Springtime in Paris (off Topic #41)

I've just returned from a week in Paris with Mrs S. This was the first time I've ever been unless you count Disneyland in the 90s with the kids (but I really don't think you can). I was very very impressed with the city possibly helped by the fact that the sun shone every day. I won't bore you with my holiday snaps other than I know you'd like to see the Napoleonic related ones!

Well blow me down with a feather if I didn't come across the great man's coat and hat at Fontainebleau. Nice satchel too!

And this was his austere camp bed.

While this is his bling real bed. I'd quite like steps to get up into my own bed these days.

Also at Fontainebleau (which incidently was much less busy than Versailles) is the room where he signed the abdication, although possibly not at that actual table.

Napoleon's tomb. I thought the whole site seem really uncared for, it was very dirty and dusty and generally had bad vibes - not what I was expecting.

I've always liked this picture so it was nice to see it for real - annoying that I was photobombed by an old git!

Franconi the circus rider - the original at the Louvre.

Another favourite picture of mine also on display at the Louvre - Napoleon at Eylau.

Would I ever go back - oui!

Some terrible painting

As promised, I've started work on a French infantry unit using the charging fusilier figure from the Hinton Hunt 1807-12 range. The first 'test figure' below is one of the ones Tony gave to me recently. The unit will represent the 57th Les Terribles because I just had to have a unit with that name.

FN/244 Fusilier (charging)

Stripping the old paint from the batch of figures turned into a right old chore. The ones Tony gave me were fine but the others I've used resisted the bleach soak. I eventually got them all cleaned up after two goes in a Dettol bath. I'm hoping to get the unit painted reasonably fast as I have cleared all distractions from the painting desk.

Austrian infantry done!

I finally got around to completing my 'last' Austrian unit that will represent the 36th Kinsky Regiment (because they have pink facings and I like the name). As I mentioned before, these are figures I've refurbished that were donated by US gamer Don W.

The infantry figure is AN/4 Musketeer, charging. Most of my work on these has been the lining of the straps, the very nice flag is original painting by Don.

I find refurbishing almost as time consuming as painting from scratch but I wanted to preserve as much of Don's original brushwork as possible.

This gives me a total of 12 infantry units for my Austrian forces which is way more than I ever expected to have. Next will be more French...

French reinforcements

Tony came over last Saturday and brought with him a box of Hinton Hunt goodies for me. These were mostly figures originally in the Eric Knowles collection that he felt he wouldn't be using himself. There's some really nice stuff including quite a few castings from the 1807-12 French infantry range that has got me thinking about rummaging through the rest of my stash and putting a unit or two together, something I've had in the back of my mind for a while.

The haul includes 3 x firing voltigeurs (a figure I'd never seen before) and 3 x air guitar voltigeurs - I have to find a use for these!

Tony didn't just come over to give me gifts but also to try his hand as Longstreet in another game of Fire & Fury - you can see how that went by clicking here.

First though I must complete that Austrian unit that has been waiting on the painting desk since before Christmas.

Mameluk Ali

So far this year I have painted a grand total of one Hinton Hunt figure which is something of a record I think. The figure is FN/307 Mameluk of the Guard on horse FNH/4. I only recently acquired this figure and have no intention of doing a full unit so I have painted him to represent Napoleon's faithful servant Mameluk Ali.

FN/307 Mameluk of the Guard

The horse is FNH/4 which is quite a rarity as it was made for the Mameluk figure only and features a high back to the saddle and some fancy horse furniture.

Ali was not actually a Mameluk at all but a French stableman Louis-Etienne Saint-Denis who Napoleon had promoted to valet and ordered to wear a Mameluk's dress. These days that would probably be considered cultural appropriation but in early nineteenth century France it was clearly perfectly acceptable.

Ali and his boss.

As I explained in my previous post, Hinton production has slowed due to my efforts to complete an old 15mm ACW project which (drum roll) I have now done. To celebrate, I forced Goya to don Confederate uniform once again for another Fire & Fury game.

A full battle report of the game has been posted over on my ACW blog (click here).

What, more Austrians?

Well yes. I know I said this year was the year of the Prussians but I just need to wrap up the Austrian forces with one more infantry unit. Years ago Roy said he thought the ideal army size was 8 infantry, 4 cavalry and 4 artillery but having zoomed past that mark I am settling on an army-and-a-half for the Habsburgs. The figures are more refurbished AN.4 Musketeer, charging originally in the collection of US gamer Don W.

These lads have pink facings and why not?

I'm not expecting production this year to reach the dizzying heights of last year as most of what I'll be painting will be done from scratch. I also have a few old wargaming projects that I want to finish off including my 15mm Fire & Fury stuff that may impact on Hinton painting. One other ambition is to spend more time actually playing games - we'll see how it goes.

Arm & Leg Cuirassiers and fighting Johnny Reb

A few weeks before Christmas there was a conversation in our house that went like this:

Mrs S "What do you want for Christmas?"

Me "Dunno"

Mrs S "Is there any Hinton Hunt you need?"

Me (thinking need? need? need?) "Well come to think of it, there are some Prussian Cuirassiers on eBay that I need"

Mrs S "Why don't you bid on them then?"

Me "Because they're rare and they'll go for a silly price and I'm not paying that!"

Mrs S "But why not bid a silly price if you want them?"

Me "Because it's a matter of principle, I'm a pensioner and I won't pay more than three quid for a cavalry figure"

Mrs S "But if you want them...."

Me "um, er... no I won't.. no... no..." ...CLICK

Costing an arm and leg, 12 x PN77 Prussian Cuirassier, lovely vintage castings, yes really, really lovely and so worth it honest...

Goya came over today to indulge me in a game of Fire & Fury with my 15mm ACW collection. Despite having had the ruleset for 30+ years I have only ever played one game using them and that was a multi-player game back in the 90s and frankly I had no idea what was going on.

I convinced Goya to take the role of James Longstreet as I have an aversion to playing the Confederates. The scenario was a simple encounter battle with the aim of taking possession of a vital road junction.

The Rebs are on the left whilst my own command (part of General Porter's V Corps) are on the right.

Goya moved first and we were both quite amazed at the speed of his 'foot cavalry' as they fair zoomed along the road towards the crossroads.

At the same time Anderson's division rolled forwards. The figures are mostly a mixture of AB and Old Glory but there are some Freikorps and even the odd Essex in there too.

I responded by sending the Iron Brigade forward in column but this proved to be a mistake.

General Porter surveys the scene from the top of the hill.

The Rebs however seemed to get the better of the fight with two of my five brigades 'Swept from the field'.

The Louisiana Tigers sweep up the hill towards General Porter uttering a fearfull Rebel Yell.

We both agreed that we really like the game system, particularly that the morale element is built into the combat mechanisms. I'm thinking we might give it a run out again.

Have a Happy New Year!