Friday 28 September 2012

Kiss my Quatre Bras!





On the afternoon of the 16th June, 1815 a troop of French Lancers burst through the shoulder high crops, that grew around the strategic crossroads of Quatre Bras, smashing into the back of the 'Black Watch' who were still formed in line in readiness to face the enemy infantry. The courage and fortitude of the men of the 42nd Highlanders must have been herculean, for not only did they withstand the charge, but formed square so quickly and precisely that a good many Lancers were trapped inside – not an enviable place to be when faced with four lines of ferocious and somewhat peeved Scotsmen!


Now I keep trying to tell my good friend, the ‘Provost Marshal’ that this Napoleonic era nonsense will never catch on in respect to wargaming, but try as I might he continues to squander my advice choosing instead to continue his unabashed love affair with the era, in particularly the uniforms of those ‘oh-so-dashing’ French; so what better birthday gift, thought I, than painting up something ‘elegant’ and Napoleonic just for him!



These ‘Northern Gents with questionable manners’ are from ‘Westfalia Miniatures’ and are sculpted by none other than the very talented Mr. Hicks – who does seem to feature quite heavily here at ‘28mm Victorian Warfare’.  As soon as I saw them on Kawe’s brilliant ‘Großbeeren 1813’ I just had to have them, admittedly they are not ‘elegant’ per se but they are certainly Napoleonic and add just the perfect touch of irreverence to a birthday gift!



A little touch of terraforming, using some off cuts of blue foam board and a piece of the fencing from the Perry’s farmhouse set, hopefully helps to convey the impression of those shoulder high crops around the cross roads on that fateful afternoon .

Before & After


All that remains to do is to wish the ‘old fella’ a very Happy Belated Birthday! 







64 comments:

  1. Hilarious! Great present.
    "when you care to send your very best" ;)

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  2. mate that is awesome. Im painting mine just now and i bloody love this.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you; they were a joy to paint, looking forward to seeing yours - so to speak!

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  3. Lovely painting and a great pun on the title!

    From the looks of it you only painted the underside of the kilts as stripes and not checkers, which is great. Most people would have forgotten that the pattern looks different on the reverse!

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    1. Thank you and I have to confess that the different pattern on the underside was not intentional - obvious though now I think of it.

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    2. In that case... I shall tell no one! ;-)

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  4. Lovely vignette Michael, and what a fabulous present for your friend :)

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    1. Thank you Tamsin, hope he likes it as this will be the first he knows of it!

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  5. You cheeky monkey :) Brilliant!

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  6. Awesome Michael!!! Love your work.

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    1. Thank you Rodger, really kind of you to say so.

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  7. This. Is. Brilliant! Great work on this. Show'd the wife this saying I would paint it up for her father for xmas.. still trying to get feeling in my face after the reply :)

    Again great work, and the details in the landscape are top notch! Really works well together. Congrats!

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    1. Thank you Mr Lee and I hope that it is only a temporary loss of feeling to the face - ouch! :D

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  8. Superbly done and brilliant figures. I'm sure he will be pleased with his present!

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    1. I hope so too, but I certainly enjoyed doing it; thank you.

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  9. Wonderful job, and great backstory. I can only hope to do half as good a job on the ones I bought.

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    1. Thank you Derek and I have no doubt that yours will be wonderful, the miniatures themselves were just a delight to paint.

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  10. Excellent present!!!
    Theyéd better watch out if they are going to jump over the fence..I mean..they aren´t even wearing Jock straps.
    Cheers
    paul

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    Replies
    1. Historically their shirt tails would be showing but this little set works just fine.

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    2. *groan* Nice one Paul! That said a string of barbed wire across the top would certainly make the eyes water!

      Thank you Scott, but is it me that has missed the shirt tails or the sculptor?

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    3. Not you sir. The sculptor was going for comic effect I'm sure. I've worn the clothes in the past as a Rev-War Highlander.

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  11. That is such a good present, I am sure it will go down well with him

    Ian

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, surely must be worth a beverage or two! ;)

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  12. Fine painting of soft targets.

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  13. WOW!
    I now have no doubts of what is hidden beneath the Scottish kilts..
    You're such a thoughtful guy...with a cheesy taste! I like them very much Michael. Thank you for sharing. :)

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  14. The flesh tones, British scarlet and the tartan are superb and all finished off on a fantastic little base that really sets the scene.
    If you could do a little tutorial on the tartan at some point in the future, it would be appreciated Michael?

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    1. Thank you Pat, that is very kind of you. With regards to a tutorial have a look here:

      http://28mmvictorianwarfare.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/big-wullie.html

      My humble attempt at a 'how to'.

      All the best,

      Michael.

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  15. Replies
    1. Thank you Captain, very kind of you to say so.

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  16. Michael, what can I say? I've just returned from a visit to Awdry Towers with my present - so thank you very much. I do, however thin it lacks a certain something - how about half a dozen of Kellerman's finest cavalry?

    Thanks for the preview of October's posts - and remember, light blue for yellow for that hopping chappie's outfit.
    There will, no doubt, be a pint or two of foaming ale when we next find ourselves in the Local.

    Pip pip

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    1. You are more than welcome my good man; great to catch up this morning and I look forward to the foaming ale!

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  17. Great birthday gift which should give him a good birthday chuckle. Well done!

    Christopher

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  18. Outstanding, Sir! What an impressive little vignette!

    ...or whatever you call that thing under a Scotsman's kilt...

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  19. Oh My God I am scarred and scared. Gosh there Michael there are wonderfully painted and a great diorama. Top work

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    1. Thank you Pete, great fun to do and certainly seemed to go down well.

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  20. This is an amazing diorama! I don't have words to express myself! Spectacular!!!

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  21. Really fantastic piece; marvelous work. Best, Dean

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  22. Wonderful and funny, a great work!

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  23. Fabulous work, Michael, a such a superb gift. Bravo!

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  24. You have a very, very lucky friend. Truly a masterpiece

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  25. Hilarious and beautifully done! Well done on getting that plaid pattern to work on the upraised kilts, can't have been easy!

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  26. Thank you for sharing these. Your painting is acem but this base-work is just stunning.

    Please ask your friend if he's alright with having these on the Westfalia page too.

    Kawe

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  27. What a birthday gift! If he don't want them, I give you my adress! :-D

    Great scene!

    Greetings
    Peter
    http://peterscave.blogspot.be/

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  28. oh my *blushes* this is.... um... amazing.


    Hilary :)

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