"A Carriage for Waterloo Remodelled" Topic

The latest work for the Waterloo Remodelled project and it cost me not a penny. James kindly sent me his Franznap newly-released Emperor's coach. He wanted it in the maroon of the Malmaison carriage (which I have already made in 28mm and may yet redo in 20mm). This is a much earlier carriage, as once modelled by Historex, and the crew are clearly based on Pawley's two Osprey books on the Imperial Household. Terrific attention to detail, but they are very small figures indeed for 1/72 or 20mm (I accept not necessarily the same thing. See the Postillion next to the Gendarme, however big a chap the latter is truly meant to be!

The escorting Gendarmes are courtesy of Thomas Mischak who sent me these some time ago (together with a surgeon, who is now an Officer d'Ordnance with the added aiguillettes, and also some pioneers). They are TM-Miniatures by Hagen Miniaturen and they are quite exquisite mouldings. All I added was the reins. The leopard skin horse, I have no idea where he came from!

Oh, the silver undersides to the black horses. Sheer laziness after spraying them black (as the Gendarmes favoured). OK, I missed a bit, but no-one will notice on the model of Waterloo after all (forgetting that the camera misses nothing)

Great work! Thanks for sharing

A wonderful addition to the project. The carriage is magnificent and the gendarmes also great. Thanks so much Liam!

Super Good!…

Congrats my good friend!!

Armand

Stunningly good, that detail on the carriage door is amazing. I wouldn't worry too much about people being different sizes, people are very different in life after all.

very nice coach, but the gendarmes don't fit, they seem to be almost heroic 1/72 scale, have a look if FranzNap did make those as well, he is a very delicate sculptor with fine eye for detail.

Totally agree.

The gendarmes are superb castings and modelling, but very large figures indeed. Franznap have fantastic detail, straight from the two Osprey books, but the detail is less defined. Above all the figures are very small and, even for their height, very slender.

I think they will work "together", if the escort is standing some distance from the carriage assembly. Of course Boney and a Marshall are seated inside, but, even without added glazing, plus open doors, they are quite invisible. Boney is now an Officer of Ordnance and the Marshal is a lowly General of Brigade.

Next, another Franznap carriage, but converted into the true Malmaison relic. I did it in 28mm and think I can do it in 20mm……

Now on order and I found four Chasseurs a Cheval of the Guard in cloaks to guard it, all from Franznap, so they should be a better match for my next project.

Best wishes for it….

Armand

Early days but the most difficult bit proved easier than expected. The cab roof has since been coated in modelling putty and now needs much careful sanding.

Progress today. Obviously very rough at present. I had decided not to bother with the interior, having seen the last coach, with the passengers invisible. Even glazed, this one is very different. Sob

Looking good already. You could always steam the windows up a bit

Whatever are you suggesting is going on inside, to steam up the windows? Surely no member of the Imperial Household would be vigorously "entertaining" a lady companion, during the only significant battle of the Napoleonic Era.

I have since removed the front windows (they will be nearer the real thing the other way up) but that was a very scary intervention, as it could have destroyed everything. I do once more have some access to the interior therefore, but not enough to insert a figure.

So far this is working out better than the 28mm version, as that taught me much………

Much still to do on the coach body, let alone the train, postillions, and the Chasseurs a Chev escort.

A mess tin of steaming hot food, to fortify the occupants for the coming assault on the ridge, of course.

Assembly is finished (although the cab is not to be attached to the chassis until painted).

A window fell off and into the cabin, so you can imagine my language. Working through the open front I somehow got the perspex back in and glued in. Layers of gloss varnish have made them more secure and less transparent, which covers the spartan interior. Mask those windows and undercoat everything next.

Looks great Deadhead. Who's that chap visible in the front window? Seems to be wearing a brown shirt and has a small moustache

Any news…? (smile)

Armand

The ghost in the window.

Bless your eyesight. I went back to the original photo and magnified it ++ and sure enough, there he is. We can "see" faces on Mars or on the Earth-visible side of the moon, but seeing that infamous chap in the brown shirt and dodgy moustache in a French carriage is scary! Lamps and steps were attached a few minutes ago, so assembly is done……..

This carriage is really very excellent indeed Mr D.

Best wishes,

Chris

Cheers.

It is now painted ("only" the Imperial emblem to do on the doors though), then the crew and escort. Must say, this has worked out much better than my 28mm version (so far anyway).

If this is going to appear in the National Army Museum one day, it has to be right! A weekend in London for something far more important (WHU last home game of the season) stopped all progress.

Hi Liam, excellent work, may I ask what you are using for your traces, do you still use Beadalon and what gauge would you recommend for 18mm. Thanks
Alan.

I made several carriages in 18mm and usually used "Heavy" Beadalon, as here. Medium finds plenty of uses too, esp in 18mm. The Franznap carriage makes it easier for me as it comes with the ropes and swingle trees ready assembled! It is a great model and also a great basis for any conversion.

I am never too sure whether it is OK to show such carriages on this forum.

They are more modelling and painting than anything to do with wargaming. I am convinced the Malmaison coach never got near to the battlefield of "Waterloo", but was surely captured at Genappe.

I am "rather pleased" with the end result, as is 'er indoors for the latest. If it ends up in the NAM in Chelsea I will be thinking "jolly good" (I always remember the first time I said that in U of Michigan in 1983 and it lead to hilarity. Basically the idea was that we never really used that expression, but I did)