Waterloo and Plancenoit Diorama (3 Viewers)

[7th OVI]

I thought I would give an update on my next diorama. I am doing a diorama on a portion of the battle of Waterloo, specifically the action around Plancenoit involving the old guard. I have never done a diorama on the Napoleonic Wars even though I have a deep interest in that time period. So, this will be a first for me. I am still researching the story and diorama so it will not be ready soon. Here are a few images of the figures that I will be using. I will primarily be using WB Imperial Guard and First Legion Polish Lancer figures this time. There will be about 140 figures in the diorama. I will also be using some of WB's terrain pieces and creating a few from scratch. I will post updates as time goes on. I attached a few images of the figures that will be using. Wish me luck with this one. Thx Chris

 

[Horus]

Looking forward to this Chris

 

[BHogan]

Great collection of figures! Looking forward to seeing the finished diorama.

Brendan

 

[mestell]

This will be an interesting project to follow Chris. I look forward to your next installment.
Mike

 

[Warrior]

I thought I would give an update on my next diorama. I am doing a diorama on a portion of the battle of Waterloo, specifically the action around Plancenoit involving the old guard. I have never done a diorama on the Napoleonic Wars even though I have a deep interest in that time period. So, this will be a first for me. I am still researching the story and diorama so it will not be ready soon. Here are a few images of the figures that I will be using. I will primarily be using WB Imperial Guard and First Legion Polish Lancer figures this time. There will be about 140 figures in the diorama. I will also be using some of WB's terrain pieces and creating a few from scratch. I will post updates as time goes on. I attached a few images of the figures that will be using. Wish me luck with this one. Thx Chris

Chris,
Good for you, I'm sure your mega talents will shine through on this project, this is right in my wheelhouse, Plancenoit at Waterloo was literally a battle within a battle.

Napoeleon sent his young guard in to defend the town, he later committed part of his Imperial Guard Grenadier reserve to try to hold onto the town/protect his right flank/almost his rear, the fighting was house to house, garden to garden, it centered around a massive church in the middle of the town, it was walled and had a cemetery as well.

There are loads of maps and images on the internet to assist you as well, wishing you all the best with this, really looking forward to this taking shape. At the wargaming convention I attended two weekends ago, there was a Plancenoit game, it was great and gives you a nice perspective of how the village was laid out,

 

[Louis Badolato]

You are off to an amazing start, Chris!

 

[7th OVI]

I appreciate all the kind words and especially the information that George provided. So far, I am still doing research about the battle for Plancenoit, tactics used by the French/Prussians and what figures are available to tell certain parts of the story. It has been a real learning experience. I was really fascinated with the French use of 3 ranks and how each rank was used. I purchased a few books to help my understanding and act as reference for future projects. I keep adding figures to the diorama and have looked at spitting it into 2 dioramas based on number of figures and where the units fought during the battle. I am having a hard time finding Young Guard figures and was wondering if the First Legion 45th figures would work? Right now, all the figures are French with a few First Legion Prussians mixed into the diorama. I have started on some of the buildings and other pieces of terrain. Hopefully WB will continue to expand the Napoleonic line with Waterloo period figures especially Prussians and more Imperial Guard. I attached a few images of the growing number of figures and organizing them ranks and files. Thx Chris

 

[Warrior]

I appreciate all the kind words and especially the information that George provided. So far, I am still doing research about the battle for Plancenoit, tactics used by the French/Prussians and what figures are available to tell certain parts of the story. It has been a real learning experience. I was really fascinated with the French use of 3 ranks and how each rank was used. I purchased a few books to help my understanding and act as reference for future projects. I keep adding figures to the diorama and have looked at spitting it into 2 dioramas based on number of figures and where the units fought during the battle. I am having a hard time finding Young Guard figures and was wondering if the First Legion 45th figures would work? Right now, all the figures are French with a few First Legion Prussians mixed into the diorama. I have started on some of the buildings and other pieces of terrain. Hopefully WB will continue to expand the Napoleonic line with Waterloo period figures especially Prussians and more Imperial Guard. I attached a few images of the growing number of figures and organizing them ranks and files. Thx Chris

Chris,
what books have you purchased to assist you with this, I'm always in for a good Napoleonic War book..........also, fear not, some French Guard artillery is on the way to bolster your defenses..................

