- The Airfix Tribute Forum -

Beaufighter · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 14:31 pm Post subject:

I have the Cuirassier and probably a complete Lancer from spares, although I'm not sure about the horse and did one of these for SMW '07 anyway.

If we were going for one 54mm kit, I'd vote for the Cuirassier as being one I've never done. Or indeed for a Carabinier, which is essentially a converted Cuirassier with a Life Guard's helmet, a black horse, and a new paint job.
_________________
circumveniat quod circumiret
500346

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 15:11 pm Post subject:

Are we talking any 54mm (1/32) figure or Napoleonics only.....I have accquired some more Airfix Multipose figures!

FWIW & All the best
Sgt.S
_________________
ATF Unverified Spam Appreciation Society - Founding Member

"The Monkeys Are Going To The Stars!"

Ratch · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 15:23 pm Post subject:

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 15:34 pm Post subject:

Actually I'd be quite prepared to have a crack at one of those old fashioned fellows.....It's just that I haven't actually got any of them right now!

I've got a BIG diorama planned** for my 1/32 Crusader III, but at my build rate it will probably take me a couple or three years to finish it!

FWIW & All the best
Sgt.S
** Still need a couple of bits.....Notably a Matchbox 1/32 Citroën Traction Avant 11CV!

_________________
ATF Unverified Spam Appreciation Society - Founding Member

"The Monkeys Are Going To The Stars!"

Beaufighter · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 17:49 pm Post subject:

Actually have 3 cuirassiers if anyone needs one.
_________________
circumveniat quod circumiret
500346

Ratch · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 18:28 pm Post subject:

Cuirassiers all round then Think

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 18:30 pm Post subject:

realthing · Yellow Star Joined: 26 Jul 2009 Posts: 134 Location: UK

I'd give a Napoleonic figure a go - haven't built one since I was a kid.

Ratch · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 21:24 pm Post subject:

Have you got one in mind

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

realthing · Yellow Star Joined: 26 Jul 2009 Posts: 134 Location: UK

Don't have any in stock but by coincidence saw a couple secondhand today - the Polish lancer and the hussar. Weird or what?

Happy to have a go at any to be honest

Beaufighter · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 21:35 pm Post subject:

The painting instructions are a bit dubious with both the lancer and the hussar. The lancer shouldn't have any red on him; the red should be Polish crimson, which is a sort of deep fuchsia pink.

The hussar doesn't actually look like the 10th Hussar he's supposed to be. I reckon he's either a 15th Hussar or a member of the King's German Legion.

Either kit can, however, be made up into an accurate figure by painting appropriately. It's not like either of them is the 54mm equivaletn of the Defiant, or anything.

I'd be up for either the cuirassier or the lancer. If we went for the lancer, I'd do him as either the Red Squadron or possibly as a Brunswick uhlan in a black uniform with light blue facings, because I've already got one built as a Polish lancer.
_________________
circumveniat quod circumiret
500346

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 21:45 pm Post subject:

My finger twitched in eBay and now I am the proud owner of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAP...476194492&_trksid=p2759.l1259

Please tell me that price isn't too outrageous!

I also hope these are the right chaps and someone knows how they should be painted!

FWIW & All the best
Sgt.S
PS - I can't believe I just did that!

_________________
ATF Unverified Spam Appreciation Society - Founding Member

"The Monkeys Are Going To The Stars!"

Ratch · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 21:48 pm Post subject:

That's about par for evilbay

I have lots of notes regarding uniforms

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 21:52 pm Post subject:

Excellent.....I'm in then!

I really should finish off my previous diorama before I start this one though.....Which means quite a lot of work TBH!

All the best
Sgt.S
_________________
ATF Unverified Spam Appreciation Society - Founding Member

"The Monkeys Are Going To The Stars!"

Beaufighter · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 22:08 pm Post subject:

PM inbound.

The Airfix painting guide is pretty good.
_________________
circumveniat quod circumiret
500346

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 22:20 pm Post subject:

Many thanks Beaufighter!

_________________
ATF Unverified Spam Appreciation Society - Founding Member

"The Monkeys Are Going To The Stars!"

Ratch · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 22:32 pm Post subject:

Sign up to the new usergroup guys

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

Beaufighter · Posted: Mon 12 Oct 2009 23:03 pm Post subject:

Napoleonics are actually a bit of a liberating experience, because there is categorically no such thing as the "right" colour for anything.

Napoleonic uniforms were coloured with vegetable dyes. These are what is called "fugitive", meaning they change colour. In fact, the uncut fabric started to discolour while it was still on the roll!

By the time a uniform had been stitched together, worn, cleaned, rained on and sun-bleached for a few weeks, it was a completely different shade, and possibly even a different colour. Black uniforms turned green, white uniforms turned grey, red uniforms turned brown and dark blue ones turned every colour between light blue and yellow (really).

The French had it worst of all. British control of the sea completely interrupted the supply of dye used to make French uniforms blue. So they had to improvise something else, and the result was that their uniforms turned purple and often eventually a sort of snot green.

So between this and the fact uniforms were made in hundreds of different workshops, there is no such thing as the right colour for anything (except steel and whitened crossbelts).

Even if the French had tried to enforce standards, they'd have faced a unique problem because amusingly enough a lot of their uniforms were made in...England!

Oh yes they were! The French were so short of uniform production capacity that when they invaded Russia in 1812, they ended up buying uniforms from factories who'd subcontracted the work out to...Courtaulds in Manchester. They're still a huge textiles outfit today and the "Napoleon tenders" gave them a big helping hand.

It's kinda hilarious, really. The idea was to seal Europe's borders against British imports. The only way to seal Russia's borders was to invade. The only way to equip the invading army was to buy lots of uniforms, but oops, the enemy has won the tenders!

There was a bit of a political debate about it over whether Courtaulds should have been allowed to do it. On the one hand, we shouldn't be helping the enemy to invade our ally Russia. On the other hand, the allies' interest was best served by making sure Napoleon invaded our ally Russia...so we couldn't risk his not doing so...in which case, why not make a few quid out of it!

When the Russians found out they went completely spare, and this (among other issues) was one of the reasons the allies nearly went to war with each other in 1815, until Napoleon turned up again and focused everyone's minds....
_________________
circumveniat quod circumiret
500346

Ratch · Posted: Tue 13 Oct 2009 10:27 am Post subject:

I suppose knowing the starting colour of the uniform will help decide its faded colour

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

Beaufighter · Posted: Tue 13 Oct 2009 11:06 am Post subject:

Not necessarily Ratch, because (eg) greens were made from blue and yellow dyes and the blues were more fugitive than the yellows.

Soooo, a clapped out dark blue coat wouldn't necessarily be a lighter shade of blue. It might be just as dark, but greener. Or the blue might turn into purple, and purple plus yellow = brown.

Napoleonic uniforms were not nearly as spick and span as they're often depicted. Before dry cleaning and the steam iron even guards units must have looked quite shabby.
_________________
circumveniat quod circumiret
500346