Fully finished, are two battalions of Portuguese line infantry, a unit of Cazadores and a battery of French foot artillery. Painted by yours truly using enamels.
I'm a big fan of blue and yellow as a colour combination so it was an obvious choice to do battalions from the Northern Division.
Figures are by Front Rank, flags by GMB Designs.
This regiment was historically brigaded with the 21st. It too has yellow facings, but the 9th's collar is only piped yellow rather than being solid yellow like the 21st.
I found these Portuguese a doddle to paint in comparison to their British brethren.
Figures by Front Rank.
I have decided to paint my Cazadores as units of 16 figures. Because I'm not a bean counter I decided to do what feels about right for game use. Eight bases of skirmishers looks about right to me.
As two thirds were actually armed with muskets I'm open to be persuaded otherwise - though this will entail buying more figures - so that they can fight in line, in a similar fashion to British light infantry.
Please, feel free to advise.
In the first game I found that a single limber was quite sufficient for representing a battery on the move and liked the look of them very much. Despite the cost - limbers equate to a fair lump of money (£17.20 +) and painting time for a thing which is just there to look good - I will provide a limber for each and every battery.
Although I haven't photographed it yet, I've also painted the Legion Hannovrienne for the French force, and I'm midway through painting a battalion of Legion Du Midi. Once they've been finished I'll post some pics: I need both units and a dozen new command figures for a game on Wednesday night so they'll be pictured soon, hopefully.
These additional units would normally make a dent in the lead pile, but following another delivery from Front Rank (following an investment using money from the sale of the Libyan spearmen units ) I find myself with more than I started with - I've added two units of cavalry, a unit of British light infantry, a full unit of 95th Rifles, two units of Polish Legion, 2 units of 2nd Nassau, and a bunch of general officers and other odds and sods to increase the size of several units. Let's hope the mojo lasts the distance.
12 comments:
All of the new troops are gorgeously rendered! You mention that they were painted using enamels. Humbrols, or something else? In any case, a real treat for the eyes.
Best Regards,
Stokes
Thanks, Stokes.
Yep, Humbrol.
They are all lovely, James. I especially like the Portuguese. There would certainly be no reason the Cacadores could NOT fight in line - the training for that is easy compared with the initiative needed to work effectively as skirmishers. No reason you need to model or use them that way yourself, though!
Those look great and look forward to seeing more units painted:)
Exquisitely painted and based along with excellent terrain. It is always a pleasure to view your posts and thank for sharing your progress.
BTW it is nice to know that I am not the only one who paints using enamels.
Cheers,
Rod
Very fine work. I’m amazed at your productivity too!
james
my limited understanding/memory is that only one company of cacadores was actually armed with rifles (atirdores -sharpshooters) although all would skirmish. Which means they would skirmish and fight as well in line too.
So I suppose they were used just like the British LI battalions.
I have info suggesting 200 rifles each for Btns 1 - 6, 150 for the battalions 7 - 12. Given most generally mustered 400 - 450 men, that would mean 33 - 50% rifle armed.
However, deep down I think you are probably right. They may well have deployed in line, and sent out several companies to skirmish (like British light btns) when required to do so.
james; great brush work, and what rules are you using? L have been painting the 14th. light dragoons for about 2 years now, I have them in white pants but should they be gray?
.
You have done a fantastic job on the wonderful Front Rank figures. In a similar vein to you, I have treated my Cacadores as if they are British rifle battalions, and based them in two's...it may not be 100% historically accurate but I am happy with them the way I have done them!
Hi OB,
We're using Black Powder at present, but we'll go over to Piquet at some point (we always do).
It's my understanding that at the beginning of the war breeches (for parade?) were white but trousers (called overalls) were worn over the top on campaign. Overalls were grey with natural leather inner strips (groin to ankle) to prevent wear / chaffing (which I don't paint on) and a wide stripe in the facing colour (which I do paint) running down the outside (hip to ankle). Later in the war it seems that breeches ceased to be issued at all.
source: British Napoleonic Uniforms by CE Franklin - brilliant book detailing general equipment with plates (breeches, to head wear, to belts and pouches, to weapons) then a separate page of uniform plates for each British regiment in the army (all services). It doesn't cover KGL, etc.
Nice looking Portuguese. I've based mine on Pack's Independent Brigade consisting of the 1st "Lippe" and 16th "Vieira Teles" Line Regiments and the 4th "Beira" Caçadores Battalion. My theory was as they weren't attached to a British Division I could justify them popping up anywhere I wanted in games. 16th still in the to-do plastic pile thought.
My Caçadores are based the same way as my KGL lights on regular bases half the size of my usual line infantry bases so I can spread them out into skirmish formation or reform them into line.
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