Some new Nap French sculpts!

[SV52]

You gotta love Nappy fans - TMP Napoleonic board is alive and well on Pendraken forum  (pssst, don't mention the bricole).  I need more popcorn 

[Leon]

As we expand the Napoleonic ranges, we'll be dropping the '1809' designation on the website I think, otherwise we'll end up relisting things which can be used in a new range, or having arguments over whether one code is enough or if it should be moved to a different range, etc.  If necessary, we can add rough timelines to the codes to indicate which period that can be used for.

[quasar42]

Your talking about the 3rd Dutch Lancers and I think your incorrect.

Cheers Rex

Ah yes. It was the first regiment of chevaux legers of the garde (Polish lancers) that fought at Wagram and they seem not to have had lances at that time. Will need to find another excuse to paint the red lancers.

[ronan]

(...)  If necessary, we can add rough timelines to the codes to indicate which period that can be used for.

Hello
That's a great idea.

[WeeWars]

If necessary, we can add rough timelines to the codes to indicate which period that can be used for.

That seems like a good plan. 

Ah yes. It was the first regiment of chevaux legers of the garde (Polish lancers) that fought at Wagram and they seem not to have had lances at that time.

That's correct.    The Polish light cavalry of the Guard snatched lances from Austrian uhlans in the pursuit after Wagram. In 1809, but after hostilities, they changed their uniforms to accommodate the new weapon and became the first lancers in the French army. All other Guard and Line lancer regiments date from 1810+.

[Hertsblue]

The Lancers of Berg (also part of the Guard) received their lances "in late 1809" according to von Pivka. The same author also states that the Lancers of the Vistula were already in existence in 1807 when the army of the Duchy of Warsaw was incorporated into the French army.

[maciek]

Lancers of the Vistula were already in existence in 1807 when the army of the Duchy of Warsaw was incorporated into the French army.

Vistula lancers were never part of army of Duchy of Warsaw nor this army was ever incorporated into the French army.
The origins of regiment can be traced in 1799. They were formed as part of Polish Legion in Italy (on Cisalpine republic's pay). Then it entered French army, later Italian, finally Neapolitan.
In 1807 it entered French service again and was attached to so called new Polish Legion - regiments formed from Polish deserters from Prussian service reinforced by Polish recruits, but on French pay, and destined to serve with French army.
Eventually Polish Legion was renamed Vistula Legion and under this name immortalized due to its deeds during Penninsula campaign.

[Rob]

The Guard Grenadiers look splendid. But it's a shame they have their hat cords across the front of the busbies. Should be draped over the top of the busby.

I agree, bit of a disappointment. Can it be tweeked Leon?

I can understand how this has happened as everything I have found which describes the Gr-a-Ch uniform says the bearskin is like the foot grenadiers, which clearly it isn't. All the pictorial evidence shows that where cords are worn they either pass behind the plume or if in front come over the centre of the top of the bearskin.
ie http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/frenchguard/sthilaire/c_sthilaire4.html

WeeWars, do you have a reference other than pictoral?


Cheers, Rob 

[WeeWars]

WeeWars, do you have a reference other than pictoral?

"The two paintings together give a clear view of the straightforward arrangement of the single orange cap cord, which was braided for half its length then narrowed to a single strand ending in the free-floating raquettes. The braided end was anchored near the bottom of the left side of the cap and the middle of the cord was attached to the cap again just above the backpatch, at which juncture a separate tassel was also added."

Guy C. Dempsey on paintings from Otto Manuscript

The bearskin "was adorned with a fixed tassel of aurore-coloured wool placed high on the crown and falling towards the rear of the headdress; in addition, two laces, one placed close to the boss of the left chinstrap, the other high and to the right of the crown, served to secure the cord, which was held in place on the crown by the turning back on itself of the tassel cord.
   This cord, made from aurore-coloured wool and plaited along half its length, was terminated at the end of the unplaited portion by a raquette and tassel. Often the upper lace was left untied, so that the raquette hung down at the rear; it is in this manner that the head-dress is most often represented."

Lucien Rousselot

[WeeWars]

A Martinet print shows a Grenadier à Cheval officer with cords across the front of his bearskin, print of 'other ranks' not so. So the Pendraken officer could remain as is. As for the others, as I only need a few figures, I plan to put right the few I need.

[Rob]

A Martinet print shows a Grenadier à Cheval officer with cords across the front of his bearskin, print of 'other ranks' not so. So the Pendraken officer could remain as is. As for the others, as I only need a few figures, I plan to put right the few I need.

Thanks for the refs Michael. There are also Funken, Bellange and Knotel pictures with the cord over the front of the beaskin. However they are from over the crown via a fixing in the centre, and not from the plume at the bearskin right side as depicted on the figures.

I dont know how difficult it would be to fix this sort of thing at this stage. I seem to remember a foot loading figure that was rejected at this stage, it seems years ago now, never to return, so perhaps we should just accept these minor things as the current figures are far far better than no figures.

Cheers Rob 

[Rob]

As we expand the Napoleonic ranges, we'll be dropping the '1809' designation on the website I think, otherwise we'll end up relisting things which can be used in a new range, or having arguments over whether one code is enough or if it should be moved to a different range, etc.  If necessary, we can add rough timelines to the codes to indicate which period that can be used for.

This would be sensible, and leave you with a bit of wriggle room with certain troops types. This gave me an idea that may be useful. Expand the description of the figures to give newcomers a guide of when and where historically they were used.

For example:
"NPF1

Line/Fusiliers, march attack
With shako and long tailed jacket as used by the French from 1807/8 through to 1812 in Northern Europe and 1814 in Spain.
These figures are also suitable for use as Napoleon's Italian line infantry."

It would keep the forumn active too as I'm certain there would no shortage of knowledgeble people volunteering the descriptions for you.


Cheers, Rob 

[Hertsblue]

This would be sensible, and leave you with a bit of wriggle room with certain troops types. This gave me an idea that may be useful. Expand the description of the figures to give newcomers a guide of when and where historically they were used.

For example:
"NPF1

Line/Fusiliers, march attack
With shako and long tailed jacket as used by the French from 1807/8 through to 1812 in Northern Europe and 1814 in Spain.
These figures are also suitable for use as Napoleon's Italian line infantry."

It would keep the forumn active too as I'm certain there would no shortage of knowledgeble people volunteering the descriptions for you.


Cheers, Rob 

You'll need a much bigger catalogue though - especiallly as the audience will want the same for all the other periods.

[WeeWars]

I seem to remember a foot loading figure that was rejected at this stage, it seems years ago now, never to return,

I'm sure I spotted him in the American Civil War range!

[Rob]

You'll need a much bigger catalogue though - especiallly as the audience will want the same for all the other periods.

I dont see why you would need a bigger catlg, there is plenty of space on the display page. Why would you need to do every range? The "customers" could provide the text (it would be fun) and also QA the results.