Napoleonics collectors; how did you get started/what attracted you to the period? (2 Viewers)

[Warrior]

With the recent postings of two spectacular Napoleonic dioramas depicting Waterloo and Borodino respectively, I thought I'd ask all of the Napoleonics collectors on the forum how they got started and what attracted them to the period?

For me, it all started when I saw the Russian version of War and Peace combined with the purchase of the Airfix ho/oo French artillery, French cavalry, Highland infantry and British cavalry. From there, seeing the cinematic release of Waterloo really made the period pop for me. I remember my interest in the period increasing as Airfix kept rolling out Napoleonic sets; British artillery, British Infantry, then the holy grail, French Infantry, then Imperial Guard and last but not least, Prussian Landwehr.

I also bought Military Modeller magazine just about every month at the hobby shop and they always seemed to feature terrific Napoleonic dioramas, plus in the Uk, Napoleonic wargaming in 20mm and 25mm was featured in the magazine as well. I was able to purchase some metal Napoleonic figures which I painted and as horrible as they came out, I still enjoyed them a great deal.

The color of it all, the huge, epic battles, the commanders, the amount of nationalities involved all seemed to appeal to me. The one war in history that saw heavy use of infantry, cavalry and artillery. Also, I was given the iconic Waterloo book with the Waterloo panorama insertions in it, it still remains one of my favorite books.

Aside from the figures and the history, I am a huge fan of Napoleonic artwork, I have dozens of Napoleonic artwork books and I love to look at them every chance I get.

As I got older, I read more and more about the period and to this day, Napoleonics are my favorite figures to collect. I've got over 10,000 20mm figures and I enjoy them very much and although my scale is not the chosen one for most collectors, I still enjoy seeing the larger scale displays as well, so thanks to everyone for sharing their collections on this forum.

Am curious to hear how others got started and what about the period appeals to them.

 

[Bessieres]

I collected the plastic soldiers as a child.. they used to come in Cereal boxes..

Then as an adolescent, I discovered Britain's and had several sets of Guards, Beefeaters, Bengal Lancers and Seaforth Highlanders.. they were all destroyed...

At 16, I discovered Polk's Hobbies on 5th Avenue in Manhattan and it opened up the world of Stadden and Mignot. I had never seen figures so detailed and so beautifully painted! I was attracted to the Napoleonics because after all, that was the high point of military fashion. I also happened to buy a Battle of Waterloo board game around that time and it cemented my interest. I also painted a few Staddens and Imrie Risley figures.

I don't have many figures as I only add 2 or 3 every few years or decade . But some go back 54 years and have tremendous sentimental value to me. The British Horse Artillery Officer figure below was the first Napoleonic I bought at Polk's..

 

[Obee]

Likewise, I also was attracted to the Napoleonic Era when in 1969 AIRFIX brought out their 1/72 scale figures from this period.

I loved the colourful uniforms and that's what really drew me to this era because I was ( and still am) firstly a painter, and collector as a natural consequence.

In the early 1970's AIRFIX then released the 1/32 scale soft plastic Napoleonic figures, and I was in 7th heaven, with a cheap supply of the troops I loved to paint.
I couldn't afford metal kits, but did obtain some HISTOREX and AIRFIX kits to supplement my 1/32 plastics.
I also purchased a number of reference books to help with the various colours of the different armies and I was happy.

But ....... I was also working, buying cars, going to pubs, chasing women etc. and so my Napoleonic army was mothballed, along with my book at my Mum's home, and so stayed there for the next 25 year, safe and sound.

Later on, in middle age, and after catching woman, (or she caught me? ) establishing a home raising kids, and setting up a workshop, I thought I needed a hobby!
I am a cartographer by profession and all my training was done with hand lettering and water paint on linen back paper to draw maps, but it had all changes to computers, and after 8 hours a day in front of a CAD screen, moving a finger on a mouse, I longed for some hands on stress free time to keep my old skills going.

I saw an article in a local paper about Big Boys Toys and one of the items was toy soldiers, which I loved as a kid.
I made contact and found the whole new world of metal castings and I was gain drawn to NAPS, but started on some 1/32 AIRFIX that had been in storage for 40 year... I didn't know if I could see the details, whether I had the shakes, but had a go, and found I was just as good as before and so stated my reawakening to toy soldiers based on the NAPOLEONIC Era.

