Perry Duchy of Warsaw High Command

Prince Józef Antoni Poniatowski in the center, flanked by General Michal Sokolniki on his right, and General Jan Dabrowski on his left.

These figures are metals with riders and horses cast as one piece.

In his youth, the prince served in the Austrian army in their war against the Ottomans. He also fought in the Austro-Polish War in 1809, and later accompanied Napoleon in the Russian Campaign. He was made a Marshal of France by Napoleon during the Battle of Leipzig. He died while attempting to cross the Elster River at the end of the battle.

Perry Duchy of Warsaw 4th Infantry Regiment

Possibly the last painting project for the year. This unit served in the Peninsula and also the 1812 Russian Campaign.

According to the Perry painting guide, this unit's drummer might've been in more of a French uniform, but I wanted him to have the red colored czapka like the one shown for the 3rd Regiment. 

I used the flag for the 14th Regiment because it was bigger than the one provided for the 4th. I may scan and resize the 4th's flag someday. I have to figure out how to use the scanner first, though. It's close enough for now as the blue and red are on the same side of the flag as the 4th's. 

The main difference is the left side of the flag should also have the eagle on it.

I had just received the order containing the command figures needed to complete this unit the other day. This was the order placed at the end of Novemeber, but it was only shipped a week and a half or so ago after I placed another order for some Prussian infantry figures. The two orders were shown as "Shipped" the same day, however, I've only received the first order so far. Have a lot of stuff as you can see to keep me busy until the other order arrives.

Well, so much for 2024 - it's been a very interesting year, and we still have a few days left in it, so who knows what else may transpire. In any case, looking forward to 2025 and wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

Perry Polish Infantry Skirmishers

Painted up as Grenadiers and Voltigeurs of the 4th and 8th Regiments.

Worked on these while awaiting the order for the command sprue and some other stuff, which I just got notified today as being shipped. Interestingly, it was sitting there for over a week, and I just placed another order for some Prussians last night - which also shipped today. I also picked up a box each of Wargames Atlantic Prussian Reservists and the old Wargames Factory Landwehr from ebay. The recent Perrry order included commands for the Reservists. Wasn't going to start on Prussians, but couldn't pass up the Wargames Atlantic set which has 60 figures for 50 cents each. Wanted the Landwehr set as it was also cheap, and comes with a bunch of flags.

The plastic for these Perry figures seem quite durable - I banged around their bayonets a few times accidentally while painting, and they were none the worse. They should hold up well enouch for a few skirmish games.

Guess I'm on a Napoleonic binge again. Still haven't gotten back to the Imjin War project I was set to play test before my gall bladder attack several months ago. I'm thinking of running it at next year's Enfilade, so will likely have to get back to it sometime in the near future. Wishing you all the best this holiday season!

Perry Duchy of Warsaw 8th Infantry Regiment

These are painted with their initial crimson facings and lapels, prior to 1810 when all regiments were supposed to have white lapels.

Painted them with dark blue trousers to set them off from the earlier French infantry.

The figures are very similar to their French 1807-14 Infantry set - particularly the marching poses and most of the equipment. In fact, I converted a few spares from the French set to add to the left over figures from this set to form another 24-man unit. This next unit will represent the 4th Regiment in yellow facings, again prior to the 1810 regulation. Just needed to order a command sprue from Perry to finish it up.

The drummer and sapper have particularly colorful uniforms.

The equipment is slightly different than the French set. The greatcoat rolls have only 2 straps, unlike the French having 3 straps. Also, the fusiliers have their bayonet scabbards hanging off a separate cross strap opposite the ammo pouch. The French fusiliers have their bayonet scabbards hanging off the same strap as the ammo pouch. Otherwise, very similar looking.

Well so much for now - have a Christmas Dragon Rampant game to attend this Saturday. I'm taking my reduced-model warband consisting of only 4 total figures. This will be good as there's supposed to be about 20 of us, and the table will likely be very crowded. Until then, wishing you all the best this holiday season!

Perry Napoleonic French Infantry (1807-14 and 1812-15)

Finished basing the two sets of Perry plastic French infantry.

The two sets look fine next to each other - keeping the figures in separate units. Although, I did have to use a single 1807-14 figure on the command base of the other set as I was short one without greatcoat. He's behind the flag bearer, next to the drummer - noticeably from the back having longer coat tails.

I used the 1812 pattern flag on both units. The earlier pattern that came with the 1807-14 set seems a bit too small.

