Alternative artillery figures?

[KeithS]

I've been painting some Napoleonic artillery figures, French at the moment but I plan to do some Austrian and Peninsular British when available.  Now the pieces come with four artillery figures, which is fine, but they are in the same poses and look a little repetitive if used en masse.  I wonder if anyone has any suggestions as to how to ring the changes for a bit more variety?   For example figures from other Pendraken ranges that can be added without too much of a clash, any other manufacturer's figures that can be mixed with Pendraken without jarring size differences, or modifications to existing figures to realistically vary the poses.  I know Pendraken do some variations with greatcoats and that is a possibility, but would greatcoats be mixed with normal uniforms as a rule particularly when not in cold climates like Russia? The other thing that I read about was that infantry were attached to artillery units as guards and I am considering adding a few of those if I can do so without overcrowding the base.  Any suggestions welcome. 

[steve_holmes_11]

This is a little outside the box, so take whatever's useful.

Most Foot artillery uniforms looked pretty close to line infantry of the same nation.
(Can you see details like crossed gun barrels on turnbacks in 10mm?)

I wonder whether the answer is to scavenge some spare foot troops and arrange them around the gun.

Possible problems:

Most infantry castings carry a musket which isn't easy to cut away - did artillerists carry firearms in action?
Wondering because both Airfix and Zvezda make plastic artillery figures who are carrying muskets.

Most artillery crew were employed carrying ammunition, or running the gun carriage back after each shot.
The poses supplied with guns are those performing specialised tasks (Loading, aiming, shooting), and a chap or two with the big cotton bud.
I'm not sure whether converted infantry have poses suitable for carriage luggers or powder monkeys.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Tghey were modstly issued with carbines - but these would have been stacked or left on unit transport. Gunner is a hard physical job - the weapons had to be pushed back into battery after each shot. A guy holding a musket at waist height could be converted to a rammer or spounger with not to much difficulty. You could also ask Phil, afterall he's never busy 

[Techno II]

You could also ask Phil, after all he's never busy 

No .....I've only got the best part of two hundred masters on my desk...(some of them have overflowed into the annex kitchen, now)... ..Fantasy (Lots).......The Arab/Israeli 'conflict' from decades ago.....And another 'secret project'...which is huge.

Cheers - Phil.  .....(At least the new corks have turned up, now.)

[Steve J]

Check some of the engineer figures from the SYW ranges etc, as they might be useful?

[John Cook]

I agree that artillery crews generally seem almost to be an afterthought but the posture and activity of crews depended on the point in the loading/laying/firing cycle.  Here are some Zinnfiguren 30mm flats which might give you some ideas.  You could also take a look at 28mm ranges for ideas too but I think you are into converting.  I wouldn't worry about muskets, I agree they'd be stashed somewhere when serving the guns.