Wednesday 16 April 2014

Salute lootings: 19th century stuff


New Perry BIF Scots Fusilier Guards - painted as Danish Guards 1848

Safely back from Salute and a very sunny London, it was time to open the bags and drool over the loot.

Learning from previous years many impulsive buys, I tried to approach this year's enticing offerings of Salute with a plan including a great deal of pre-ordering. I wanted to focus on purchases that could add to existing collections, and only allowed myself to start one new period - The Punic War (inspired by the newly launched Agema products and the announced range from Victrix coming later this year).

Side shot of the Guardsman 

This post will deal with the buys adding to existing projects, namely my 19th century collection focussed on the series of wars of German expansion.

Rear shot of the Guardsman.
The blue jacket was adopted in 1848, replacing the red.


As Prussia lead the German states in their way towards unification, pretty much all the neighboring countries got a beating, and Denmark was not spared. The first Schleswig War in 1848-1850 however saw Denmark repel the German attack and the claim to detach the Southern Danish / Northern German states of Schleswig and Holstein.

The Guard getting down to business at the Battle of Isted 1850.

I've long wanted to build a Danish army for this period, and now the PERRY BIF range offers the figures to create the Danish Guard Infantry - probably best remembered from their participation at the battle of Isted. Adopting a uniform very similar to the British model, I found this too tempting not to try out. No conversion needed.

Size comparison - Perry BIF & NorthStar 1866 Prussian.
A good match I think.

A natural stop was NorthStar for completing my Prussian army.

In addition to the excellent infantry sculpted I think by Alan Marsh, I also bought a battery of the new Krupp gun released a few weeks before Salute. Hopefully horse & limber will follow.

Alsacian house front - Turco for size comparison.
Grandmanner product code NAP15.


To set the Franco-Prussian eastern French battle field mood of Woerth, Mars-la-Tour and Gravelotte St-Privat, I decided to go with Grand Manner's resin range of Napoleonic Europe. Although pricy I think it really offers that little extra for the money. It's hard to catch in the pictures, but there is a fantastic level of details on the surface of the model, something that will create depth and help when it is time to paint, applying shadow and highlights on a natural relief.


Alsacian house seen from the back.
Again I'm impressed with the level of detail on the resin building.


The size of the model building it self is also something that can be complemented.
It really is a natural 28/25mm building, and will fit both my Napoleonics and Franco-Prussians.
Plus I really like that the range is so wide, offering me many more buildings to mix in there as I go along.

Alsacian house with roof removed.
Perfect for the skirmish scenario game.



Naturally for the French country side I had to add a village shrine.
Again the busy Turco is marching along for a size comparison.
Grandmanner product code NAP19.

Last stop was Warlord for a pre-ordered laser cut Chateau from Sarissa Precision Ltd. The model is marketed as a WW2 terrain piece, but I find it perfect as a Franco-Prussian War "Loire Campaign" Chateau - for the Republican part of the war. When I first saw it, it immediately got me to think about the Detaille painting on Champigny.

WW2 Chateau from Sarissa Precision Ltd.


Detaille's painting on the Champigny battle.
The chateau in the background was my inspiration.

Thank you very much for reading!
     

20 comments:

  1. I didn't know nything about this war. Temtpting, especially if you can beat the Prussians.

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    1. Well, they (the Prussians) left the coalition half way through the conflict, and from there on it was pretty much Danish domination. However, they came back in much better form in 1864 and left Denmark about 25% smaller, as peace would see Schleswig, Holstein and southern Jutland ceded to Prussia. Finally Southern Jutland was return to Denmark after WW1. Very much intertwined - like the relations between 1870 and 1914 in France...

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  2. Some great buys from the look of it! That chatau is rightfully Sarissas bestseller at the moment iirc. And I have some Grand Manner buildings myself and they are fantastic.

    Also any excuse for getting Perry miniatures on the table is a good one - and this project of yours is certainly promising. The guard looks great and I look forward to see more!
    /Mattias

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    1. Exactly my thought - plus they work so well with the Prussians from NorthStar I'm anyway painting up. And (and this is important) it actually affords me a chance to play games based on battles Denmark won - and that my friend is a rare treat! :0)

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  3. Very nich terrain additions ! And a stunning painted Danish Guard ! Realy looking forward to see that project get up on the gaming table at the club, very interesting !

    Best regards Michael

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    1. Thanks Micke - I've found a little support in Jesper for painting, so hopefully you won't have to wait too long. Nice to hear about your interest as well - there is a Swedish connection you know. Sweden had an infantry regiment attached under Danish command. I'm not sure wether we're talking the Dalecarlia regiment though ;0)

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  4. Interesting project on a war I know little. Your brushwork on the Perry guardsman is fantastic! Cool buildings too.

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    1. Thanks a lot Jonathan, can't wait to get started on the GrandManner piece - some challenge it will be...

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  5. Interesting stuff Søren! There seems to be no shortage of "obscure" little (or large) wars from this period.

    Looking forward to seeing more of this project. You're certainly off to a great start with that excellent guard miniature!

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    1. Thanks Jonas, I guess this is why the 19th century always fascinated me so. It's really a great array of interlinked wars, with Europe's influence arguably at it's pinnacle seeing the French, German, Austrian and British empires competing as nationalism and industrialism changed the way war looked like, leaving us with WW1. Thanks for the kind comment on the mini - won't forget our ITW project, that's a promise:0)

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  6. Thanks Andrew, looking forward to getting started as Easter is earmarked for painting.

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  7. Replies
    1. Thanks Pierre, not sure this is what the Perrys intended, but I'll take it anyways.

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  8. Great painting on the guardsman and Grand Manner buildings are awesome!

    Christopher

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    1. Thanks Christopher - honestly I've been a little put off by the pricing, but now with the product in hand, I fully understand Grand Manner's premium position.

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  9. Replies
    1. Thanks Stephen - next up I'll hijack their Carlist Isabelino infantry as Danish line infantry for the same period. Again straight forward, no conversion needed.

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  10. Very nice post, love the paint job on the Guardsman ...

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    1. Thanks Phil, glad you enjoyed the write up. Looking forward to complete a whole unit of these Guardsmen, and crack on with the Line infantry too.

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  11. Great job on the Danish Foot guards ,I painted them in the red uniform,so I could cheat and use them double duty for Canada. I fought one battle already w; them....sigh ..Anyway Northstar set to release Danish artillery -Lifeguard Hussars and Prussian Hussars.

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