Here they are on movement trays in Attack Column formation (according to the Perry leaflet).

Comparison below of plastic French Infantry - left to right: Warlord Games (Peninsula set), Perry 1807-14, Victrix, Perry 1812-15. The Warlord guys appear the biggest (mainly their shakos/heads), the Perry 1812-15 the smallest/shortest (not really discernable). The Perry 1807-14 figures match up well with Victrix - they're both somewhat slender. All except the 1812-15 Perrys are in the earlier longer tailed coat. As far as I know, the Perrys are the only ones with plastic French Infantry in Bardin regulation coats (closed labels).

Plan to start on a box of Perry Duchy of Warsaw next. Thanks for checking out the blog, and wishing you all the best, and a Happy Thanksgiving to those on this side of the pond.

Perry Napoleonic French Skirmishers

Here they are ready for the gaming table - skirmishers from the two sets of Napoleonic Infantry. 

I clipped off the longer coat tails from the 1807-14 set.

The figures from the 1807-14 set are a bit more slender than the earlier released 1812-15 set, but still mix in well together.

Along with earlier painted figures, these will be more than enough for multi-player skirmish games. Next up are the Line Infantry figures in marching poses - which should make painting them in more of a simpler production-line method. I also picked up a box of the Perrys' recently released Duchy of Warshaw Infantry. It was ebay at a good price, so couldn't pass it up.

A New Project - Leipzig (Or Something Like It)

Having 10 Russian infantry battalions and 6 Austrian ones, wanted to supplement my French with a couple of boxes of Perry French. Although, I have about 12 battalions of French infantry already, wanted to try out the 1807-14 set. Also, even though I have several units of the 1812-15 set, hadn't painted one up as Line infantry, and also wanted to do up the unit without greatcoats. Of course, I have to add a few Russian and Austrian cavalry too.

I just got the Osprey book in the mail today, and the two Perry boxes yesterday.

Besides these having the earlier coat with long tails and open lapels, they carry their muskets in a higher position than the 1812-15 guys. I think the latter are in "attack march"? There are a few more figures left on sprues since I use only 24 for infantry battalions.

I had a couple of leftover figures from earlier boxes - but still needed one more figure without a greatcoat, so the guy behind the officer is from the 1807-14 set. Again, a few leftover figures - all in greatcoats.

Comparison between the 1807-14 and 1812-15 sets; the guys in lighter gray are from the 1812-15 set. The 1807-14 guys look slightly taller than the earlier produced 1812-15 set. That said, they still mix in well together.

Command figures from both sets. The six figures on the left are from the 1807-14 set, which include eagle guards and a sapper. I added carabinier helmeted heads to the eagle guards.

Skirmishers from the two sets. I managed to swap some of the arms from the 1807-14 set onto the 1812-15 set. Plan to base these on washers and use them in skirmish games (like One Hour Skirmish Wargames).

For record, the 1812-15 set is much simpler to put together, basically just backpacks need to be glued on. Skirmishers and command figures have a few more separate parts. The 1807-14 set have separate arms and backpacks (which include the coattails of the coat). Some would consider this a drawback, but if you stick with just the marching poses, like I did besides the skirmishers, they go together fairly quickly. They do have separate heads wearing shakos with enough uncovered for the entire unit. There are bearskins for grenadiers, which I chose not to use, and shakos with tall plumes and cords for elites, which I did use both the grenadiers and non-skirmishing voltigeurs. One other thing, the flags which come with the 1807-14 set are a bit undersized. They include some for a few foreign regiments (all in the earlier lozenge pattern). You could scan them and resize them, I suppose. Well, so much for now with my return to Napoleonics.

Perry French Egyptian-Syrian Campaign Infantry

Finished up the Perry French Egyptian Campaign foot. 2nd Light in green coats; 22nd Light in sky blue coats, 25th Line in "dusty" pink coats, 88th Line in purple coats, 9th Line grenadiers in red coats and Dromedaries in light blue dolmans.

The units are in multiples of 6, with the intention of using Rebels and Patriots. Mainly wanted to paint the various coats colors without building large forces. I may add some cavalry to the French - hussars or chasseurs.

The Ottomans are next in the paint queue, but still researching their "uniforms".

Thanks for stopping by and wishing you all the best.

