Wednesday, August 17, 2016

French Artillery for 1859 Project

After a spate of 28mm works crossing the painting desk, focus returns to 15mm in general and the 1859 project in particular.

Beginning the calling up of new recruits for the project, are four French guns and crew seen  above (and below).  The guns and crew are from 19th Century Miniatures' old, Old Glory 15mm FPW/FAW range.  This group of four all have the same gun tube.  From photos, my guess is the tubes could be the French 4 lb rifle.  They could also be the 12 lb smoothbore but that determination cannot be made by me.  The next group off the painting desk will show four guns of this latter classification.  With a longer gun tube than these, you can make the call when those pieces are presented for review. 
Naturally, with guns popping off the painting desk, thoughts turn towards fielding limbers and teams.  With eight French guns hitting the OB soon, I am not too anxious to field eight accompanying limbers.  Perhaps, a French limber or two will be added gradually.  That, of course, requires an order from Freikorps 15s

As noted, four more French guns are working their way through the painting queue.  After those, two battalions of Austrian infantry, four squadrons of French Chasseurs a Cheval, and a regiment of French line infantry will find space at the workbench.  These should keep the brushes active and firmly stuck in the 1859 project.  Oh, a few 28mm odds and ends are on the painting desk too!

20 comments:

  1. They look great ,a nice mass of cannons, lovely clean painting.
    Best Iain

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  2. Spooky-I have the same figures next in line for me to complete! Lovely job!

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    1. Thanks, Matt! Great minds think alike, right? I await your version of these Old Glory French guns!

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  3. Fine looking gunners and artillery, Jon. It would seem that an 1859 battle might be in order later in the year?

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    1. Thanks, Peter. A battle before year-end is in the plan. Will I succeed? Stay tuned!

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  4. Wonderful job on them, this project is coming along nicely!

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    1. Appreciate the comment, Phil! Project has made good advances in 2016.

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  5. Great looking batteries. Makes me want to get back into the period.

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  6. These really look great, Jon! I've used Essex for French and Prussian limbers, which are a pretty good match with the OG15s FPW range. As for Frei Korps 15 Austrian limbers, I discovered it was really a mixed bag. The limber horses and riders are excellent in terms of size and sculpting quality. However, the limber and seated figures were so small as to be likely mistaken for children in 15mm! So I cast these aside and simply substituted ACW limbers and went without seated figures.

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    1. Thank you, Don!

      Good observations on the Freikorps limbers and teams. I thought the French riders were small but the Freikorps French overall are more of a true 15mm rather than the more recent trend towards 18mm. The Austrian outriders are very good but the Austrian range has been revamped from the old days. Years ago, I tried getting some of the old Austrian infantry models and was told that those molds had been destroyed. Too bad, I liked them.

      Anyway, limbers don't face the same scrutiny on the table when using a mix of manufacturers as do infantry and cavalry. With that, I am happy to field Freikorps' limbers and teams.

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  7. Very smart. My French artillery are rather more scruffy - but gunners do get rather dirty, don't they?

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    1. Scruffy artillery seems the standard. The stain put on these figures does not show their scruffiness against the dark blue uniform.

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  8. Wonderful looking artillery Jonathan! I sure would not want to be on the receiving end of that!

    Christopher

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    1. Thanks, Christopher! Another four French guns coming up!

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