Perry Miniatures make a few packs of French and Allied Cavalry in various winter clothing, both uniform and non-uniform. I have bought these packs, which are still in the lead mountain of shame. So with my brain in overdrive I've searched every company I can think of who sell 25-28mm French Napoleonics Cavalry for figures with either greatcoats and or wet weather gear on.
There are NOT a lot, Front Rank to a few mounted command figures and that's about it really, So what to do????
Then I found these chaps, from Empress Miniatures Gwalior, Afghanistan, Punjaub and Scinde. range. Thinking " I might be able to uses these?", although they did break my heart and my wallet. £28.50 for 6 figures!!!
Originally I was going to use these figures as command models, but not now, although some may find their way into doing so???? Empress do sell more figures like these bad boys, that might have to join the collection at a later date???
As you know the Retreat from Moscow was a little haphazard. I've chosen not to have any formed units as such, I'm going for mixed adhoc units, made up from different regts. These figures can be mixed in with the Perry figures previously mentioned. The French cavalry lost many, many horses on the retreat, I expect most were slaughtered for their meat, or just died from the cold, so a lot of cavalry fought on foot, for this and many other reasons. Making them mixed units makes sense to me?
In the front row we have figures all from Empress representing the 2nd Cuirassiers, 4th Chasseurs and the 11th Hussars.
The two figures representing the 2nd Cuirassiers were originally going to be the Wuttemburg 1st Chevau Legere, as the helmet kind of match theirs, minus a plume, but after painting them, I found further info saying that the helmet changed to another kind in 1807, oh !!!!!!. So they became the 2nd Cuirassiers instead!
At the back we have figures from 10th Cuirassiers, the 4th Chasseurs and the 30th Dragoons. The two figures on the right are both the bravest of the brave, wearing no winter coats!! and are plastic figures from Victrix, (I think)
The Officer is a figure from Casting Room Miniatures, that I bought for my Haitian Revolution project that didn't get used,. Pack FN530
My favorite figure in the 11th Hussar, front row on the right, wearing a Father Christmas coat, firing his pistol over his shoulder.
Horses arse!

These poor souls all had their heads chopped off and replaced with a more suitable Napoleonic head apart from the commander on the left who's now wearing a nice warm and furry cloak.
As to the points...
9 x Mounted 25mm figures @ 10 pts each, gives me a total of 90, plus anything that Teemu gives me for the conversion work?
Some nice additions Ray....I know what you mean about Empress....great figures, but boy, cheap they ain't!
ReplyDeleteIt hurt me deep inside, when I bought them. I did make sure Mrs R was out of the room at the time, for safety reasons of course.
DeleteProud looking, but pricey. I have a partial SCW force. Due mainly to the expense.
ReplyDeleteNice figures, but quite expensive.
DeleteAmazing looking cavalry!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michal.
DeleteFine figures Ray. I like the hodgepodge look. Not too bad a price, £2.38 per figure for 12 pieces. Just a bit more than my VBCW figures from them
ReplyDeleteIt still hurt though....
DeleteVery impressive!
ReplyDeleteCheers Alex.
DeleteMixed units makes a lot of sense to me, but much more work for you in having to switch between uniforms, even where a lot of it is covered.
ReplyDeleteTell me about it, they took ages to paint up.
Deletegreat looking unit (though expensive for a hack about one :-) I stuck with swapping about the 4 packs of french retreat from Russ perry do - I think I might have snuck a few hacked about Russian cav in with them.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, I might have a look at the Ruskies, myself.
DeleteThey look superb Ray, really capturing the feel of the retreat from Moscow
ReplyDeleteCheers Neil.
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ReplyDeleteReally very very very impressive.
You are right when you write that "The French cavalry lost many, many horses on the retreat of Russia" and your composition corresponds to historical reality. After the battle of Berezina, the few riders still mounted were grouped into a single unit called the “sacred squadron”.
His mission was to escort the Emperor. This squadron was essentially made up of officers. Junior officers served as simple cavalrymen, colonels as lieutenants, brigadier and division generals (major general and lieutenant general) as captains. The sacred squadron was commanded by Murat, Grouchy and La Tour-Maubourg.
On the internet you will find the list of members of this unit and their original regiment. I hope to have given you new desires to raise an other cavalry unit full of colonels and generals in redingotte led by a Murat dressed in his fur coat and wearing his Polish shapska. The figurines exist, So I think you will have less difficulty in raising this second cavalry unit.
Incidentally, I am a former French cavalry officer. This unit is well know in Saumur; the french officer cavalry accademy. The Russian campaign is not my favorite but I'm sure, you already know why!!!!
Very impressive Ray.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rich.
DeleteCracking work Ray and great thinking out of the box for suitable figures. Love Empress figures, have a load of ECW and some of the Indian Mutiny ones, really nice. Like the idea of mixed units, looks right in to my mind.
ReplyDeleteFrom the reading I've done, it seemed the right way.
DeleteLovely work on these Ray…
ReplyDeleteThe mixed units look like a lot of fun to make and paint.
All the best. Aly
They were tbh.
DeleteBeautiful work Ray a luxury unit 👍
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt.
Deletenice work, as always Ray
ReplyDeleteCheers Andy!
DeleteThat "Retreat of Moscow" project is fantastic. I like this cavalry very much.Very nice mix! 😍
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter, There are some nice looking figures in this unit.
DeleteThe photos with your figures in the foreground and forest in the background are stunning.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them Jon!!!
DeleteReading how this unit all came together made for an impressive effort indeed. At least the end result is one heck of a cool looking bunch of frosty survivors. Pricey to construct, but dead worth it if these pics are anything to go by!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dai, I appreciate your comment.
DeleteExcellent work on these Ray!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thanks Chris!
DeleteI enjoyed seeing these. Steve Barber does/did some French Heavy Cavalry in coats/cloaks which may be worth a look.
ReplyDeleteStephen
Thanks Stephen, take a look at my last post, its got a comparison photo on it, that you was speaking about.
DeleteMany thanks, Ray, I've been away this week so had missed that post. It seems from the comments that is was of wide interest.
DeleteStephen
Yes, indeed. It's always good to post something like that. It helps others make decisions.
DeleteVery nice with such individuality of appearence
ReplyDeleteCheers Sgt!
DeleteExcellent looking French cavalry, I think at least one of the plastic figures is a Perry elite trooper as I'm painting him up at the moment! Really nice ragged looking unit!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
He is, I was gonna use the normal Dragoon helmet, but thought, what the heck, I've never painted an Elite Dragoon before?
DeleteSo sad seeing all these fine regiments reduced to this state! But great modelling and painting bringing these together :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you approve!
DeleteSplendid work there Ray, the snow effect is especially evocative of a harsh Russian winter.
ReplyDeleteI'm very pleased with the overall effect.
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