Trousers on new Naps (1 Viewer)

[armchair warrior]

Hey Napoleonic experts,

What is with the different color pants on the frenchmen? Are they both authentic? Which are more realistic in a Waterloo diorama? They look like great figures but how to chose just one version. Thanks for your expertise.

Armchair Warrior

 

[villagehorse]

Knowing Tom, these would have been researched and be authentic. Mine (cream pants), are going to Egypt right or wrong with Napoleon's force, they look like they suit desert landscape. I confess knowing very little about this era, but I know what looks neat and these do. Cheers, Robin.

 

[Obee]

The sources I have looked at indicate that the campaign dress for Waterloo shows the Grenadiers in dark blue trousers.

The other colours that are shown could have been worn, as the troops assembled for the Campaign of 100 days, when Napoleon returend from Elba and attempted to take control of France again, would have used what ever they could to join the force and follow thier Emperor. Therefore linen of striped cloth would have been a possibility.

As far as I'm concerned they can all go in together in a firing line, together with the K&C figures (in parade uniform) to give opposition to Wellington's "Scum of the earth" who defeated the Corsican in 1815.

Good one Tom,

keep the NAPs coming

John

 

[Mitch]

Just glad they have trousers on!!!!! Look good to me but, I am not a big Nap geek on uniforms but, some guys have posted pics elsewhere when talking Naps with these colours
Mitch

 

[Warrior]

Tom's research is spot on regarding these figures; from 1813 on and in some cases prior to, troops in the field did what they could regarding uniforms. Guard Grenadiers usually wore white pants, Chasseurs dark blue, but tan, brown, grey, striped, etc, etc were also commonly worn.

Most of the conscripts in the 1814 campaign for France were issued Shakos, muskets and greatcoats, the rest was up to them.

A firing line with different colors for pants would look great in a display or diorama..............

 

[Guy]

French soldiers who served under Napoleon had to bring along a lot of stuff themselves . Only the regular army were issued complete and full uniforms . The volunteers and conscripts received a basic outfit (one pair of trousers) rifle, powder, hat and coat; often they had to rely on themselves for extra equipment.
guy

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

It is correct that French troops on campaign often made do with whatever would suffice for trousers when regimental requirements could not be satisfied. Also true is that during the 100 days new supply of uniforms was extremely limited and many of the devices indicating Napoleon's reign were absent from uniforms with the re-establishment of the Bourbons. I recall an instance of "yellow lace" being painted on uniforms in lieu of lace. Trouser color was one of the last concerns to hastily assembled troops, and in some regiments it would have been difficult to find two troopers with the same color trousers. However, and with that said, Imperial Guard Grenadiers, the most elite of all Napoleon's troops would most certainly have been dressed according to 1812 regimental requirements, suggesting dark blue overall trousers for campaign dress. I have yet to see any documentation to the contrary with the exception of the retreat from Moscow.

Despite my opinion in this matter, I find the Thomas Gunn figures creatively designed and masterfully produced. A little thing like tan trousers doesn't put me off, and I am sure I will find a place for these figures...perhaps outside a tailor shop.

 

[Obee]

I like this picture on the TGM website, showing the 4 x light coloured trousered Greandiers.


They could be used in any of the campaigns, becuse the uniform didn't change for all of the wars, unlike the Line Infantry and the Young Guard.

John