Napoleonic Austrian Army Part 1

Austrian Napoleonic Army part 1

In the late eighties I originally had an 15mm old Glory Austrian army which I sold to replace with Old Glory and Foundry 25mm which never really grew much past a brigade as I had moved back to Sydney by 1995.

In that year I met a bunch of crazy guys in the Australian Napoleonic Society, who were playing 1-20 figure ratio rule set In the Grand Manner. Dean Carpenter really kicked off a arms race that lasted for 5 years at least until I moved south to Goulburn in 2000. At this time I also found two lifelong mates Greg (Unlucky General) who played the dastardly British,  and Raoul, a Italian/Austrian who loved his Austrians so much he eventually built the entire Austrian Army for 1809 at 1-20 in 15mm and 28mm!  

Raoul Palese, my great Austrian adversary,
 MOAB 1997 Light cavalry battle eleven 24 figure regiments per side.

Raoul's Army was all MINIFIG 25mm and a few Hinchcliffe Uhlans (40 from memory) and he continued to build with MINIFIG until he completed his project. Raoul and I played a lot, possibly every week sometimes two or three day games in Campaign season (My holidays). We had some fabulous games on his 30ft table in his shed. On his 80th Birthday I gifted him my Foundry Austrian infantry, two batteries of artillery and a Cuirassier regiment. The 1st Austrian Cuirassiers 6 squadrons strong (48 figs), Hoch and Deutschmeister 48 figs and a battery of artillery for display. This Year Raoul turns 90, I am planning on sending him a reproduction Austrian Flag of his favourite unit the Trieste Landwehr (the pirates), may he continue to roll well!

When I gifted Raoul most of my units I sold the remainder and with the cash replaced a lot with Front Rank figures, ALL of this remains unpainted....….. However this year I intend to start painting it along with a few regiments from Revolutionary Armies range (early pre 1805) Victrix plastics and Perry plastics, plus the new Perry plastic cavalry, predominantly will be for 1805 campaign, but will stretch to 1809 ok. These units will be painted in the grand unit sizes still and be used for General de Brigade rules (or Grand Manner-Black Powder).

After I complete my Baden cavalry and two Prussian Infantry Reserve regiments I will crack on with my Austrians!


cheers

Matt

Baden Dragoons, 1st regiment 3rd Squadron

 3rd Squadron Baden Dragoons

The third squadron, while researching I have found the sword knots designated the squadrons, so I need to go back and add that to my figures, plus Murawski do not have a standard bearer, so a conversion is required I think, simple sword raised chap will do it. Happy again with the grey horse!

Baden Dragoons Murawski Miniatures

Happy with the grey!

Baden Dragoons, chasing off pesky Austrians!

cheers

matt

Baden 2nd Squadron 1st Regiment of Dragoons

 Baden Dragoons, 2nd Sqn, 1st Regiment

The next squadron hot on the heels of the first, the Murawski miniatures are a pleasure to paint with good detail as a whole. for the second squadron I removed the epaulette fringes on the officer to make him a captain, rather than a major. Particularly happy with my grey horses, which I do hate painting.

Murawski 28mm Baden Dragoons

Baden Dragoons

cheers

Matt

Baden light dragoon Regiment 1st sqaudron

 Baden Light dragoon Regiment 

The first squadron of my Baden Dragoons are completed, I have a full Regiment of 4 squadrons to complete for the regiment. I am using the Murawski 28mm range which are very nice. I will also publish a research article on the Baden army as I like to clear up everything before I paint a range.

Baden Dragoons, 1st sqn, 1st Regiment

Cheers

Matt

Colonel Ignace François Bousson, Colonel 2e Regiment Chasseurs

Colonel Ignace François Bousson, Colonel 2e Regiment Chasseurs 

Another Colonel completed for my revamp of my French cavalry, hopefully he can chase off with his regiment some pesky Austrian or British riflemen!

Colonel Ignace François Bousson, Colonel 2e Regiment Chasseurs 

French Colonel Pierre Bonnemains, 5th Chasseurs a cheval

French Colonel Pierre Bonnemains, 5th Chasseurs a cheval

I am revamping and rebasing my light cavalry division to bring it in line with my newly painted regiments of cavalry, while I am updating and even touching up some of the regiments I am adding extra colonels, ADCs, brigade commanders and division commanders. It is good to get back to painting Napoleonics as they are my first love when it comes to wargaming and I have a predominantly French 1805-09 army.

First up is Colonel Pierre Bonnemains, colonel of the 5th Chasseurs

cheers

Matt