imagined to be.

Thanks to all for the constructive criticism.

#Widowson – my equestrian knowledge is limited but I am under the impression that a horse's eyes will show some more white when in a state of agitation. That is what I tried to convey. I purposely avoided matching the horses' colours to break the ‘monotony' a bit and vary the figures.

#SHaT9184 – Agree that pole is way too thick. I used Vallejo Vermillion as top highlight but for the trombette I went further and used a hint of pink. Finally my reference to undersized horses was in comparison with the riders themselves not to other manufacturers' figures. I still think WF make great figures tho!

Once again thanks to all for an engaging discussion.

>>I used Vallejo Vermillion as top highlight

Ok excellent Mike- not my eyes then! Just saying tho, if you visit MdA and other museums, you will see the red hasn't faded very far and still vivid scarlets appear on period artifacts.

The private museum at Fontainbleau OTOH shows several sun weary- pale pieces on display- wide open sunny rooms, but way too destructive UV allowed to damage them. I'll put up a slide that shows this later.
regards dave

Yes please Dave

Just noticed, all in step

TMP link

I hadn't realised WF horses only came in one pose. I have become so used to seeing variations.

But a lovely unit. I know they shouldn't be in full dress, but that is how i always picture them.

Hope you are safe over in Malta. We have family over there, and were over twice last year – great island. Stay safe