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| FN/176 Officer, reading map FN/178 Guard, digging with spade |
In the last few days though while looking up information on the Marins of the Guard I came across this in Mark Adkin’s Waterloo Companion “At Ligny, with the Engineers of the Guard, they (the Marins) formed a small assault column that stormed the eastern part of the village.” That seems like a very good reason to include them in the ranks of my Marins.
I’m not sure whether the Officer with the map will be much use in an assault however the guy with the shovel looks like he could be dangerous to somebody's ankles in a melee. I thought they would add a little bit more colour to an already colourful unit.
Like them - particularly the Icky the Fire-Bobby helmets. Nice job - who are you calling Shovel Head, by the way? That officer is looking dubious about the paperwork - stand by for a long intake of breath - this job is going to be expensive.
ReplyDeleteSome set of rules I have used fairly recently allowed you to ignore (or reduce) terrain deductions in a melee attack if you have an engineer present. I'm a bit vexed that I can't remember which set of rules is was - might be "Big Battalions". or it might be a set I wrote myself (how wretched is that?) which, come to think of it, pinched most of their good bits from Big Battalions.
Anyway - very smart lads - super.
Thanks Tony, they do look a bit like firemen but they did apparently carry out fire fighting duties in the Paris palaces!
ReplyDeleteIts good to see the old engineer repainted and painted. I think the spade was broken when I bought him from the shop in Camden Passage all those years ago.
ReplyDeleteVery smart uniforms. Especially for digging holes in!
ReplyDeleteMark - he's obviously been digging very hard hence the broken spade. Nice to be reminded of his pedigree and it seems right that he should finally takes his place in the ranks of the Guard!
ReplyDeleteMatt - yes, and I'm not sure that it is actually possible to dig a hole with a shouldered musket!
ReplyDeleteWell I'll be darned, I have two of the same sapper-with-a-shovel and they both have the same flaw.
ReplyDeleteYou've done an absolutely splendid job on these and the Marines, Ian. I can't wait to see the finished battalion.
Best regards
Matt B
WM - Mark reminded me that I also have two of these from an eBay purchase from him ten years ago but I can't find the second one anywhere!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant little characters Ian, and a great job on the shovel restoration.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee!
ReplyDeletePiece of genius, adding them to the marins. Mind, if we're going to start laughing at their helmets, where does that leave most of our heavy cavalry? I particularly like the notion of white gaiters for digging.
ReplyDeleteNigel - yes, I was glad to find a use for them. Obviously they will only be tasked with digging in sand not mud!
ReplyDeleteHaving engineers carry out so me such task as repair a bridge or block a road would be a simpke rule addition
ReplyDeleteMinor engineering task ...takes four engineers one move to accomplish.
Roy - good idea, problem is I only have 2 engineers!
ReplyDeleteRemind me of your address!
ReplyDeleteI have some spares but they will need implements repaired or added.