Wednesday 8 March 2023

Prussian Horse Artillery, 1870

Presented here are the last two light (4lb) batteries that I am doing for my Prussian army in the Franco-Prussian War.




These are representing the horse batteries attached to the 5th Cavalry Division, specifically Captain Bode’s 1st Horse Artillery Battery, 4th Field Regiment and Captain Schirmer’s 2nd Horse Artillery Battery, 10th Field Regiment.



This completes work on this collection for now. All that remains to be finished are six heavy (6lb) gun sets and a dozen or so mounted generals, which have been released yet.

25 comments:

  1. Excellent work as always Mark. I find myself with an extra two hours or so this morning, as there was some kind of accident on the motorway overnight involving a chemical fire and when I reached the on ramp at Bombay, traffic was backed up all the way back down into the Waikato, so I just turned round and am back at home for a couple of hours till it clears! Don't have my laptop here so can't work either!

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    1. Thanks Keith. It may be more than a couple of hours for you. There was a truck on fire northbound on the motorway. It will take time to clear that and I suspect there is damage to the roadway too. I am here in the office and there are only four of us in a building that normally accomodates 150…could be a quiet day here too.

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    2. Yes indeed, it was. I tried again at eight thirty but after forty five minutes had not even reached the motorway and went home for a second time. I left the third time at eleven and it only took me fifty minutes to reach work, as the road was cleared....what a day!

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  2. Unplanned time off. Sounds like painting time.

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    1. Sadly no time off for me…I had no problems getting to work.

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  3. Lovely work there Mark and I'm enjoying finding out little bits of info about the units and materiel used during the War.

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    1. Thanks Steve…I am anticipating the arrival of the French some time in June.

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  4. looking good Mark the traffice here is still backed up heading towards silverdale ! I was all set to run some errands to the art shop for brushes

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    1. Oddly I had a good run to work this morning, but a slow trip home…a lot of trucks seem to have re-routed to the south-western motorway, that I use.

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  5. Nice looking guns. I love the one guy who is facing backwards, like he is looking for something or someone. 😀

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    1. Thanks Stew. I was at first a little confused about how to use that figure, until I realised that he is carrying the charge bag (the brown leather bag) so his job is to carry the round from the limber to the gun. In this set the round has already been delivered and ready to be loaded, so his job is done and he is going back for the next round.

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  6. These are lovely sets and you have done them beautifully as usual Mark. This has turned into quite a collection and six guns and a dozen generals leaves little left to complete.

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    1. Thanks Lawrence. I will be pleased to finish the Prussians to be honest. I want to move onto the French.

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  7. Good conversions, Mark. Where did you get the slung swords from? I've always found that the hard part. Strictly speaking, the horse artillery version of the 4-pounder didn't have the axle seats, because all the gunners were mounted.

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    1. Thanks John. I would have liked figures without blanket rolls, but there you are. The slung sabres are spares from the Napoleonic Allied Cavalry boxed set command sprues - with each sprue you get a number of spares - and since I did nine units, there were enough for all four gun sets.

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    2. Ah, that makes sense. Only 2 or 3 in each set, because the trumpeter and standard bearer won't have drawn swords, but with the numbers you do...

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    3. Quite right. Plus there were a few others kicking about from other unidentified sets to make up numbers. I have become quite a hoarder of spare plastic parts…you never when they will come in useful.

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    4. Ah, I've just noticed there is going to be a sprue available separately from the Perry Russian Uhlan set, with (lance arms and) six slung sabres! Just what we need for any more horse artillery conversions.

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    5. Ironically I had noted the same and was going to email you! No more horse artillery for this collection, but the Russian uhlans are on the cards for sure.

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  8. Lovely looking guns Mark...

    All thje best Aly

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  9. Mark I remember your Original Collection of Armies from this Period and so good to see you are putting these together again I admire your passion and devotion to making all this happen keep up the great work .. :)

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    1. Thanks Paul. I’m getting ready to start with the French when they come out in April…although I will have to wait until June because of some planned travel.

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