The French turned the church and cemetery into a fortress, the fighting around it was particularly brutal.

 

[Mastercom10]

Chris,
what books have you purchased to assist you with this, I'm always in for a good Napoleonic War book..........also, fear not, some French Guard artillery is on the way to bolster your defenses..................

The French turned the church and cemetery into a fortress, the fighting around it was particularly brutal.

I have this book which is reliable and very well illustrated, but only in French.

 

[Mastercom10]

I appreciate all the kind words and especially the information that George provided. So far, I am still doing research about the battle for Plancenoit, tactics used by the French/Prussians and what figures are available to tell certain parts of the story. It has been a real learning experience. I was really fascinated with the French use of 3 ranks and how each rank was used. I purchased a few books to help my understanding and act as reference for future projects. I keep adding figures to the diorama and have looked at spitting it into 2 dioramas based on number of figures and where the units fought during the battle. I am having a hard time finding Young Guard figures and was wondering if the First Legion 45th figures would work? Right now, all the figures are French with a few First Legion Prussians mixed into the diorama. I have started on some of the buildings and other pieces of terrain. Hopefully WB will continue to expand the Napoleonic line with Waterloo period figures especially Prussians and more Imperial Guard. I attached a few images of the growing number of figures and organizing them ranks and files. Thx Chris

Very impressive diorama project !.

I also have a diorama project of Plancenoit, but with fewer figures: about twenty Silesian Landwehr (First Legion and Thomas Gunn) facing roughly the same number of French grenadiers of the Imperial Guard (King and Country, Team Miniatures, and William Britain).
Unfortunately, the First Legion Prussian Musketeers and French Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard are retired; they are now very difficult and very expensive to obtain.
I have attached some photos of the uniforms worn by the french Young Guard at that time so that you can compare them with the First Legion 45th line infantry (It's a shame that the casual look of these marching figurines doesn't really reflect the brutal fighting of Plancenoit).
On the other hand, in regard of the French cavalry, the Polish Guard Lancers did not fight at Plancenoit; there were only mounted chasseurs, line lancers and some hussars and cuirassiers.
Regarding these Polish Lancers, are the spears also bent on your models ? . For my part, all the spears are noticeably bent and it's impossible to straighten them because they break (unlike the now retired "red" Dutch Guard Lancers whose spears are made of a different, unbreakable material).
And finally, if you want to complete your troops at Plancenoit, the KronPrinz brand sells the following figurines which may be of interest:
- prussian musketeers, landwehr, Hussars and Dragoons.
- french Imperial Guard Grenadiers and Chasseurs à pied, and also Guard and line artillery.

 

[7th OVI]

Chris,
what books have you purchased to assist you with this, I'm always in for a good Napoleonic War book..........also, fear not, some French Guard artillery is on the way to bolster your defenses..................

The French turned the church and cemetery into a fortress, the fighting around it was particularly brutal.

Started with Chandler's book Waterloo:The 100 Days for an overview, then got the 1815 Waterloo Campaign:The German Victory by Hofschroer to get a Prussian point of view and then the Waterloo Companion for some details about the battle contained in a single volume. Starting with these while I make a list of more titles as I do the online research. Thx Chris

 

[7th OVI]

I have this book which is reliable and very well illustrated, but only in French.

Looks good, will add it to the list to get a copy. Appreciate the lead. Thx Chris

 

[7th OVI]

Very impressive diorama project !.

I also have a diorama project of Plancenoit, but with fewer figures: about twenty Silesian Landwehr (First Legion and Thomas Gunn) facing roughly the same number of French grenadiers of the Imperial Guard (King and Country, Team Miniatures, and William Britain).
Unfortunately, the First Legion Prussian Musketeers and French Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard are retired; they are now very difficult and very expensive to obtain.
I have attached some photos of the uniforms worn by the french Young Guard at that time so that you can compare them with the First Legion 45th line infantry (It's a shame that the casual look of these marching figurines doesn't really reflect the brutal fighting of Plancenoit).
On the other hand, in regard of the French cavalry, the Polish Guard Lancers did not fight at Plancenoit; there were only mounted chasseurs, line lancers and some hussars and cuirassiers.
Regarding these Polish Lancers, are the spears also bent on your models ? . For my part, all the spears are noticeably bent and it's impossible to straighten them because they break (unlike the now retired "red" Dutch Guard Lancers whose spears are made of a different, unbreakable material).
And finally, if you want to complete your troops at Plancenoit, the KronPrinz brand sells the following figurines which may be of interest:
- prussian musketeers, landwehr, Hussars and Dragoons.
- french Imperial Guard Grenadiers and Chasseurs à pied, and also Guard and line artillery.

