54mm Charge of the Scots Greys

[scottie3158]

Neil,
The modifications you are making are excellent.

[Jon Heptonstall]

Fantastic work on the horses Neil.
The cuirassier in the painting appears to have lost his sheepskin shabraque which seems to have been common.A contemporary report on one regiment found that most sheepskins were in a deplorable state anyway.Most troopers probably didn't have pistol holsters but some certainly did.
Jon.

[Guest]

The sheepskin probably got saturated in the previous night's storm. Would have weighed a ton when waterlogged. This painting by Jerome Sennef depicts Napoleon reviewing the cuirassiers on the morning of Waterloo:

[ATTACH alt="c6c6aca49cf6952eb07d402be24d347b.jpg"]362574[/ATTACH]

NB Rain-soaked ground and absence of shabraques.

[Andy Belsey]

The reason why you can't see sheepskins in Peter's painting or the one you're copying is that those guys are officers, who had different saddle wear. That doesn't mean that you have to make your figure an officer, Neil.
I'm liking what you're doing.
Andy

[Guest]

Well done Andy - that's cleared that one up. No suggestion that Neil should do it any differently from the way he is of course.

[Jon Heptonstall]

I'd suggest the cuirassier is a trooper.Officers didn't generally carry the portmanteau and cape.Sheepskins were often used by officers but in black wool.
Jon.

[rtfoe]

Ok just to throw a spanner in did any spot leopard skins?

Cheers,
Richard

[Neil Merryweather]

Well........that's all very interesting,thanks guys.
Genuinely.
I didn't know any of this, but I couldn't be bothered researching it too deeply ,either.
I realise I forgot to mention that as the model is different from the painting (in that it has a sheepskin) I'm not going to be too slavish over the detail, .........except where I am:tongue-out3:
There are other issues like the lack of gloves(the model has them), and the foul weather cover for the Scots Grey which has already been pointed out-I probably would have left it as is, but out of respect to Peter Gillson I will be modelling it.
Otherwise it's going to be entirely down to how I feel at the time. In some cases I will be utterly pedantic and in others absolutely laissez faire.
So, before I commit myself, he needs a number on his portmanteau. The model has a 7, but it's so bad I am going to replace it - does anyone know WHICH regiment of Cuirassiers he should or could be? I read somewhere that the 5th were in every battle of Napoleon's.
We already know he should be infantry so let's not go there again....
Thanks for the interest guys
N

[Peter Gillson]

Nice work on the sheepskin. All coming along nicely.

Peter

[JR]

Neil. Most impressive work on the sheepskin, as for the surgery mind-blowing.
I knew we could expect some but this is exceptional.

[Neil Merryweather]

Peter, John
Thank you kindly.

Now for the Cuirassier himself.
I need his leg under the horse to set the angle so I can get all the other stuff like the blanket looking right, so it’s time to get on with it.
I did some more drastic surgery to get the correct twist in his legs and pelvis-
Look away now if you’re squeamish!

I struggled and struggled with this arrangement

Until I just thought ‘sod it!’ and got rid of the crotch altogether

I got the legs into the correct position and built up the crotch with Milliput

I ‘surgerised’ the kit arms as well to get the positioning right.

I could have used straight arms from the spares box but at least this way I know they are in proportion to the figure. Fortunately the hands are more or less the same as the painting, although I am not going to get hung up replicating it precisely,as I have already said. It’s the spirit and dynamics I am aiming for.
Near enough is good enough for me (except when it it isn't....)

For instance ,I have decided to remake the epaulettes. Those on the kit arms are very softly detailed , not to mention designed for being the right way up. That’s going to fun……

Thanks for looking in
Neil

[JR]

Neil absolutely brilliant. :thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:

[Andy Belsey]

Looking good Neil.
My Waterloo Companion says that the 1st and 4th Cuirassiers we’re tasked to protect the flanks of d’Erlon’s infantry. I don’t have a high res copy of Berkeley’s painting but I wondered whether he has a 4? (I have shingles, so had the time to check for you.)
Andy

[Andy Belsey]

Poor chap! “I got rid of his crotch altogether” ouch!!
Andy

[Neil Merryweather]

Looking good Neil.
My Waterloo Companion says that the 1st and 4th Cuirasiers we’re tasked to protect the flanks of d’Erlon’s infantry. I don’t have a high res copy of Berkeley’s painting but I wondered whether he has a 4? (I have shingles, so had the time to check for you.)
Andy

Sorry to hear about the shingles , Andy- you've really taken a beating over the last couple of years, haven't you?
Job springs to mind....... lets's hope there's nothing else on the horizon!
Thanks for the research. I have checked the larger picture I have (not great resolution ,either) but there are no numbers visible- the only clue is a red collar (I know some of them had yellow or white) so hopefully that narrows it down a bit.

And I hope you feel better soon- but don't rush back to work or you can trigger the shingles again
cheers
neil