Napoleonics update

In order to make a dent in the lead pile and to make progress on the battle of Marengo project, I decided to get a couple of battalions professionally painted.  2 battalions of AB French and one of Austrians weer duly bagged up and dispatched to Battle Brush Studios here in Austria.  The figures were painted most excellently, and I'm very happy with them. As I have bought a good chunk of the Austrian forces for the scenario, maybe I will send some more over to get painted.

Anyway, here are the figures painted and initially based.  First is the 1st Battalion 47th Infantry Regiment from Austria with steel green facings.

Next is a battalion of French.  I had this one painted in generic colours so it can be used for any regiment really.   

I'll finish  the bases off later.  but many thanks to Battle Brush Studios for doing the hard work with the painting.  If you need a couple of battalions done I would certainly recommend getting him to do a few.  his website is here:  https://www.battlebrushstudios.com/

It was a great help getting someone else to paint a couple of battalions.  But I like painting myself so here is my latest work - a battalion of French for the 100 Days campaign.  This is the 2nd Battalion of the 93rd Regiment.  28mm figures this time and Perry plastics and metals rather than AB.

I just need a flag and then I am calling this unit done.  I have the 1st battalion of this regiment and the 3rd battalion of the 4th Light infantry on the painting table next.

Hobby update

So, it's been a long time since I did anything substantial on the blog - time to remedy that!

Games Played:
At the start of the year I took part in a great General De Brigade game refighting the Battle of Ligny (see previous post).  The same club is due to refight Quatre Bras in May so hopefully I'll get to play in that.  The Necromunda campaign I was in fizzled out during a break - my gang, the "Maniax" started badly, losing 2 gang members in the first game, followed by the leader "Vasko", two games later.  They never really recovered, and ended up near the bottom of the campaign table.  That said, it was a lot of fun and I really started to develop characters within the gang - Ganger "Syko" really started living up to his name, gaining the highest kill-count of the gang, while the Champion "Ko-Nan" stepped up to the plate and took over the leadership of the gang.  Hopefully  the campaign will start up again and I can take the "Maniax" to greater success.

The "Maniax" when the Campaign ended.  "Ko-Nan" took over from the deceased "Vasko", the gang was bulked out by two new Juves as well as "Fat Lars" a ganger reassigned by House Goliath from another gang.


And actually, the General De Brigade game and the 4 necromunda games I've played in 2019 is more games than I've played in the previous 5 years combined, so it's all good :)



Projects:
Projects are still ongoing, but slowly as ever.   In a vague effort to make progress on the Marengo project, I bit the bullet and paid to have 3 battalions painted by Battle Brush Studios (https://www.battlebrushstudios.com/) 2 battalions of French and one Austrian.  that should give me the impetus to start painting some more of my own.  the 1813 project is still ongoing, I have primed 2 battalions of Prussian Landwehr, just need to get the actual paint on!

I also was drawn back into 40K with the new Genestealer Cult army.  A box of brood brothers and neophyte acolytes have been purchased... as if I need another new project!  (oh and two Ambots for Necromunda!)

Finally, Chain of Command related projects.... I have started building an early war french force.  I also bought the "29! Lets go!" Campaign and the "At the Sharp End" campaign book.  The Necromunda campaign, for me, was fun in that you really got the sense of characters developing and a narrative forming,  as well as being more cautious with your forces than you would in a one off game. Having only played 2 Chain of Command games - solo - to test the rules, I've decided to jump in and do a campaign from the off. (more in the next post)

Prussian Landwehr

In yet a further effort to avoid doing anything for my Marengo 1800 project, here are some Prussian Landwehr.  This is the 2nd Battalion, East Prussian Landwehr in 1813.  Just need to finish the base and add a flag.

2 more battalions of the East Prussian Landwehr to do, followed by a battalion of the Neumark Landwehr.

Based for General de Brigade, so 4 x 8 figure bases.

back to Marengo

well its been a while - work and a long hot summer have kept me away from the paints. The weather here has been so warm the paint would dry on my brushes before reaching the figures!

Anyway it looks like autumn is around the corner so back to the painting it is - and back to the Marengo project which has been lacking some love recently.

so, a couple of Work in progress pics. This time a Battalion of French Guard

just command, basing and a stray figure in one company to do.

The Consular Guard fought at Marengo and the Scenario calls for 1 battalion. I think the Consular Guard were a mix of Grenadiers and Chasseurs but my battalion are just Grenadiers.

more pics when they are finished!

1st battalion 44th Demi-brigade WIP

Just a quick WIP update - 1st Battalion 44th Demi-brigade for Marengo.

I foolishly forgot to order some foot command for my two greatcoat wearing battalions! But the first is pretty much done now.

a full update once they're finished.

72nd Demi-brigade

Apologies for the delay in posting, work has kept me busy!

The 72nd Demi-Brigade for Marengo is now complete.

Here is the first Battalion advancing in column...

... and line

and the 2nd Battalion

The 72nd Demi-brigade was formed in 1796 from several volunteer battalions.  It fought at Zyper-Sluis and Bergen in 1799 and Turbigo, Montebello and Marengo in 1800. At Marengo the 72nd Demi Brigade was commanded by Chef-de-Brigade Mercier.

The 72nd Demi Brigade became the 72nd Infantry Regiment in 1803 and went on to fight in a number of major battles including; Friedland (1807), Eckmuhl, Essling and Wagram (1809), Smolensk and La Moskowa (1812), Leipzig (1813) and Waterloo (1815)

Brigade Commander Carra St. Cyr

The son of an Equerry, Claude Carra St-Cyr joined the army as a sous-lieutenant in 1774, aged 13.  He traveled to America with the French army to take part in the Revolutionary War, where he was promoted to Lieutenant. In 1784 he returned to France and then in 1785 he received a promotion to capitain.  Carra St. Cyr became an aide-de-camp to General Aubert-Dubayet, before being promoted to Chef De Battalion in March 1795, Chef De Brigade in June and General De Brigade in October. Carra St Cyr alsospent time in Turkey from 1796-1798, where he was French Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.  In 1799 Carra St. Cyr joined the Army of Italy where he was wounded in fighting during that year. In 1800 he was given command of a brigade in Monnier's division in the Army of the Reserve, and took part in the Battle of Marengo.  

Following Marengo Carra St. Cyr stayed with the Army of Italy, fighting the Austrians at Arezzo and then at Pozzolo. In 1800 he was promoted to général de division and given command of the 2nd Division at the camp of Bayonne. In 1805 Carra St. Cyr took command of the coast of Gravelines and in 1806 he became governor of Magdebourg. In February of 1807 he took command of the 2nd Division of Marshal Soult's  IV Corps. He fought at Aspern-Essling in 1809 and on the Ems River in 1813.

After Napoleon's abdication in April of 1814, Carra St. Cyr became a count and Knight of St. Louis. Following Napoleon's escape from Elba, Carra St Cyr did not actively take part during the Hundred Days in 1815.

French Reinforcements for Marengo

Well some reinforcements for the french forces at Marengo.

first some greatcoated french to form a third battalion. I'm pretty sure there were no troops wearing greatcoats at the battle....but it does provide a quick way to get troops painted up. A half battalion done with the other half just needed to be based

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Some greatcoated skirmishers.

And finally a General de Brigade

I think french horse leather was black...but as he's a brigade general I'm giving him some leeway.

Generic French infantry battalion for Marengo

so onto the Napoleonics.  My plan is to do the Marengo scenarios in the "General de Brigade" scenario book.  Here is my first attempt at a Revolutionary Era french battalion. They are ok, but I rushed it a bit so I'm not too happy with them.

And a work in progress shot of the second battalion