Here are some of those:

With the coming of the internet, I established a website showing off my painting, and 20 years later, its still going strong and you can check out all the painting I have done, both form my collection and others worldwide.

Toy Soldiers On-Line Gallery http://members.upnaway.com/~obees/soldiers/

And here's some of the latest:

Gordon Highlanders by Tradition

French Cavalry by Rose Miniatures

That's what had got me started and attracted to this period, kept me going for the past 45 years !!!!

John

 

[The Military Workshop]

My Dad was in the British army and I inherited my interest in military / history from him. Grew up with military and uniform books in the house and going to Regimental, Imperial and British Army Museums etc. When he was based in Germany I remember him buying post card sets and calenders with Napoleonic era uniforms. Can still remember him buying 4 very nice porcelain Nap figures which he still has.

Does anybody remember a particular Nap postcard set ? I think there were 144 in the series and covered various countries.

When living in England I remember collecting some famous British battle images / plastic medals which came when buying petrol.

Grew up playing, Campaign, Risk and Combat (approved by LTGEN Horrocks).

Like others played with the plastics (Airfix and Timpo) from Ancients, Robin Hood, Cavalry v Indians, Naps, ACW, WWI and WW2 and many more. Still have most of them.

However Naps always been my favourite for the uniforms and as George mentioned the personalities. Naturally a big fan of Wellington but as far as enemy leaders go Napoleon is one you can admire as well. Seems he won in a way as the period is named after him. Imagine saying "I collect Wellingtonics{sm4}"

Just imagine if the ACW armies had followed the British and French for their uniforms{sm3}

Also quite partial to Crimean War which are similar type uniforms.

To quote another forum member "Naps Rule":salute::

 

[larso]

"Imagine saying "I collect Wellingtonics"

No, that wouldn't do at all! I see a perfume brand called Napoleon around, it sounds classy. Wellington boots however....

 

[Warrior]

Likewise, I also was attracted to the Napoleonic Era when in 1969 AIRFIX brought out their 1/72 scale figures from this period.

In the early 1970's AIRFIX then released the 1/32 scale soft plastic Napoleonic figures, and I was in 7th heaven, with a cheap supply of the troops I loved to paint.
I couldn't afford metal kits, but did obtain some HISTOREX and AIRFIX kits to supplement my 1/32 plastics.
I also purchased a number of reference books to help with the various colours of the different armies and I was happy.


I made contact and found the whole new world of metal castings and I was gain drawn to NAPS, but started on some 1/32 AIRFIX that had been in storage for 40 year...
That's what had got me started and attracted to this period, kept me going for the past 45 years !!!!

John

John,
When I got back into the hobby in the mid 90's, those Airfix soft plastic figures were going for a kings ransom on the secondary market, 60.00 US a box, 2.00 a figure as crazy as that sounds.

The ho/oo Prussians were going for 30.00 a box, glad I bought loads of them in my youth as that's nuts.

The reference books attract me also, love books illustrating Napoleonic uniforms, I've got just about all of them ever published...............love the period, glad you do as well.......................

 

[BHogan]

For me, it was a visit to Fort Henry in Kingston about ten years ago. Although the fort recreates the British army in the 1860s, they sold figures from the War of 1812 in the gift shop. I've always been fascinated by the War of 1812 and by extension the Napoleonic Wars. I also thoroughly enjoy the Sharpe & Hornblower series. I went on-line and bought a few Del Prado figures and my collection took off from there. To date, I have ~200 K&C Napoleonic, ~25 Del Prado, and a few TGM figures. Unfortunately, the low value of the Canadian dollar has put the brakes on my collecting. I guess I should take advantage of the lull to get painting the ~200 Napoleonic plastic figures and metal castings I have laying around!

Cheers,

Brendan

 

[Grognard]

I was born and grew up in France and Napoléon is a huge part of our history. He is the one who transitioned France from royal power and management to the modern France. Most of his administrative reforms and laws are indeed still governing France in some way and influenced other countries' rules of law. That era also produced the most colorful and diverse uniforms IMHO.

