Marcus Hinton went to all the trouble of inscribing the honours Austerlitz, Friedland, Essling, Jena and Wagram on the flag of this model and I have faithfully tried to pick out the lettering each time I’ve painted one. While peering through my specs and magnifying glass and trying to apply gold paint with a shaky hand, I was reminded of the character Alfred E Neuman from MAD magazine in the 60’s and his line “anyone crazy enough to read this is crazy enough to inscribe the words 'What me worry' on the head of a pin”.
The figure is FN4 Colour bearer charging. Click on the image to zoom in and see the lettering on the flag!
15 comments:
I applaud your dedication sir !
Nice figure (a 'chinese work' in Spanish slang) but I believe that French Light regiments do not carry the eagles in battle ;-)
Regards
Rafa
Very nice Ian!
Thanks for the comments chaps.
Rafa - I wish you'd told me that about the Eagles before I spent time painting this one!
Not so Rafa or this incident could not happe.
The 7eme Legere marched into Russia as part of 3eme Division (Gerard), I Corps d'Armee (Davout). At Borodino on 7 September 1812, 5 battalions of the regiment confronted the Great Redoubt under Gerard's personal control. Marching out of Russia, a survivor of the 7eme Legere observed his comrades gathering around "our Eagle, the staff of which had only a rag of cloth...and despite having had one of its wings carried off by a bullet at Eylau, soared above these disasters like a holy rallying sign".
The battle honors of the 7eme Legere Regiment included Jena, Eylau, Eckmuehl and Wagram (and Borodino?).
Now maybe in Spain because those guerrillos are a light fingered lot. But the bird of the seventh flew at Eylau and in Russia.
So have quiet confidence in the justice of your cause Ian.
Nice figure.
Roy
A rather splendid piece of work-I second the applaud on your dedication (I also in recent months have been informed that I seem to be squinting a lot when reading and need my eyes tested. Sadly I have to agree).
Hi Matt - it's a slippery slope once you pass the big 5-O ! Time to up-scale to 54mm...
Well, miniscule lettering and the veracity of a standard for light infantry notwithstanding, he and his flag look magnificent.
Best Regards,
Stokes
Excellent work, I remember the figure well, I have some still in my collection
Will
Great job, Ian - I like him. Impressed by the lettering, though - to be pernickety, Basingstoke is spelled with a 'g' in it.
Not sure whether to mention this, since it might be a hangover from my recent visit to Berchtesgarten, but the standard bearer isn't Hitler, is he? Nah - can't be...
Cheers - Tony
Tony - that's not 'Basingstoke' its 'Berezina', my hand must have slipped...
Another cracking little figure Ian, the flag is very good too!
Are the Guard up next?
Hi Lee - The 9th legere is now complete and just need basing so I can confirm that the Guard will indeed be next. Progress will be slow though due to a lack of painting time at present so bear with me!
Your efforts well worth while, he cuts a fine figure!
Thanks James!
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