I ended up making a few adjustments to the way I’d painted the original three after re-reading the Hinton Hunt painting instructions and looking at a few uniform illustrations on the internet. I’m fairly happy with the overall look now and have completed a further nine figures taking me to the halfway point for this unit.
It turns out that the Marins were not actually officially part of the Imperial Guard however at Waterloo they were deployed in their support, although only in Company strength. In my army they will be at full battalion strength and may even possess an eagle which seems fair to me even if not strictly speaking historical.
I think I gave my sailors an eagle. Don't they have to have one to lose at Bailen?
ReplyDeleteVery nice - I can't pick out the original figures did you repaint them? Is there a reason you're concentrating on the Garde, I know they're pretty with all that lace and what-not but what is that shade of lipstick? Still a full battalion of Marines of the Garde is a 'good thing' - it might encourage others to paint some Spanish so the Marines can be annihilated at another Bailén.
ReplyDeleteRoy - not sure about that but they didn't carry one at Waterloo.
ReplyDeleteRob - the front three varnished ones are the originals and yes I did re-paint a few details. One of the reasons I want to complete the Guard is that a have a unit of marching Grenadiers that I acquired 10 years ago and I really think it's time they were painted!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many of the marines at Waterloo had also been present at Trafalgar.
ReplyDeleteA Spaniard, Don Miguel Ricardo de Álava y Esquivel, was with Wellington at Waterloo and fought against Nelson at Trafalgar.
He would be an interesting character to add to your British army.
Mark - an interesting idea!
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely uniforms for Marines! I can fully understand why you plan a full Battalion, they certainly deserve an Eagle for being so smart. Great painting Ian.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee,They'll have a drummer too and a couple of unexpected additions - more on that in my next post.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful uniform... you should have as many as you want....
ReplyDeleteAll the best. Aly
Thanks Aly!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering when you'd get round to these, Ian. They're looking magnificent.
ReplyDeleteBest regards
WM
https://www.napoleon-series.org/military/battles/Bailen/c_bailentrophies.html
ReplyDeleteHas the Marins eagle left at the Tuileries and so not one of those taken at Bailen.
Still entitles them to coose to have an eagle on the table!
A very smart uniform and just what is needed to take on those British sailors!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments chaps!
ReplyDeleteI do like the look of these!
ReplyDeleteRoss, yes they have a very jaunty style much more navy than army!
ReplyDelete"Not actually officially part of the Garde"? That nice Major Lachouque says that the Marins de la Garde unit originated in a five-crew "battalion" in the consular guard in 1803, and a company went with the Man to Elba. I had them higher up the list than the Middle or the Young Guard. I understand they were paid as cavalry of the Guard. Why am I so obsessed with defending my brigade of Marins? Must be the amarinthe piping............
ReplyDeleteNigel, relax, what I meant to say was "not part of the Old Guard"!
ReplyDeletePhew, I shall return quietly to mixing shades of amarinthe.........
ReplyDeleteThese are looking very nice indeed, look forward to seeing complete.
ReplyDeletePaul
Hagen do a rather lovely command set for the Marins including officer, eagle bearer, drummer and bell ringer (?) and also a mounted officer, who looks a lot like Sid James. I suspect they are too big to match up well with the HHs though.
ReplyDeleteThanks Clive - I go have a drummer and eagle bearer of sorts although the bell ringer sounds like a must!
ReplyDelete