60’s Flashback

I couldn’t resist putting this picture up. It is a detail from the front cover of the December 1968 issue of Miniature Warfare and features a unit of the same French Fusilier Figures that I have just completed.

The reason I am showing this picture is that it inspired me many years ago to want to collect a Hinton Hunt French army. Being reliant on pocket money at the time I had to finish my Prussians before investing in any more figures and it was a while before I finally got some. I ordered Grenadiers, Cuirassiers and Horse Artillery - if you ordered over 100 figures in one go you got a fairly decent discount.

When the order arrived I was disappointed to find that the French infantry were not the same figures as in the magazine photo. I couldn’t work out from my catalogue which figures were pictured so I had guessed and ordered Grenadiers by mistake. The identity of the figures remained a mystery to me until I picked up some Fusilier from ebay a couple of years ago and was able to read the code numbers under their bases. It took some time but I got there in the end.

I never did paint up any of those French figures (except for the Horse Artillery) and they all went the way of my Prussians – I wish I still had those castings!

Fall in the 45th!

Here at last is the completed 45th regiment of the line parading on my worktable having just had their bases painted. To recap, these are vintage Hinton Hunt Figures that I recycled by stripping off the faded old paint job and re-painting. The unit consists of:

18 x FN5 Fusilier Charging
2 x FN1 Officer Charging
2 x FN6 Drummer Charging
2 x FN4 Colour Bearer Charging

As you know, the 45th became famous for losing their Eagle at Waterloo. This seems a bit unjust as they had previously served with distinction at Austerlitz, Friedland, Essling, Jena & Wagram, all of which were awarded as battle honours to the regiment.

I started these back at the beginning of February and they certainly have taken a long time to finish. No excuse really except for a slight diversion into another project. Anyway, I am pretty pleased with the final result.

Now for those Scots Grey’s.

The King is Well

A British and an Austrian General make an early morning reconnaissance across my desk. They may be looking for the French or just taking in the view and chatting. The figures are:

AN102 Austrian General Holding Map
BN254 General Alten (I am 90% certain it is he)

These are very nice figures and I particularly like the Austrian who is a one-piece casting. I like these so much that I may not re-paint them.

Alten joined the army aged 17, commanded the King’s German Legion in the Peninsula and was wounded at Salamanca. He took over command of the Light Divison after Craufurd’s death and went on to lead a Division at Waterloo. He eventually became a Field Marshal, real Boy’s Own stuff.

The mug on my desk was bought for me at Buckingham Palace by my wife. Being a bit of a Royalist I really like the sentiment on it. Quite appropriate for Alten too.