Rifles in the Peninsular (3 Viewers)

[Horus]

 

[BHogan]

Steve,

Great diorama of "The Guns" in action! Thanks for sharing with us. UBIQUE

Brendan

 

[Horus]

You're welcome Brendan. Glad you liked it !
Steve

 

[arditi]

Love the cannon blast! Very cool.

 

[Horus]

Cheers Arditi !
Cheers again to everyone who is liking the posts !{sm3}
Steve

 

[Horus]

The Allied forces retrace their steps back into Portugal with Men of the Light Division forming the rear guard. On the rocks above a small detachment of Riflemen wait. The Lieutenants Sergeant comes running up with news as they watch the rear of the column go by with just a few stragglers behind them who if they are unlucky will fall to the French or if unluckier into the hands of the gangs of bandits who roam the country.

Anyone else notice how similar some of the FL Riflemen resemble characters in Sharpe !^&grin^&grin^&grin

Steve

 

[farmertony]

I really like this thread!The battery scene is very well done and you have added gunners to make up the numbers-much more realistic.But I am most impressed with the column moving along the road.This is what most troops in Wellington's army spent most of their time doing-marching.What horse have you used to pull the JJD forge(a nice touch that-essential part of any Napoleonic column)?I am kicking myself that I did not buy the ammunition wagon while it was available.Terrific effort! Well done that man.

 

[Horus]

Thank you Tony.
The Horse I used for the Forge was from the JJD French Ambulance as it was to hand.
Yes it's a shame the wagons are no longer available, but they do come up on ebay occasionally. I got mine from the consignment page on Treefrog treasures !
I've sent you a pm that might give you an idea.
Steve

 

[villagehorse]

I dismissed the JJD ammunition wagon when it was first released, not sure why, maybe because I had other wagons and also this one had limited use due to the fixed canvas aspect, but I went looking for it last year and there are none to be found. Yet again a reminder for me, get it while you can. Great series you have here Steve. Robin.

 

[mestell]

Steve, just finished looking at this entire thread . . . . thoroughly enjoyable story line, set-up/staging, photography and "special effects" . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[Naps...just Naps]

Just love this thread. You can see how much fun you have had with this. It's all just great but I love the gun emplacements most of all.
You just can't beat Napoleonics.
Cheers
Paul

 

[Horus]

Steve, just finished looking at this entire thread . . . . thoroughly enjoyable story line, set-up/staging, photography and "special effects" . . . .
:smile2: Mike

Thank you, I just started with the one idea and the story is unfolding like it's got a life of its own !{sm4}

For those interested the gun flashes and smoke are from a small battery operated Tea light set behind some man made fibre cushion stuffing that I sprayed painted from a pot plant mister with water diluted acrylic paint. Looks much better than the older way with cotton wool I think.

Steve

 

[Horus]

Just love this thread. You can see how much fun you have had with this. It's all just great but I love the gun emplacements most of all.
You just can't beat Napoleonics.
Cheers
Paul

Thanks Paul
Yes it's lots of fun setting each scene out.
Reading the books of real life exploits of the Soldiers in the Peninsular especially the Riflemen makes for fascinating reading and as exciting as any of the Sharpe books I have to say and I highly recommend them.
Steve

 

[Horus]

Just re-posting this as the original seems to have got lost in the server move.
Thanks to those who already "Liked" the missing post.
So, The Sergeant brought news to the officer that some of the stragglers had found a wine store and had gotten drunk in the village they had just passed through. Since Wellington needs everyman he can get the officer returns with his men to secure the drunks and bring them back to the column as night closes in and before they fall into French captivity.
Steve

 

[Horus]

Early the next morning a picket of Portuguese Cazadores spot two French lancer Videttes and open fire. Killing one, the other makes his escape,. The Cazadores indulge in the age old practice of plundering the corpse.

Steve

 

[farmertony]

Thanks for the PM-I am seriously on the lookout for one of those wagons.What put me off initially was the six horses-takes up a lot of room,not to mention the expense.Like the scene with the Portuguese and how you have placed the figures to give the impression of distance.Yes,I agree the riflemen became quite literate about their adventures in the Peninsula-Kincaide,Costello and Surtees(all of the 95th).I would recommend "Rifles" by Mark Urban which draws on these and other sources.Georgette Heyer,a romantic novelist of the 1930's and 40's wrote "The Spanish Bride",the story of the girl who Captain Harry Smith(of the 95th) met and married and her adventures in following him through the war-her style of writing is a bit dated but her historical descriptions are accurate(her best friend was the daughter of Sir Charles Oman who wrote the history of the campaign,so she had access to all his sources).Terrific thread,keep up the good work.

 

[Horus]

Thanks Tony. If I spot one I'll let you know, of course it's up to you how many horses you have pull a wagon, so when short of space cut down to two or four horses !

Yes they are all great books, I might introduce Rifle the dog into these little adventures for a while, which you may remember from Costello's book. Though unfortunately for him I do have some Brunswickers as well !
It's been a long time since I read it, but in fiction there is a book on the Rifles called "Death to the French" by C S Forester the guy who wrote the Hornblower books and The Gun which got turned into the film "The Pride and the Passion" !

Steve

 

[Horus]

After several days hard marching Wellingtons army is but a short distance away from Portugal and the lines of the Torres Vedras.
As the army withdraws, it does its best to implement a scorched earth policy to deny supplies to the French, who scour the countryside since they have to live off the land.
The party of riflemen scale a hill where they have spotted a windmill and will spend the night, warning the millers wife of this order and telling her she must leave.
As the Sergeant brings up the rear perhaps our Sharpe like Officer reminds him of an adventure they'd had that had started with a windmill where flour had been stored by traitors to supply the French with !
Like all soldiers they spend the evening around the fire telling yarns and stories of daring do.

Next instalment will be some of these, which will give me opportunity to relate some truelife tales of the men who fought the Peninsular war.

Windmill by John Jenkins Designs.
Walls J G Miniatures.
Millers wife, Kronprinz, Agustina of Aragon.
Riflemen, WB, FL.

Steve

 

[villagehorse]

Great yarn Steve, always admired this JJD wind mill, but for me cannot fit it in to any of my series. You have good reason to have it. Robin.

 

[Horus]

Great yarn Steve, always admired this JJD wind mill, but for me cannot fit it in to any of my series. You have good reason to have it. Robin.

Thanks Robin. Yes it's a great little windmill, Would work with anyone doing a diorama of Crete in ww2 or any of the Greek islands.

Steve