Not content with all the other things that I am already procrastinating over, I went and started a totally new 'pocket project'. This time it is the 1870-71 conflict between Germany and France rather inaccurately known as the Franco-Prussian War.
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| The 8th Regiment - Brandenburgers to a man. |
These Prussians are Rank and File 15mm. I bought them at the beginning of 2013 when I was at Cancon. They were on special and I had a vague idea that I'd quite like to use them for something. Of course, I never did, until I stumbled across them in the spare figures box. I'd looked at the Franco-Prussian War several times in the past but decided that I didn't like the rules I had, and the armies looked like too big an investment. That was turned on its head by One Hour Wargames. I worked out what I needed to complete the Prussian army and a French army and prepared an order for Allan at
Lancashire Games. The figures are a pretty good match in terms of size, and I now have everything that I need for my Franco-Prussian pocket project.
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| How they appear on the table - in extended line |
The Franco-Prussian War has always been one of my favourite periods. I remember a conversation years ago with my wargaming buddy Tim where I said to him that I found Napoleon III more interesting than Napoleon I. His reply was ' Only because he cocked everything up!'. To a ceratin extent yes, but it also has a lot to do with the aesthetic - baggy red trousers and picklehaubes - can't go wrong! And of course, as I was obsessed with WWI, the Franco-Prussian War loomed large in the background to that conflict.
As I painted these chaps up I have to admit to a feeling of attachment. It is hard to describe the exact nature of the connection, but it is entirely possible that people in the real regiment were related to me. My family history on at least one side traces back to Brandenburg, at least as far as I can go with it, and I have to admit to having a certain amount of pride in possessing Prussian heritage. At any rate, I've decided that I'm basing my brigade on Alvensleben's III Corps, Stulpnagel's division. These are the Brandenburg Leib-Grenadier regiment. I'm not too sure if they should have any distinctive lace anywhere, maybe someone can tell me. Up next on the painting tray are the 5th Brandenburg IR48.
Nate
The Rank and File Prussians look to be good sculpts to me.
ReplyDeleteEasy to paint - they actually remind of Lancashire Games figures. The jackboots could be a bit higher, but I'm not going to quibble over that.
DeleteGood work Nate. Franco-Prussian is an all time favourite of mine ad I have reasonable collections of both Frebch and Prussians in 28mm. In fact one of the games we will play at Tarawera next month will be FPW.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark. I've sent an e-mail.
DeleteNate, I consulted my references and there is no significant differences for the grenadier regiments, other than all three battalions had white belts (as opposed to the musketeer regiments where the third - or fusilier - battalion had black belts). The only lace differences were with the guards regiments.
DeleteBTW no email arrived. Just to confirm the address mark dot g dot strachan at me dot com.
Thanks for the info Mark. I may yet put a couple of guard units together.
DeleteLovely work on these guys Nate. I guess it makes it all rather more interesting when you have family involved!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rodger. I certainly feel more connected, rightly or wrongly.
DeleteThey look great, very nice paint job, an interesting period to play with beautiful uniforms...
ReplyDeleteCheers Phil. It is a bit strange to be a Prussophile and a Francophile at the same time - have they ever got along?
DeleteI got turned on to the War about 35 years ago, after my older sister gave me two huge framed lithographs, supposedly once owned by Vincent Price (?!). I fell in love with the look of the uniforms, even though the lithographs were of course not in color!
ReplyDeleteChris
It is a pretty era. I wonder if Vincent Price was a wargamer?
DeleteTerrifically painted figures. I quite like the painted backdrop as well.
ReplyDeleteCheers Michael. That backdrop has done me a few years now, but on close inspection it looks like it could do with a bit of a touch up. When I do the Napoleon in Egypt project I'm going to have to paint up a desert one too.
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