I have a long-standing attraction to small-scale plastic soldiers. This strange affair began thirty years ago when my father purchased an Airfix battle set for me. Somewhere in the back of my mind I have been preparing for a Waterloo Campaign ever since.
In preparation for this long anticipated Waterloo game, I prepared an overview of French Napoleonic sets that are currently on the market. In the highlights I provide my opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of each. The objective I have set for these overviews is to show how each set fits into the French order of battle. With Hal's indulgence I will also provide some observations on the figure sets.
The Guard - Command and Staff
French Imperial Staff - Italeri 6016 - The set includes Napoleon, his Mameluke aide, Chasseurs ~ Cheval and a number of mounted and dismounted officers suitable for corps or division command stands.
Guard Cavaly - Grenadiers 6 Cheval - Hat 8013 - Hat's cavalry sets share a common shortcoming. Hit cavalry sets contain twelve figures in four poses. The set also can be used for pre-Cuirassier Carabiniers. No musician or dedicated officer is present; however, the later can be evoked with a proper paint job.
Polish Lancers- Esci - Shortly after completing my first year of college, I saw this set in a local hobby store and my interest in toy soldiers was rekindled. Nearly twenty years later they are still great figures. The figures are quite complicated. The lances have ring hands for the lances. The set includes a great trumpeter. The only drawback to the set is that the horses have peg bases. They can easily be converted to the Dutch (Red) Lancers with a simple paint job.
Mamelukes - Hat 8001 - This was Hat's first set. You do not need many of these figures as the unit never exceeded squadron size. These troops were not reformed in time to participate in the Waterloo Campaign. I still plan on fielding the unit because I anticipate using the army for battles from 1812 through 1814. Colorful uniforms and beautiful castings make these a must buy.
Chasseurs A Cheval - Revell 02576 - Revell stopped producing their Napoleonic line. Pick them up while you can still find them. They are well sculpted and have a great deal of variety. Specialty figures include a trumpeter, an officer, and a dismounted figure. I will also use some of the figures for officer types with the line Chasseurs.
Guard Infantry
Grenadiers of the Guard Airfix, ESCI 214 and Revell 02570 - The Grenadiers were one of the last sets Airfix introduced. Though this Airfix set was one of the best overall, the figures appear too short to me. The set includes eagle bearer, drummer and a porte-aigle (a halberd bearer who protected the eagle bearer). It is also the only Napoleonic set that has not been re-released under license. The ESCI set has every bit of the stature that the Airfix set lacks. They appear to be sculpted by the same artist as the ESCI and Italeri Line sets so will mix well. The set includes a drummer, a pioneer , two officer types and a standard bearer. The Revell's set however, is my personal choice. The troops are in campaign dress. The set includes both mounted and dismounted officers in fore and aft hats, pioneer, and a drummer. Pick this set up while you can.
Young Guard - Hat 8034 - These troops, wearing overcoats and a single cross belt, accurately portray the junior partners to the Old Guard. They will find their way into my Line formations as well. While they lack musicians and flag bearers, they have a ring hand figure along with a choice of flag, musket or drum.
Guard Artillery
Foot Guard - ESCI 234 - Each set allows you to field four guns with a choice of barrels enabling you to field twelve-pound cannon or Howitzer's. These troops are another old favorite of mine. The only drawback is that there are only four poses and you will probably want to limit the officer to one per battery.
Horse Artillery - Italeri 6018 - The uniforms are the selling point with the Hussar style dress. I have been waiting for troops in this uniform since I started purchasing figures again. Though they are packaged as line/guard the figures are wearing guard uniforms. The set includes limber and riders but only two guns are provided per package.
Troops of the Line Line Cavalry
Hussars - Italeri 6008 - These figures are intended for the 1806 period but will certainly work for select units of late-war hussars. They wear the pelisse and have their hair braided on the sides. The set includes an officer figure as well as a trumpeter.
Chasseurs A Cheval - Hat 8029 - The Chasseurs were the most numerous light cavalry. While they spent much of their time scouting and performing screening missions, they did see some battlefield action as well. These troopers regarded themselves as the elite of the cavalry.
