Wednesday 10 April 2019

Saxon Zastrow Kuirassiers - Black Hussar 28mm

The start of my Saxons with these Zastrow Kuirassiers from Black Hussar Miniatures in Germany.

Very lovely models. The Zastrow trooper pack comes with 3 poses, sword up, sword down, and drawing sword (right rear in photo). The drawing sword is nice to have one of, but a bunch of them not so much. I bought an extra pack of troopers (fortunately available without horses), so as to only have one of this variant in the unit. The three horses also have rather limited variety, with two of the poses very similar and only differing in head position. Mixed up this isn't really apparent though.

I went with gun metal on the breastplates, which were of course blackened metal, but with light reflection and darkening effect of scale I think it will look right on the wargaming table, as well as conveying the sense of heavy metallic menace you want from Kuirassiers.



I went with impressionistic saddlecloths rather than trying to pick out the multiple Saxon ciphers on them. As usual I'm going with "bright and colourful" wargaming figures, not museum pieces! Also as can be seen from the yellow/white lines on the edging of the saddlecloth, it's hard to see the distinction between the yellow and white in any case.

Here's a detail from the Rawkins book "The Royal Saxon Army 1792-1814", (which is excellent value as are all the titles in this series). Good luck for any who want to add the Saxon cipher in the corner! It can be done though, a particularly good example for anyone masochistic enough to try it can be found here. (Thanks Liam, likely ENT surgery teaches greater patience for such details! ;))


Rear view. No straps molded on the portmanteau (overcoat) across the back of the saddle, but that might be the way they were.

I had also already based these when I found out the trumpeters of Saxon Heavy Cavalry didn't ride grey horses!  I had painted the trumpeter horse grey same as their French allies, but after some indecision about whether it was worth it, I managed to repaint it as a dark brown before varnishing.

Having done Zastrow, I'm tempted to add the Saxon Leib Kuirassier regiment who are very similar but with red as the dominant colour.  Next up will be some Saxon Chevauleger Light Cavalry though.

I will end up adding a large Saxon contingent. They are pretty important to have for some of the later battles and are very colouful, plus my wife is from Saxony.  While she is not exactly enthusiastic about thousands of Napoleonics filling the house, she has also objected to the absence to date of her native Saxons - given the relentless mustering of all the other kingdoms and principalities!

29 comments:

  1. These are very nice looking figures Mark and as always, you have done a wonderful job of painting and basing them - will have to check out their website!

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    1. Thanks Ross yes they have some lovely stuff!

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  2. Very nice indeed Mark. You have done an outstanding job on these fellows thats for sure and there will be many a Russian musketeer quaking in their boots everytime they take the field! I have a regiment of each of the Zastrow and Garde De Corps from Eureka Miniatures which are also wonderful castings.

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    1. Cheers Carlo, yes the Eureka are another good option, a bit thinner but with molded cipher on their saddlecloths.

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  3. My favourite Napoleonic regiment if forced to choose! Nicely modeled & painted Chasseur, as always. Yes please, lets see their sister regiment in their yellow jackets!
    Best wishes,
    Jeremy

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    1. Thanks Jeremy, maybe to the GDC, but likely Leib Cuirassiers will be first!

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  4. Great regiment and great work, Mark!

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  5. Super job, Mark! The yellow and white make this unit stand out on the battlefield.

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    1. Yes it's a very bright combo, thanks Jonathan!

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  6. Very clean looking figure and painting indeed.

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  7. Thank you...for sharing such great resources in the eye candy and supporting detail. Inspiring in the 'I must also do these' mode.

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    1. Thanks, yes they are an understandably popular regiment! The Rawkin's book is great guide too.

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  8. Well done Chasseur, splendid cavalry!

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  9. Very nice job Mark, and I think the gunmetal looks just right on the cuirass.

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    1. Thanks Lawrence, yes I prefer it to just black!

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  10. Mark, nice paint! How you painted a thin black stripe?

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    1. Thanks Dmitry yes wanted to make the distinction clearer between white/yellow, just done using 000 brush!

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  11. A superb looking outfit, Mark. The Saxons are a fun army to do. Very colorful, and saw plenty of action. I have had the Liebgarde for decades (Minifigs
    ), but the Zastrow regiment has been on my radar for years. I had the Eureka version in mind, which might.go better with my existing Minifigs. The Saxon fiitguards are another interesting unit to do.

    I have a good e friend who lives in Dresden myself!

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    1. Thanks Peter, yes looked at your Liebgarde while doing these. Very likely to add them myself :)

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  12. One runs out of superlatives for your great painting Mark!
    Who doesn't like the Saxon cuirassiers? You have to paint the Liebe regt. too!

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    1. You're too kind thanks James, and yes more Saxons definitely the plan!

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  13. Fabulous looking bunch of cuirassiers! Lovely finish, the breast plate looks just right to me!
    Best Iain

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