Your diorama sounds great. I appreciate the images to use as a comparison and decided to wait to see if WB releases any new figures to use in the diorama. I did get some First Legion Guard artillery for the diorama and will use them in a future scenario. As far as the Polish Lancers, I appreciate the confirmation that they were not engaged at Plancenoit. I originally got confused on the 1st Lancer designation and whether the Polish lancers were within that command or somewhere else on the battlefield. I will need to complete some additional research on them before I use them in the Waterloo diorama, so the Polish Lancers are off the table and on their way back into the cases. As far as the lances on the First Legion Lancers, all of the ones I got were bent and about 80% of the lances broken in half. I ended up creating a fixture to re attach the lances and straighten them. I will take a look at the KronPrinz figures. Right now, the scope of this diorama will be on the Imperial Guard Grenadiers involved in the fight only. I am currently tracking their movements through the town and then out into the fields beyond before falling back into the town. Appreciate all the help. Thx Chris

 

[Mastercom10]

Your diorama sounds great. I appreciate the images to use as a comparison and decided to wait to see if WB releases any new figures to use in the diorama. I did get some First Legion Guard artillery for the diorama and will use them in a future scenario. As far as the Polish Lancers, I appreciate the confirmation that they were not engaged at Plancenoit. I originally got confused on the 1st Lancer designation and whether the Polish lancers were within that command or somewhere else on the battlefield. I will need to complete some additional research on them before I use them in the Waterloo diorama, so the Polish Lancers are off the table and on their way back into the cases. As far as the lances on the First Legion Lancers, all of the ones I got were bent and about 80% of the lances broken in half. I ended up creating a fixture to re attach the lances and straighten them. I will take a look at the KronPrinz figures. Right now, the scope of this diorama will be on the Imperial Guard Grenadiers involved in the fight only. I am currently tracking their movements through the town and then out into the fields beyond before falling back into the town. Appreciate all the help. Thx Chris

Chris,
Regarding the First Legion Guard artillery, the gunners are unfortunately in full dress uniform, which isn't very realistic on the Waterloo battlefield.
I've attached some pictures of the campaign dress worn at that time.
To complement your Prussian troops, I highly recommend the First Legion Silesian Landwehr which are very well done (IMHO they are part of the golden age of First Legion napoleonic !).
And you can currently buy them at a 30 % discount on their website.
I have also attached a photo of the sketch for my future diorama with some of the figures and the location of a "Plancenoit house" in which French grenadiers barricaded themselves to fire on the Prussians.
As soon as I have a little time, I plan to write a short summary of the different phases of the battle during the afternoon and evening.
(Only within the village, not the surrounding area).
I will also take the opportunity to try to list, as precisely as possible, all the French units that actually took part in this fierce fighting.

 

[Napoleon1er]

Mastercom--I hope you don't mind two questions:
1) Looking at your reference pictures and the FL artillery figures, the two differences I notice are that the FL figures have their gaiters over their trousers and have an additional decorative cord and plume on their bearskins. Is there something else I am missing?
2) Is that diorama with the church yours? What scale is it?

 

[Mastercom10]

Mastercom--I hope you don't mind two questions:
1) Looking at your reference pictures and the FL artillery figures, the two differences I notice are that the FL figures have their gaiters over their trousers and have an additional decorative cord and plume on their bearskins. Is there something else I am missing?
2) Is that diorama with the church yours? What scale is it?

No problem, you are welcome :
-1) Yes, these are the two main differences and I don't see any other since it would seem that these foot artillerymen of the guard kept the regulation long coat (and not the Bardin coat).
Of course, the overcoat that was very widely worn in Waterloo is also missing.
-2) This is not my diorama, just an image taken from internet.
My futur diorama is much more modest in size !.

