Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Back to the Franco-Prussians

With the arrival of parcel from the UK and the restoration of the lead pile a couple of Fridays ago my five month hiatus from figure painting is ended and I am back to working on the Franco-Prussians.

This time it is the French generals and a small unit of French lancers that were released earlier this year...actually it was July last year...My God the months have drifted by so quickly!

These are the first three brigadiers. 


Eventually there will be six infantry brigadiers, two cavalry brigadiers, a cavalry divisional command and three officers for the corps command. Since there are only three variants on this generals set, I will make a few head and arm conversions using spare parts from the plastic sets for the next batch.

Also riding off the painting desk are six figures representing two squadrons of the 6th Lancer Regiment, that rode disastrously in the charge of Michel's brigade at Morsbronn on 6 August 1870. Now most reference show the French lancers either wearing czapska or the kepi, but these are modelled wearing the bonnet de police. Apparently all options are relevant. The painting News from the Front by Georges Louis Hyon of the 2nd Lancers on the heights above Morsbronn just prior to their charge clearly shows them in the bonnet de police.





I have to say that when I last posted about the cavalry of this range (wayback in 2023) I was disappointed by the quality of the design. These figures show a significant improvement, particularly with the robustness of the swords.




Next to come will be more generals and the first of four regiments of cuirassiers.

16 comments:

  1. Well, you haven't lost your touch over five months. Lovely work Mark. Good to see the swords are more robust. Some of the Perry cavalry can look as though they are waving strips of tin foil around in the air.

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    1. I did struggle at first - I really need to look at some new glasses. That these are so simple is good...I might get my eye in by the time that I start the more complicated figures.

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  2. Lovely work Mark, the lancers look great, really nice figures.

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  3. Excellent work as always Mark and very nicely posed in front of AI (?) scenic images:).

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    1. Yes Inused an AI background because the figures seemed lost without it.

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  4. Great additons. I particularly like the lancers and approve of their choice of headwear - I always think it looks smart. I look forward to more.
    Changing heads and arms always sounds difficult to me.
    Stephen

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    1. Thanks Stephen. While the bonnet de police looks ratter natty, the helmets on the cuirassiers passing through the painting queue are more dramatic.

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  5. Love the extra work in the photographs.

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    1. Thanks Norm...just using AI to enhance rather that control the scene.

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  6. Nice beginning to your expansion of the French. Like the idea of your Generals swapping heads and arms.

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    1. Thanks Joe. Actually the head and arm swaps were quite easy...as the next batch will show.

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  7. Very good looking figures. Looking forward to seeing the French forces grow. That is a good use of AI.

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