This is the 69e Regiment de Ligne who were part of Foy's Division at the Battle of Salamanca.
I must admit that there is a reason why I decided to paint up a regiment of French Infantry for the Salamanca battle. On Jan 1st this year I made the decision to take a battlefields tour to Spain and Portugal. So in September I spent a superb 8 days in excellent company on a tour run by 'The Cultural Experience'. This has led to renewed enthusiasm for the Napoleonic period for me.
I'm still labelling up the photos and of course going back to work and the joy of being lost in the quagmire of running a department again has meant that I have barely paused for breath since. I will say now though that for the wargamer who is interested in history, this has been another reminder of just how important it is to see the ground to get any really useful understanding of the battles.
Books are good, but walking the field is incomparable.
One kind of photo that I found myself taking was of the ground of the battlefields. So many in Spain have not yet really changed at all, other than in minor details. There is so much that still remains as they appeared back 200 years ago. I took a lot of photos of the ground around my feet. The colour of the soil, flora and rocks was something that I really wanted to take images of. It's hard to beat the confidence it gives to then apply it to the bases of figures. The photos above were taken at Salamanca.
The Perry's figures are from the 1807-1814 plastic boxed set. As usual from the Perry's the figures look wonderful and assembled really well. I love the look of them and the many options that can be used for them. I opted for the Grenadier bearskins but without adornments.
The photo above is another from Salamanca with a view of the battlefield behind.
The Greater Arapile above.
Above is a view of the Lesser Arapile from the French positions on the Greater Arapile. It's easy and yet oddly difficult to imagine that this was the exact place where the Portuguese infantry advanced and then were beaten back with the French following up so aggressively that they did take the Lesser Arapile, until more British infantry defeated them and repelled them again.
I'm taking a pause from painting figures at the moment. I always feel relieved after finishing a unit of Napoleonics, as I do find it exhausting, if immensely satisfying. I'm now painting Spanish scenery from Grand Manner (I managed to get some of his last castings before the owner closed the business up).
One kind of photo that I found myself taking was of the ground of the battlefields. So many in Spain have not yet really changed at all, other than in minor details. There is so much that still remains as they appeared back 200 years ago. I took a lot of photos of the ground around my feet. The colour of the soil, flora and rocks was something that I really wanted to take images of. It's hard to beat the confidence it gives to then apply it to the bases of figures. The photos above were taken at Salamanca.
The flag is produced by the outstanding GMB Designs.
The Voltigeurs are wonderfully animated. I decided to base them for skirmishing, though there are sufficient in the box to have some marching figures in the column too. Painting 36 figures for a Battalion is probably enough for me!
The Greater Arapile above.
Above is a view of the Lesser Arapile from the French positions on the Greater Arapile. It's easy and yet oddly difficult to imagine that this was the exact place where the Portuguese infantry advanced and then were beaten back with the French following up so aggressively that they did take the Lesser Arapile, until more British infantry defeated them and repelled them again.
A few more shots of the line companies.
Following the trip to Spain and Portugal, I purchased several boxes of 'Gamers Grass' Dry Tufts which seemed to me to give a good approximation of the grass shades I could see. I mixed these in with a few others on the bases to add interest.
I should mention that the tour (in case anyone wishes to do it), visits a lot more than just Salamanca. I'll finish labelling up my photos and probably will do a more detailed post in the near future.
Lovely figures - that's the painting style that I prefer. Over the course of 40 years I've managed to visit most of the Peninsular War battlefields. Salamanca is one of the best. Walking the ground shows you the quite significant undulations that restrict your distance view. You can better appreciate how easy it was to be surprised by a Heavy Cavalry Brigade.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeremy. I think Fuentos de Onoro amazed me at how hard it would have been for Wellington to have seen the whole battlefield and to immediately appreciate what was going on where. I felt it really demonstrated his skill. The folds of the ground at Albuera was the place which showed me how easy it was for cavalry to suddenly 'spring up'. I might have to do another tour soon of the battlefields I didn't see, as it really was so educational.
DeleteFantastic painting and basing Jason! There is a Mt Arapiles in Australia, quite a famous climbing area, that was named after the battlefield in Spain. The battlefields tour does sound good.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like them. They were a labour of love! :-)
DeleteBeautiful work Jason. Great pictures of Salamanca as well. Walking the actual battlefields does give a totally different perspective.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence. I can't recommend walking battlefields highly enough. It's another reason why our hobby is so great, it has so many facets besides the painting and reading.
DeleteEchoinig above, fantastic work Jason in all respects, the variety of figures (even given the options the Perry's provide in the box) is just excellent.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris. The options with the Perry's boxes are amazing. I love the painting guides they give in each box too - So well thought out.
DeleteFantastic painting, lovely figures, I'm working on a couple of units from that box, to a rather more workmanlike standard! The tour sounds great too!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain. I hope you are enjoying building and painting your figures as much as I did. The tour is amazing...I just want to do another one! :-)
DeleteExcellent work as always Jason and I particularly like your emphasis on getting the basing and colours of the vegetation etc right. Look forward to seeing your photo report on the tour as well, not something I am ever likely to manage, so will be good to do it vicariously through your blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith. I'm still working on labelling up my photos - I might do some other posts on painted buildings before I get to finish the photos :-) Hopefully it will be worth the wait!
DeleteMagnificent work Jason. I'd echo everything you have said about our trip to S[pain and Portugal - and thank you for your comradeship during the trip!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gavin, I'm glad you like the troops. It was an amazing trip, worth every penny and what made it awesome was the people on the trip - couldn't have wished for a better group to be with, so thank you for that too.
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