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Guys....
I have a truck load of Airfix ho/oo NAPS and Crimean War sets, artillery, cavalry and infantry......send me a pv and we can work a shipment over:salute:::salute::
My 1:32 I have passed over to my eldest son but I can reposses them if needed
Cheers
Luiz

John,
When I got back into the hobby in the mid 90's, those Airfix soft plastic figures were going for a kings ransom on the secondary market, 60.00 US a box, 2.00 a figure as crazy as that sounds.

The ho/oo Prussians were going for 30.00 a box, glad I bought loads of them in my youth as that's nuts.

The reference books attract me also, love books illustrating Napoleonic uniforms, I've got just about all of them ever published...............love the period, glad you do as well.......................

 

[Artillery_crazy]

My Dad was in the Army..and since very early exposed all Military to my brother and I...While we went on to become Army Officers{sm3}I inherited my Dad´s interest in military / history while my brother did not{sm4}{sm4}. We are both in the private sector now and happy for the early exposure to all things Military and the 1:1 scale guns and the likes then. It gave us a special meaning to the collecting and historical facts as well as trips to museums and period sites....Not sure why Obama and his likes make such a fuss on the matter...but that is topic for another hot thread
Like many of us read a lot of Action/Combat magazines played with the plastics (Airfix and Timpo) from Naps, ACW, WWI and WW2 on both scales 1:32 and HOO. Still have most of them.^&grin^&grin.....But NAPs have always held a special place due to the history around them and the colourful uniforms.....as well as my first indepth contact with all things related to artillery....
In my teens I would save all pocket money to buy either new Airfix sets or reference books.....
In high school had a sting to start assembling kits...WW2 ones so that took me away from NAPs....but that did not last more than a couple of years.....lots of dust and lack space took care of that...
Metal TS collecting kicked in when my Dad gave me the first W Britains Ceremonial sets...and that was the focus for many years...Now they are all moth balled waiting for a new owner... And that was when I realised that NAPs also existed in Metal format.....{eek3}
The actual "action NAPs TS Collecting" kicked in around 1985, then living in Stanford, CT and since then did not stop until 2009! Have to say that I still enjoy seeing postings from the NAPs period and the great dios that members post, but that segment in my collecting has not now stopped, British Colonial and WW1 - Artillery came in. The internet has kicked the collecting into high gear, Treefrog Forum a hyper boost .....Getting to know many people, trends and other manufacturers..made the collection grow to a total new level...
Cheers
A_C

 

[nysoldiers]

From what I can remember and what my parents told me my interest in toy soldiers started early....around 4 or 5 years old. From bags of little green men and silver knights to Marx sets (Prince Valiant, Robin Hood, Beau Geste, Zorro, Forth Apache, Johnny Tremain, The Alamo and The Blue and Gray) to painted Britains.
In the late 50's i think I received my first Napoleonic's, Timpo British, French and Prussians. These painted plastic figures had limited poses so you ended up with too many officers and flag men if you wanted to collect multiples. The cavalry had detachable riders so you could change horses for some diversity. Don't remember any early movies with Napoleonic battles but I vaguely remember reading about Waterloo.
I painted Imrie Risely Napoleonics in the 60's but took a hiatus from collecting until the late 70's. Probably Trophy and Tradition peeked my interest again in Napoleonic's in the early 80's.
I started to really study the history of The French Revolution through Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo and was fascinated by the uniforms and mass battles.
Because I enjoy setting up crowded battle dioramas I mostly collected glossy Napoleonic's which were more economical then the matt styles. Tradition, Trophy, Little Legion, ATS, Mulberry and Soldiers of the World crowded my shelves.
Later I added K&C, JJJD and TCS matt style Napoleonic's. I dabbled in First Legion's Napoleonic ranges and they are excellent but just a bit too expensive to build large dioramas.

Today ATS (Alexander Toy Soldiers) is my go to maker for the Napoleonic era. They cover most of the armies and regiments and will do custom work for only small premiums if at all.
I prefer glossy but they will do matt style as well.

JJD's entry into the Napoleonic era with the War in Spain has great potential but has been neglected lately. Also a Spanish company, Kronprinz, has a nice range but still has packaging issues.

 

[sapper]

I don't have the history or the knowledge that some of you guys have with collecting Napoleonics. My interest in the period has been fuelled by displays,paintings,and films.I find that a film such as Waterloo with it's massed infantry and cavalry scenes to be all inspiring.I would consider my collection to be moderate as far as collectors go.I will create a diorama one day but I won't do it until I consider it to be grand enough to show.Regards Greg.

