Wargames Foundry

25mm Napoleonic

by David Barnes

Wargames Foundry's 25mm new releases, Napoleonic Prussian Cavalry, 1813-15 Cuirassiers and Dragoons available from The Foundry Ltd., Hubert s Lane, off Doyle Road, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1RG, Channel Islands, GB

Napoleonics

First, the Napoleonics, 28mm models sculpted by Alan and Michael Perry. It's not often maybe that a reviewer is so taken by a release of figures that he/she immediately has to order some. This has happened to me. I have a Prussian Napoleonic army - so that makes a difference of course. Some of the units I have are by manufacturers long since vanished - but these figures make me want to start over again. Why? All sorts of reason; the modeling, facial features, the horses (in this case), the variety, the crisp casting, the detail, the proportion anyway I have spent some of my "hard saved" (I'm retired) actually buying horses too! Unheard of! I'll list the samples I have been sent, comment and draw some of them, not to scale.

Cuirassiers [Kuirassiers in German]

NPCav787 Officer. The huge helmet differentiates these troops from the dragoons and their squared horse blanket is different from the rounded one of the dragoons also. Sword down by his right leg. I have put him on NPH56 Cuirassiers horse walking.

NPCav788 Standard Bearer. A good flag staff well in proportion with a decorative finial. You supply the fly yourself. I've decided mine shall be the Brandenburg Cuirassier Regiment. The officers wore the blue leibrock (jacket) on campaign and the men the blue litewka with red facings. Saddle cloths red with yellow trimmings. cf p. 11, "Blucher's Army 1813-1815" by Peter Young, Men at Arms, Hippocrene Books, Inc., 1973.

NPCav789 Trumpeter. He comes with his trumpet arm and instrument cast to the "crossbar" between his feet. Clip off and glue in desired position. He has "swallows nests" on his shoulders and a sheathed straight bladed heavy cavalry sword at his left side.

NPCav790 Trooper, shouldered sword (6 variants). This example is looking 1/2 right across his sword blade. These small variations in pose are very effective.

Dragoons

NPCav792 Officer. Rallying or urging on his troopers with his sword in the air, full of life this pose. As an aside - with carbines these dragoons could be Volunteer Jagers - only squadron strength to the Brandenburg Cuirassiers. Green uniforms, gold lace - troopers litewka had a red collar but officers and (maybe) NCOs had cornflower blue collars and cuffs. Baron de la Motte Fouquet was an officer with these troops.

NPCav793 Standard Bearer. A good staff with decorated finial. Provide your own fly - they could be your own "Kutazoff Hedzoff' Dragoons (sorry Mr. Thackeray!). These dragoons are all in the litewka with oilskin covered shakos - very business like - and buttoned riding trousers.

NPCav794 Trumpeter. With separate arm and trumpet; pretty wide scope of position given you there. "Swallows nests" on the shoulders.

NPCav795 Trooper. Shouldered sword (6 variants). Solid looking citizen, my example looking slightly left.

Cavalry in feldinutze (soft round hat) One can use these either as Cuirassiers or Dragoons Cuirassiers had no cuirass BUT did have square horse blankets. Dragoons had rounded ones so specify which when ordering.

NPCav797 Trooper with shouldered sword.

NPCav798 Trooper charging (sword extended - straight arm).

NPCav799 Trooper charging bareheaded. Shouting, same arm position. Now some glorious horses.

NPH54 Cuirassier horse galloping. Front legs bunched, tail flowing, ears back. Great. All Cuirassier horses have squared horse blanket.

NPH55 Cuirassier horse cantering. Back legs on hoof tips. Again great modeling.

NPH56 Cuirassier horse walking. Heavy cavalry horses would more often walk and trot canter at the most - a gallop would be very short range and leave them vulnerable to fresh enemy cavalry. Good articulation on this model.

NPH57 Dragoon horse galloping. Head swinging slightly right. Front legs flung out, tail streaming. Petrified action.

NPH58 Dragoon horse walking. I'd say this was lope, or what our friends Vother side the Atlantic call a "running horse." A comfortable gait for the rider usually. I like this model best of all. Noble arched neck and flag-like tail carriage. And now to draw a few:

More Barnes' Reviews

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© Copyright 1998 Hal Thinglum
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