French Carabiniers - 28mm Perry

Carabiniers - one of my favourite French uniforms with the white, red, and gold/brass helmet and breastplate combination standing out, especially in combination with the large black warhorses they rode. Another ten added bringing the total to two dozen.

This 1810-14 uniform is my favourite variant of the Carabinier uniform. In 1815 they wore blue coats, and pre-1810 they were unarmoured and wearing a blue coat with red facings and a bearskin hat.

 

For reference, here's the pre-1810 uniform.  Napoleon discarded this due to concern about casualties suffered in the 1809 campaign - particularly against Austrian Uhlans at Wagram where the Carabiniers suffered many lance wounds and lack of armour was perceived to be a weakness.

The 1810-1814 Uniform. The 1815 uniform was identical but with a light blue coat.

French Dragoons - 28mm Perry

More cavalry for the French. Another dozen dragoons added, making a total of 48. Some group photos again.

 New regiment is the 13th, with pink facings.

French Cuirassiers - 28mm Perry

Some of the first 28mm Napoleonic cavalry I painted were Cuirassiers, but time has come that I needed more so another 20 have been added.  Some better quality photos than the old 2013 ones too.  More French cavalry to be added over the next couple of days.

One of the most iconic Napoleonic troops - heavy cavalry with shining metal helmets and breastplates. Bigger and stronger than other cavalrymen and on sturdy warhorses. Known to the infantry as Gros Frères, or "Big Brothers".

More Austrians - 28mm Victrix

Finished adding another 170 Austrians approximately, necessitating some rearrangement of storage. This was a good excuse to get out all the Austrian German infantry and have a look at them together... 

Not included are the German Landwehr, nor Hungarians, Grenz, Jaeger, or other arms of course. I'm going to need a bigger table to fit them all on for photos soon enough!

New regiments are #1 Karl Franz and #17 Reuss-Plauen.

Plus I've added Grenadier companies from the four most recently painted regiments. These were brigaded into their own divisions of combined Grenadier companies so will be added to those.

And also some much needed skirmisher detachments, 16 stands worth. Not that Austrians were very good at skirmishing but they still need a few. Victrix include options to make up to a third of the figures in each box into skirmishers, so that is helpful. Here's four of the line skirmisher stands, of the 16 that can be seen in the first photo in this post.

I also made up four Grenadier skirmisher stands. As I understand it Grenadiers were forbidden from skirmishing according to the Austrian ordnance, being reserved for a shock role favouring the bayonet. I'm not sure how strictly this was obeyed though so added a few of these skirmishing Grenadiers given I had a few figures left over. 

Thanks for looking, French Heavy Cavalry on the painting desk at the moment so they will be next.

Austrian Line Infantry - 28mm Victrix

More Austrian Line Infantry completed.  I chose Victrix for this next lot because I wanted a few more pose options for commanders, and also ability to make some skirmishing figures for General d'Armee. Bought in bulk to get the discounted rate.

Light blue and deep green facings for these regiments. So Regt #3 Erzherzog Carl and Regt #8 Erzherzog Ludwig perhaps, with two battalions from each. 

Quite happy with them, and exactly this amount again is already being assembled. 

Regt No. 3.

Regt. No. 8.

 

  

PWJ Giveaway and painting update

Here's a heads up that Jonathan from the Palouse Wargaming Journal is having a giveaway draw to celebrate 5 years of blogging. See the link for details. Very generous of him and his prolific blog is well worth visiting with many lovely painted Napoleonics, Ancients, battlereports and much more besides!

Meanwhile I plod onwards through hundreds of Austrian infantry, getting closer to completion on the first lot now, phew!

Austrian Expansions - Artillery

My Austrians haven't been keeping pace with expansions to the Grande Armee, so it's time to rectify that disparity.

First up, I've painted eight more artillery for the Austrians. Six line 6 pounders and two 12 pounders bringing the total number of Austrian guns to 26. 

Bit of a closer look. Here's four 12 pounders, guns are Front Rank, crew are Perry.

Three of the six Cavalry or "Wurst" (sausage) guns. Perry figures. Four 6 pounders, two 7 inch howitzers.

Four of the sixteen line artillery. There's fourteen 6 pounders and two 7 inch howitzers. Crew are mostly Perry but a Front Rank Officer in each battery too.

500 more Austrian Line are also planned. Going with Victrix for these as there's a bit more variety  to keep things interesting and also options to make some skirmishers. 7 boxes worth! I've just finished assembling and spray undercoating the first 150 figures (almost 3 boxes worth)...