SYW French: Volontaires du Hainaut

Back in the 1740s this unit was the Arquebesiers du Grassin, made famous by their solid performance at the battle of Fontenoy (see my post in June 2011 when I painted them). Skip forwards a few years and, after the usual amalgamations and disbandings, this was their new uniform. The blue coat and black facings remains but the exotic fur lining and hats have gone to be replaced with this more sober dress topped by a helmet a la Schomberg. These were worn by the dragoon element of the legion whilst the fusiliers wore the tricorne. They even kept the old Arquebesiers flag.

That's the last post of the year. I wish you all a happy New Year and see you on the other side of the festivities.

SYW French: Volontaires de Soubise

This was another legion of mixed infantry and cavalry raised by the French Marshal and bon-viveur in 1761.
I rather like a mirliton on infantry. Figures are by Front Rank.

This is my last posting before Christmas so I'll take this chance to wish you all a great festive season, a big fat turkey for you and your family and lashings of christmas pud with brandy butter. Go for it and peace to all!

SYW French: Volontaires du Dauphiné

The French army had a large number of 'legions' raised for the 'little war'. Most chopped and changed their names from the WAS through the SYW and it's not easy following their course but most combined foot and cavalry units.

Here I'm showing the Volontaires du Dauphiné, which started its existance in 1749 and lasted until 1762 when it was merged with another unit. Here, for example, is its composition in 1759: the unit totalled 1,006 men (including staff) and consisted of
-a staff of 5 officers and 2 men
-1 grenadier company (3 officers and 60 grenadiers)
-8 fusilier companies (each of 3 officers and 70 fusiliers)
-8 dragoon companies (each of 4 officers and 40 fusiliers)

The facing colour is ventre de biche, a pale brown or chamois. Figures are by Front Rank. Over the next few days I'll finish three more similar legions.

Russian Jaegers 9th Regiment 2nd Battalion

Progress!! Here is another Jaeger battalion, plastics from the Perry brothers. This is the tenth done out of twelve so we are marching on.

SYW British 12pdr Battery

A British 12pdr battery - figures by Foundry, guns by Elite. Elite make some of the best artillery pieces for the SYW and they are a good price too! I'm beginning to wind down for Christmas and getting in the festive mood.

Eureka's SYW Saxon Generals

These are lovely command figures from Eureka's Saxon range. The Saxons had established a uniform for officers of general rank in 1735, which was much earlier than most other European states, and which was based on the red coat which had been used from the 17^th century.

The problem, from a painter's point of view, is the shade of red was called Ponceau Rot, a very dark shade of red. To do this justice I've had to use three reds outside my normal palette range and I'm not absolutely sure of the shade. The excellent article on Kronoskaf http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=Saxon_General_Staff_and_Adjutants

does not help as the illustrations show a normal scarlet not a Ponceau Red. Still the figures are very pretty!

Schomberg Dragoons

This is the French Schomberg Dragoons in a uniform that became the model dragoon uniform that would, with minor changes, last France for over 100 years.

This regiment in fact was raised by Marechal Saxe in 1743 and, besides having both dragoons and uhlans within the regiment, looked nothing like this. This uniform dates from 1762 when it formally entered the dragoon establishment as number 17.

Figures are by Front Rank.