Battle for the Farm House - La Haye Sainte - Black Powder

Finally got to game the La Haye Sainte Black Powder game today. Used a mix of the mid-size and larger game scenarios that came with the Warlord Games set. I wanted to add a few more supporting units, to include some cavalry. Here's the set up prior to the game - with a bit of inspiration watching the old Waterloo movie with Rod Steiger and Christopher Plummer. 

EDIT: A little more details of the game - the French had two brigades of three infantry battalions each; a cavalry brigade of one Cuirassier and two Lancer units; two horse artillery batteries and several small detachments, including an Engineer/Pioneer unit.

The British, besides several small detachments of KGL Lights and Nassauers in and around the farmhouse had two brigades of two line infantry each, two RHA batteries, small detachments of 95th Rifles and a unit of Scots Greys.

The French started the game as attackers and almost all of the units were successful activating and moving towards the farmhouse. The British in their turn attempted to move along the flanks of the farmhouse towards the French. One brigade of French infantry managed to get through the orchard and up against the southside of the farmhouse in turn 2. While the other French infantry brigade moved into assault against the KGL unit guarding the barn door on the western side of the farmhouse. The French cavalry moved up to the KGL Line on the western side of the battlefield and forced them to get into square. The British Line on the eastern side of the road slowly moved up to support KGL inside the farmhouse. In turn 3, the French stormed into the farmhouse and took on the small detachment of KGL Lights inside. A fire was also started on the roof of the stables which the KGL were not able to put out. The game was called when an overwhelming number of French were inside of the farmhouse and courtyard.

We played four turns, with the French having four battalions assaulting into the farmhouse. Now this probably stretches the basic rules with the amount of units allowed in a building/structure, but we went ahead with it.

The scenario booklet actually has smaller units in and assaulting the farmhouse - companies and such. The stables on the western side did catch fire in turn 3 and was not able to be put out successfully by the occupying KGL.

The French had a Cuirassier and two Lancer (Polish & Dutch) units. They destroyed the one British cavalry unit - Scots Greys. The French cavalry also held off two KGL line battalions by having them stay in square for most of the game.

Here's where things got out of control - that is the number of French units in the farmhouse. The French had actually gone into skirmish formation, but we left them on the movement trays for ease of handling. One thing that was evident was the break test results for skirmishers. We thought it was way too advantages especially when resolving combat with heavy cavalry.  We plan to use the artillery break test results for small/tiny infantry units in the future. Thinking of giving infantry skirmishers vs. medium/heavy cavalry the same results as artillery during break tests. Basically anything 4 or less is destroyed.

With a few tweaks, like the one mentioned for small/tiny unit break test - and limiting the amount of units in the farmhouse, I plan to host this at our next Enfilade convention. Granted it's a ways out, but a few more playtests will be needed.

Anyway, I was glad to have finally gotten this game in, having finished the farmhouse over a year ago. It was good to flesh out the scenario and use the special rules like the French Engineers breaking down doors, setting buildings afire and also scaling walls.

Thanks for stopping by and wishing you all the best.

Warlord Games French Line Infantry

Hope you all had a great Christmas and enjoying the last few days of the year. Had few days off for the holidays and managed to paint up a box of French Line. Just had to have at least one French unit in full gaiters. Admittedly, the black undercoat process whilst leaving bits of it for "black lining" can appear a bit harsh to the eyes, and not to everyone's tastes, but it's a quick way to paint up Napoleonics, IMO.

I did have some Old Glory 2nd Ed. in full gaiters before, but sold them off a few years ago. I actually like these a lot better as I'm a fan of plastics, and they size up better with Victrix and Perry.

The tri-color is a spare from the Legere set. The ones that come with this Line set are the older style "lozenge" colors. So, if you look closely you'll see "Legere" lettering.

The set comes with 4 metal command figures, including two officers. I swapped out one of them for a spare private. The other officer pose seemed a bit too animated and didn't match the marching poses of the rest of the figures.

The metal eagle and "ribbons" that come with the French infantry sets are a nice touch.

The ammo pouches come with nicely sculpted details: crowned "N" for Fusiliers, grenades for Grenadiers and hunting horns for Voltigeurs. The set comes with only 5 "elite" figures (with epaulettes and two cross belts) and needed 8, so I converted 3 Fusilier figures by adding Green Stuff for epaulettes and cross belts. Otherwise, an overall great set if you like your French infantry in full-dress.

This will be my last project for 2020 and will post an end of year wrap up for my next post which I haven't done in the past, but this has been an unusual year and I managed to complete quite a few projects. Until next time, wishing you all good health and happy hobbying!