 

[Warrior]

Mastercom--I hope you don't mind two questions:
1) Looking at your reference pictures and the FL artillery figures, the two differences I notice are that the FL figures have their gaiters over their trousers and have an additional decorative cord and plume on their bearskins. Is there something else I am missing?
2) Is that diorama with the church yours? What scale is it?

The diorama shown is part of a massive project underway by a modeler who plans on doing the entire Waterloo battle in 1/72nd scale, quite a project to say the least on his part.

 

[7th OVI]

Chris,
Regarding the First Legion Guard artillery, the gunners are unfortunately in full dress uniform, which isn't very realistic on the Waterloo battlefield.
I've attached some pictures of the campaign dress worn at that time.
To complement your Prussian troops, I highly recommend the First Legion Silesian Landwehr which are very well done (IMHO they are part of the golden age of First Legion napoleonic !).
And you can currently buy them at a 30 % discount on their website.
I have also attached a photo of the sketch for my future diorama with some of the figures and the location of a "Plancenoit house" in which French grenadiers barricaded themselves to fire on the Prussians.
As soon as I have a little time, I plan to write a short summary of the different phases of the battle during the afternoon and evening.
(Only within the village, not the surrounding area).
I will also take the opportunity to try to list, as precisely as possible, all the French units that actually took part in this fierce fighting.

Appreciate the information, so the Guard artillery crew is also off the table. I have looked at the First Legion Silesian Landwher infantry and I agree that they are a great representation of that style of uniform and the poses match the events at Plancenoit very well. The current discount is also a great benefit as well. However, when I mapped out the diorama they would be out of frame, so they are out of scope for the diorama. The sketch of your future diorama and the Plancenoit house looks great. I look forward to seeing it when you are done. Thx Chris

 

[7th OVI]

Here is the next update to the Plancenoit diorama, just like in the TV show Project Runway, "one day you're in and the next day you're out" spent most of the past week editing the diorama content which resulted in a number of the figures removed for various reasons. The current content will feature WB Imperial Guard Grenadiers. I also continued with the location being on the outskirts of Plancenoit. The location included a farm building which is a conversion of the WB Hougoumont facade into a complete farm building with a thatched roof. I decided to use a thatched roof rather than tile as it was an older outbuilding on the outskirts of town (artistic license). I have attached images of the building of the thatched roof using balsa wood, deconstructed paint brushes and embroidery thread. I took the brushes apart and salvaged the glued together bristles as thatch bundles. I used ultra-thin double-sided tape to attach the bristles to the balsa wood. I layered the bristle bunches to the roof line than added a binder made of thread on the top row in a geometric pattern showing signs of becoming loose due to the damage to the other side of the roof. To anchor the bristles, used clear Elmers Glue on the rows to insure they would stay in place. The bristles were then covered in a dark wash, then black/brown weathering pastel powder for aging with a dusting of green turf as moss on the lower part of the roof. Once complete, the roof was then coated in a glossy clear sealant to give it a wet look. I am still working on the partially destroyed side of the barn.

I also have 2 questions based the research so far on the action around Plancenoit and Waterloo in general.

1. In the research that I have done, the battalion of Old Guard Grenadiers sent to Plancenoit came from the 2nd Regiment which is very consistent. Where I get different opinions is on which battalion. I have seen reference to the 1st as well as the 2nd battalion, based on the research so far, I have concluded that it was the 2nd battalion. Is this correct?
2. I have seen a number of references to the wearing of overcoats by French combatants from secondary sources. I have not found any primary sources to support the wearing of overcoats in combat for the French army. I am not surprised as it does not seem to be a practical primary uniform option based on both accessibility and practicality for the month of June in Belgium for an invading fast moving Napoleonic French army with veteran soldiers (especially the Imperial Old Guard). I am looking for contemporary to the battle original source documents such as actual battle reports, battle uniform usage (payroll), soldier burial references and so on. Does anyone know where the overcoat reference come from?

Appreciate all the help. Let me know what you thin or if you have any questions. Thx Chris

 

[mestell]

Chris, the length at which you spend on your research, as well as the intricate and detailed assembly of your accessories, is very impressive. Following this thread has been very enjoyable.
Mike