I've been collecting Napoleonic figures in 1/72 scale since I think about 1972. My collection was largely of the Airfix variety, mostly yellow with some Old Guard in grey; painting was terrible until about 1976, then I got better. In the '80s some Esci entered the collection, but it was only about 1993 that I began to collect in earnest.
By the late '90s, I had a model which had outgrown my house so I dismantled it. For many years, the figures lived in boxes, growing in numbers but without any means of being displayed.
Since about 2010, I've been clear about the target: a full-scale reproduction of the battle of Waterloo in 20mm.
Here are some photographs of my work to date.
First, some cavalry:
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| 2nd Lancers of The Guard |
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| Carabiniers |
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| Mamelukes |
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| Chasseurs a Cheval |
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| Cuirassiers |
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| Horse Grenadiers |
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| Dragons de L'Imperatrice |
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| 1st Lancers |
And some Allied squares
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| My Allied squares have come on well. Each one is about 400 figures on scenery and ready to be attached to the main diorama. |
Some artillery
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| Krahmer's battery. Several hundred guns and crew wait to be turned from painted figures into batteries like Krahmer's |
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| Guard Foot Artillery |
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| Marins et Genies de la Garde |
Buildings
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| La Haie Sainte |
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| Over the wall at La Haie Sainte |
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| Trimotion |
La Belle Alliance
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| Imperial carriages and escort squadron |
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| Imperial HQ |
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| Old Guard march down the road to La Belle Alliance |
Hougoumont
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| Inside Hougoumont |
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| The killing zone at Hougoumont |
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| The garden at Hougoumont |
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| The lane south of Hougoumont |
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| The kitchen garden |
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| The woods at Hogoumont |
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| Approaching the South Gate at Hougoumont |
Papelotte
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| Papelotte Garden |
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| Papelotte annexe |
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| Approach to Papelotte |
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| West side of Papelotte |
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| Papelotte Front Gate |
Outside Help
In order to speed up production, last year I appealed for support to help with the painting of figures. I've had a great response and presently have some kind friends working on:
Four battalions of Hanoverian Landwehr in Hugh Halkett’s brigade (1600 figures)
A battery of Prussian Artillery (300 men, guns, horses and limbers)
Bull’s Battery, RHA (300 men, guns, horses and limbers)
A company of the Old Guard (100 men)
A Belgian infantry battalion (400 men)
60 Landwehr cavalry
20 miscellaneous figures
Here's one of the Hanoverian battalions:
and here are some of the Belgians:
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And a Prussian limber:
I am also a trustee of Waterloo Uncovered, a small charity conducting archaeology at the battlefield and helping serving soldiers and veterans. Waterloo Uncovered are approaching their contacts to see who might like to volunteer. I provide the troops, they derive pleasure from being part of the project by painting the figures.
If there is anyone else out there who would also be interested in joining this project do please let me know, it would be great to involve more of you.
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