Duvelier Farm- Siborne images courtesy of the National Army Museum, London

I'm presently working on two French battalions for Hougoumont but in parallel have begun work on the Plancenoit scenery - at this stage it's too soon to show the ground, but here are some photographs of the farmhouse from the Duvelier farm in the village just northwest of the church, known as Property 84 on the cadastral map.  The map is orientated eastwards.  The farmhouse is the building just to the left of '84'.

Here is the farmhouse, constructed by my father.  It's a small building, on two storeys.  The outbuilding is obviously unfinished.

The Siborne model of the farm - slightly blurry.  In the foreground is a barn (not yet built) burnout during the fighting. Siborne shows all his buildings without whitewash, but many other impressions show that buildings such as La Haie Sainte did have whitewash, even if was patchy with ageing.

The Duvelier farm is typically Belgian in design, built around a central farmyard and in consequence a natural defence point.  All the buildings had their roofs burnt, less the farmhouse.

This building would be further east in the village, but the same coloured shutters are shown on our farmhouse

Back of the house

The farm in relation to the church.  The west gable of the building is visible in this photograph.  The photo possibly stretches the width.

Aerial shot

In separate news, A Dutch friend has joined the project.  I won't use names, but his collection is magnificent - some 10,000 figures.  These have been boxed up for some time and he has begun the exciting task of taking them out of their boxes.  These French infantry are mostly Schilling, but many of his other figures are Art Miniaturen.

Another British friend has been working on a Belgian Line Battalion.  The results look excellent.

Grenadier Company.  I love the contrast of the red detail with the white of the line companies.  The kneeling figures are mostly Kennington.

Art Miniaturen

Pioneers from the Hat British infantry set.  An Art Miniaturen mounted officer.  A Rose figure on the extreme left.  Some Esci drummers and the inevitable Airfix. Kennington ensign and officer.

Line company.  Less the kneeling figures, these are Hat.

I presently have nine battalions, each of about 400 figures, in production with friends of the project: this Belgian battalion; the 18th Buckinghams; two Prussian battalions; an Old Guard battalion in greatcoats; a French line battalion; and three more battalions from Halkett's Hanoverian brigade.  The Elbe Landwehr cavalry, Bull's Troop and Prussian artillery top all this up.

Add in the 10,000 reinforcement, this adds up to about 14,000 figures, a massive leap in numbers.

Any one else interested in joining the project would be very welcome!