Well, just as a quick update, I did cave, and the so other day this fellow arrived from Modeller's Loft in the UK:
http://www.onlinedid.com/products/napoleonic/80051/
All I can say is: wow! It's been a couple of years now since I've dabbled in 1:6 collecting, and back then it was principally the modern and World War Two figures from Dragon - but seemingly in my absence, this side of the military miniature hobby has really come on in leaps and bounds. The quality and detail on this figure just has to be seen to be believed.
In the box comes every item of uniform and equipment needed to represent a typical French infantryman from the later Napoleonic period - in this case, a grenadier private from the 45eme Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (any good student of Napoleonic history will recognise the 45eme as being the French regiment whose principal, dubious , claim to fame was losing its Eagle at Waterloo - it was the standard of this regiment that Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys captured during the charge of the British Heavy Cavalry).
The figure is clearly intended to represent a soldier from the later stage of the conflict, probably from 1812 on, as our private is wearing the short tailed “Bardin” model of infantry tunic, and the 1812 issue grenadier shako – which notably comes with all its accoutrements, shako plate, tassels, red pom-pom, etc. Given that this pattern of uniform didn’t start to be issued to any kind of sizeable extent until after the conclusion of the Russian Campaign, and as the 45eme’s most well known action occurred at Waterloo, it’s probably a safe bet to assume that the manufacturer’s intention is to depict an infantryman from the Hundred Days campaign, although the regiment did participate in the German campaign in 1813, and also in some of the fighting against the Duke of Wellington’s Peninsular army in Southern France in 1814.
A highlight feature of this figure is the fact that, wherever possible, real material has been used in the fabrication of his equipment and uniform. So in other words, his Charleville musket, bayonet, and short sword are all constructed from real metal and wood, and a very realistic leather-like material has been used for his shoes and cross belts, etc. All of this lends a very pleasingly realistic feel and appearance to the model. The makers have even gone to the trouble of including imitation canvas shako and cartridge box covers, as well as a greatcoat, for those wishing to depict a more ragged, “campaign” type figure.
As seems to be a commonality with Dragon in Dreams figures, there are one or two minor, but avoidable mistakes. Chief amongst these is probably the figure’s cross belts – although issued with two, as is accurate for a member of a French grenadier company, the bayonet scabbard has been placed on the right belt, instead of on the left where it should hang alongside the
sabre briquette – the short sword issued to elite French infantry units like grenadier and
voltigeur companies. Some other online contributors have pointed out that the collar on the figure’s tunic should be higher, and should close fully across the neck. I’ve also come across some criticism directed at the figure’s head sculpt – specifically that it looks a little bit too young, and should have a full, bristly moustache, as was the norm for French infantrymen. This is something however that I would personally disagree with – given that this figure is intended to represent at minimum, a French soldier from the latter part of the Napoleonic Wars, or later at Waterloo, it’s probably quite realistic to show a youthful, less experienced conscript – after all, by this stage in the conflict, the French were really scraping the bottom of the barrel recruitment wise. As an important side note, whilst not exactly a criticism – one would have to wonder why exactly the makers decided to use the name “Frank” for a typical French infantryman – it’s possibly one of the most Anglo-Saxon names I’ve ever heard of!
“Kit-bashing” or modification of these figures is definitely not my thing (this guy isn’t being touched!) it certainly is for a lot of mainstream 1:6 collectors, and for the modeller, this figure would appear to offer a huge amount of potential. At minimum, weathering the uniform and making some additions like a canvas or leather shako cover, and looser wool or cotton trousers, would produce a much more “raw” figure – perfect for depicting an infantryman actively on campaign. For the more ambitious, some reworking and redesigning of the figure could produce a
voltigeur, or a regular line fusilier.
Although I’m not quite sure if this figure will herald a full scale resurgence of my interest in 1:6, I’m nonetheless extremely impressed, and very pleased with the latest addition to my Napoleonic ranks. While the rational side of me screams out that I’m already collecting far too many different lines as it is, I will admit to being very tempted by “Private Williams” – the newly released Zulu War British infantryman from the same company. And of course, it would be quite unfair to leave my French grenadier without any opposition – so that will have to be remedied in due course by the addition of the 95th Rifleman from the same series!
Anyway, that’s enough from me. Hope this is of some use for any fellow Napoleonic enthusiasts out there on the forum who are tempted!
Cheers,
Molloy.
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