Lancer - Hat 8011 - Converted from dragoons and armed with a lance these troops were heavily engaged in the 100-Days Campaign. See the Hit web site for some beautifully painted examples. As with all Hit mounted sets, there are only four poses. These troops have ring hands and a sword will quickly convert one of these troops to an officer.
Dragoons Hat 8009, Italeri 6015 - In my opinion, the great variety of figures makes the Italeri Dragoons superior. The set includes standard bearer, trumpeter and officer figures. There is nothing wrong with the Hit figures, the Italeri set simply offers greater variety and more figures for the price.
Cuirassiers- Airfix (Accurate ACF 7212), ESCI 235, Call to Arms - I plan to use the ESCI set despite the set's few inherent limitations. The set does not have an officer musician or standard bearer. The horses seem small for heavy cavalry and, of course, have the ESCI peg leg base. Sets include one dismounted figure. The Airfix set had all of the figures that the ESCI set lacks. However, as previously noted, these figures have always looked undersized to me (being smaller than the Airfix British Hussars). In their favor, the ESCI poses are dynamic and easy to paint. The Airfix molded-pin style base is notoriously hard with which to work. Set includes one each dismounted figure and casualty figure The Call to Arms set is nicely sculpted, however, like Hit's, there are only twelve models with four variants. This would not seem so odd were it not for the fact that they are the most expensive set on the market. On the positive side they offer the only horse with a molded base.
Carabiniers - Italeri 6003, Call to Arms - The Italeri set are top of the line. Regrettably there are only two of these regiments in the French order of Battle. Set includes both an Officer and trumpeter. The Call to Arms set is one of the newest on the market and has the same positive and negative points as the Cuirassier.
Line Infantry
Line Infantry Airfix (Hat 7008), ESCI 227, Italeri 6002, Fusiliers Hit 8041 and Light Infantry - Hit 8042 - I plan to mix parts of all of these sets simply because over the years I have stockpiled numerous sets of each. My favorites are the new Hit sets. These two sets are in campaign uniform, read long pants. They both include officer figures. A Fanion bearer is included in the Light Infantry set. A Ring hand figures in the Fusilier set offer the option of making musicians and flag bearers. A musket and pole arm is provided. The Airfix sets have been around the longest and have held up well. The set includes a mounted officer, trumpeter, drummer and standard bearer. Also included are casualties what most of us refer to as trash figures. As mentioned before the Italeri and ESCI sets share the same sculptor. This offers an opportunity to mix the two. Both have drummers, officers and standard bearers. The Italeri set has a larger number of the specialty figures with two each of two officers, a drummer and standard bearer.
Artillery
Foot Artillery Airfix (Accurate ACF 7213) - These figures continue to stand up well. You will want to substitute the ESCI gun carriage for the ones provided. It has a twohorse limber that you will probably want to place in the scrap box. The figure intended to lead the horses is great for use in the train as a packhorse handler.
Horse Artillery - Hat 8039 - This is another welcome set. It includes four guns with two variants on each of four crewmen.
Trains Napoleonic War Accessories (Wagon) - Italeri 6018 - This set appears to be aimed at diorama builders. The wagon should be useful if I can figure out how to assemble it and keep it together. Other figures include a group of figures gathered around a campfire some of which can be used as morale markers.
Conversions Some missing troop types can be easily converted. Guard Chasseurs Pied were mainly distinguished from the Grenadiers by the lack of shako plate. Guards de Elite can be converted by substituting the heads of the Hat Grenadier 6 Cheval with an ESCI artilleryman's head. Many others require a simple paint conversion.
Units Not Presently Available Some units do not lend themselves to conversion. Units that are not available at this time for Guard Figures include Engineers, Marines, Guides, Chasseurs ~ Pied and Scout Lancers. For the 1812-14 period, Tartars and Guardes d' Honneur would be nice additions. For Line foot figures the main troop type missing is the Marine Infantry. For Line Cavalry the main missing unit is a late war Hussar in cylindrical shako. Some of these can be purchased from the lead lines that are available others we will just have to wait on.
Fielding an Army for Waterloo in 20/22mm Plastic
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© Copyright 2002 Hal Thinglum
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