 

[arnhem44mad]

I used to have a Cinema Club version of Jason and the Argonauts from the 1960s. On it were trailers for movies such as Waterloo with a narrative description of:

The Battle That In 10 Hours Changed The Course of European History.

The scenes with cannons firing, redcoats marching and cavalry charging stirred my imaginatiom and curiosity from the start!

Definetly the most colourful era!

Scott

 

[Fitzgibbon]

Like many, I grew from a childhood diet of Airfix and Monogram kits with late teens engagement with farming followed by a career in Air Traffic Control. Posted to a rural centre for two years, I cast around for a hobby. Having built the Airfix 1/12 Grenadier Guardsmen, I was introduced to Napoleonic Wargaming in a group with no French players...bizarre games with redcoat against redcoat. So I built a substantial French army and, along the way, learned a lot of history.
The colour, ceremony, the strategizing and political manoeuvring was inspirational. And of course I acquired some painting experience...I think one spends almost as much on paints and brushes as on those unpainted figures.
Kits became the outlet and uniform research maintained the interest in the Napoleonic era.
I chanced across this niche in the hobby just a few years ago. Despite the broad array of choice, I have maintained Napoleonic majority in my collection. What's not to love about those Hussars?

 

[blaster]

It was the terrific Airfix box artwork that really attracted me. Then my dad bought me two copies of the Funckens' Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars and I was hooked. Rgds Victor

 

[Warrior]

It was the terrific Airfix box artwork that really attracted me. Then my dad bought me two copies of the Funckens' Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars and I was hooked. Rgds Victor

This is a great point; the artwork on the Airfix boxes was second to none. The ho/oo box art really grabbed me as a kid. Also, the Funken books are a must have, they're in just about every Napoleonic collectors library that I know..................

 

[Martin Tabony]

Yes, Funcken but the first Napoleonic book I was bought as a thirteen year old was "Waterloo" by Commandant Henry Lachouque, packed full of pictures. Then Blandford publications "Uniforms at Waterloo". Oh this is wetting my appitite, I feel some Napoleonics coming on!

Martin

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Hi Martin,
Yes, Funcken ( Arms & Uniforms ) he would talk and draw it all.....a history/geography and strategy class all in one and Blandford Publications with volumes on weapons and uniforms......these are memorable childhood companions....still have them on my shelf....
Cheers
Luiz

Yes, Funcken but the first Napoleonic book I was bought as a thirteen year old was "Waterloo" by Commandant Henry Lachouque, packed full of pictures. Then Blandford publications "Uniforms at Waterloo". Oh this is wetting my appitite, I feel some Napoleonics coming on!

Martin

 

[Warrior]

but the first Napoleonic book I was bought as a thirteen year old was "Waterloo" by Commandant Henry Lachouque, packed full of pictures.

That's awesome; I bought it from Squadron mail order out of Texas, USA when I was 12. Back in those days, when you ordered from them, you filled out the return label in your own handwriting. When the postman rang the doorbell to my childhood home and I opened it, I recognized my handwriting on the Squadron label on the box and knew instantly what it was (and as anyone who's seen my handwriting will tell you, it's a miracle that box found it's way to me)..............

I was over the moon as I thumbed through the book; the plates in the middle depicting the Waterloo panorama put me over the edge, just spectacular.

Still have the original copy, it's in my top five favorite volumes on the Napoleonic War.....................

 

[Martin Tabony]

That's awesome; I bought it from Squadron mail order out of Texas, USA when I was 12. Back in those days, when you ordered from them, you filled out the return label in your own handwriting. When the postman rang the doorbell to my childhood home and I opened it, I recognized my handwriting on the Squadron label on the box and knew instantly what it was (and as anyone who's seen my handwriting will tell you, it's a miracle that box found it's way to me)..............

I was over the moon as I thumbed through the book; the plates in the middle depicting the Waterloo panorama put me over the edge, just spectacular.

Still have the original copy, it's in my top five favorite volumes on the Napoleonic War.....................

Mine is held together with sticky tape and the edges of the pages or brown, from thumbing through while working on figures!

Martin