Monday 12 March 2018

Russian Pavlograd Hussars for 1805-07



Elite Miniatures Russian Pavlograd Hussars


Though it may appear that I have suddenly become a full-time painter with almost whirling dervish abilities with a brush and paint, nothing could be further from the truth.


My collection of wargaming figures is one which has evolved and incrementally grown on a slow simmer for many, many years.  The 1805-07 project in fact had its genesis in attending a MOAB Convention in Sylvania in Sydney many, many years ago.  It was a wonderful experience and it gave me the opportunity to meet Nathan and Scott who were running Elite Miniatures Australia out of Townsville for the very first time.  The lads had arranged to organise a big refight of Austerlitz, specifically the attack on the heights but a few other highlights thrown in for good measure, as a mode of promoting the range.


Nathan and Scott had organised a very quick painting up about 800 figures and with the help of great chaps such as Greg B, Dean , Matty "Bluewillow" W and pothers it was a great experience.


I ended up purchasing both armies and should post some photos in a few weeks of the actual game at the time.  We were much younger then that's for sure.


Long story short, I have slowly been re-basing the Russians, adding to the army whenever possible in order to finally have the figures, regiments, painting etc. that I can fight a fair few games in this period with the correctly attired units.  Many figures painted for me over the years have lain waiting to be based in boxes in cupboards for far too long.


Along with the Elizabethgrad Hussars these will give me a brigade of light troops not counting Cossacks


This particular regiment is a perfect case in point.  Commissioned over twelve years ago it has only been rebased in recent times.  It represents the Pavlograd Hussars in their 1805 attire.  There are, like so many Russian uniform details, many various sources.  I have read several accounts of different coloured toothing to the saddle cloths etc. however I am happy, as is the Funckens, that this will suit my lads.


I still remember looking at this plate as a boy and thinking how colourful these troops were
in a time where the Two Funcken volumes were nearly our only source of uniform details


I do very much enjoy the character in the Elite sculpts, though a bit more variety in the trooper poses would be
 welcomed with open arms especially for those of us without the skills of a Doug Mason!




Beautiful plate of an Officer of the regiment.


I have always had a soft spot for this particular period of the Napoleonic Wars.  The French at their height in terms of victories and Élan.  The Russians, Prussians and Austrians fighting against a modern foe with archaic tactics but courage and bravery abounding.  Let down by Commanders woefully ill prepared for fighting Napoleon and his Marshalls.


This particular regiment will take on the French alongside these fellows.


Should be quite a colourful brigade



26 comments:

  1. Colourful indeed. Most of my WSS stuff is based on the Funckens - which were, as you say, a bright source of inspiration in the dark early days.

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  2. Thanks for popping by Paul. Those Funken pages still show the wear and tear from my thumbing every page thousands of times. Still so many wonderful illustrations and so much to like in them.

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  3. Lovely looking hussars, I've still got my funken books for various periods, we have an abundance now of reference but I still think they're good!
    Best Iain

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    1. Couldn’t agree more Iain. They really were a god send for me when I first started painting figures all those years ago.

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  4. Handsome turned regiment. I had a question - do you have Carlo 32 pieces in the regiment, why so many? Or are you going to divide them into battalions?

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    1. Hi Dmitry. An interesting question as they were planned that way when I still played “In The Grand Manner” rules as they did at the Wargames Holiday Centre. Then we started to play General De Brigade and the size was an attempt to have some difference between nations. Of course in GdA, the designation of small, standard and large gives great flexibility in the unit sizes however I still will attempt to field differing regiment sizes for different nationalities- at least at this stage.

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  5. Excellent hussars, Carlo, dynamic and decisive! Base from MDF or PVC?

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    1. Thank you Serguiss and the base is 3mm MDF.

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  6. Lovely toys Carlo

    I think the Funken books were an inspiration to many of us... mine actually fell apart...

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Thank you very much Aly. Those Funckens reside on most of our book shelves that's for sure.

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  7. Very colourful with a joie de vie not seen in modern sculpts. They'll make a great looking brigade. I too have dog eared funken books that were my bibles for uniforms in the 70's!

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    1. Those Hussars always make colourful units on the table no matter what nationality they are, with the possible exception of the post 1808 Prussians that is.

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  8. I became momentarily confused by the sentence ‘quickly painted 800 figures’....

    I love buying painted armies, though I haven’t done so in a long while. What a great purchase you made! Nice job rebasing.

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    1. Wouldn't it be nice to have that kind of speed!
      Yes it can help a project move along well if the funds are there. I am increasingly starting to think that the time has come to sell of some of my non-core period armies such as SYW and maybe Dark Ages and simply continue to invest in Napoleonic's. Letting them go is SOOOOO difficult though!

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  9. Lovely Hussars Carlo - what is the 2nd or yellow coated unit?

    I agree, selling is hard, I'm contemplating something similar

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    1. Thank you Kerry. They are the Elizabethgrad Hussars and I actually showed them off in a post sometime early last year I think if you search Hussars. Let me know what you are thinking of possibly moving on and I’m happy to let you know what I’m looking to possibly move as well. Perhaps a deal can be arranged 😉 carlopagano@bigpond.com

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    1. Thanks Jonathon - these were a nice commission many years ago. Look the part.

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  11. Beautiful Hussars, yes got to have Pavlograds!

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    1. Thanks Mark. That yellow is just stunning isn’t it?

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  12. Thank you for the nostalgic view. Like others the Funcken volumes in French were basically all we had for our 1812 campaign games in c1968-72 in Cheltenham UK

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    1. You are more than welcome Chris. Those Funckens still do look magnificent after all these years don’t they?

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  13. Outstanding collection Carlo and thank you for the write about Elite Miniatures. It is fantastic to see the lads out on the table once again and into the light. I hope they will have many great battles ahead of them.

    Regards

    Nathan

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  14. Thanks very much Nathan. They are a great range of figures and you do a great job promoting them in ANZ mate.

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  15. They are a truly fine looking regiment, Carlo. BTW, just ordered my first Elite figures. I needed some Spanish Hussars in Mirleton, and they're about the only company that make them. Throw in some militia, generals and a few other odds and ends and you have a modest order!
    As far as unused troops, well, the thing is to get them on the table, my freind, not to sell them off like just so much chattel. :-)

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    1. Very wise words Peter. As fate should have it I ordered a few Elites today as well to fill out some gaps and prepare for a few command stands for this collection. I’m keen to get these lads on the field within a few months and I’m on target so far.

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