French Line Infantry 1815

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Ratch
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French Line Infantry 1815

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This kit was originally tooled in 1975 and was released from 1975 to 1978, possibly reissued in 1980, and again from 1991 to 1994.
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History:
The ordinary line infantry made all of Napoleon's victories possible. The Bardin uniform was introduced into the French army from 1812. The square-lapelled short-tailed coatee and the trousers were in common usage. By 1815 the French infantry wore a double-breasted short-tailed jacket or habit-veste in blue with red collar and cuffs piped white. White lapels piped red and white turnbacks. Brass buttons. White waistcoat and breeches. Most infantry at Waterloo wore greatcoats. The gaiters were shortened to end below the knee before 1815. Shako. The rolled forage cap was kept under the M.1801 cartridge pouch with the red tassel hanging out below, and they would have a canteen or flask or mess tin. While such things were not issued by the army, almost everyone carried these essential items in one form or another. They had the M.1777 musket and bayonet with 406mm blade. The fusiliers carried their bayonet on the lower part of their crossbelt on the front right hip and did not have a sabre. The M.1801 knapsack was made from cow hide with two (and later three) straps. The greatcoat rolled on top and held by the straps.
The voltigeurs still wore a sabre despite repeated orders to the contrary. The elite grenadiers and voltigeurs still wore pompons, which again was common despite having permission to wear plumes. The light infantry - chasseurs - have a sabre and bayonet combined frog suspended by a belt over the right shoulder, and also fringed epaulettes, which mark them out as elites.
In reality the uniform was often far less smart than this by Waterloo, and in particular many men wore trousers over the breeches and gaiters, and a cover on the shako.

Reference:
Brassey’s History of Uniforms Napoleonic Wars Napoleon’s Army ISBN 1-85753-220-1

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Flesh sprayed
Andrea Color 1st Shadow = primary flesh
Andrea Color 2nd Shadow = secondary flesh
Andrea Color 1st Base = third skin spray and ninth skin tone
Andrea Color 2nd Base = fourth skin spray
Andrea Color 1st Light = fifth skin tone
Andrea Color 2nd Light = sixth skin tone
Vallejo Model Color 19 70927 Dark Flesh FS32555 = seventh skin tone
Vallejo Model Color 20 70845 Sunny Skintone = eighth skin tone
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Ratch
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Re: French Line Infantry 1815

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Painting will start shortly
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Clashcityrocker
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Re: French Line Infantry 1815

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Watching, and learning.

Nigel
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Ratch
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Re: French Line Infantry 1815

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Welcome aboard Nigel :grin:
Vallejo Model Color 31 70957 Flat Red = collar, cuffs
Vallejo Model Color 53 70930 Dark Blue = coat
Vallejo Model Color 169 70950 Black = shako, shoes, ammunition pouch, scabbard, frog
Vallejo Model Color 1 70951 White = lapels piped white, cuff flaps, trousers, gaiters in summer, cords to the shako, pack straps, piping to cuffs, turnbacks, small clothes, belts
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Clashcityrocker
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Re: French Line Infantry 1815

Post by Clashcityrocker »

I see you paint both pairs of arms. Not made a decision yet on which to use?

Nigel
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Re: French Line Infantry 1815

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That's right Nigel - decisions, decisions :lol:
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Re: French Line Infantry 1815

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I've basically followed the instructions assembly sequence, discarding unused parts to my spares box for other figures.
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Champaign bottle lead foil for the belts.
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Vallejo Model Color 131 70981 Orange Brown = calfskin pack
Vallejo Model Color 50 70899 Dark Prussia Blue / Vallejo Model Color 49 70807 Oxford Blue / Humbrol Acrylic 65 Matt Aircraft Blue = bedding roll
Vallejo Model Color 149 70872 Chocolate Brown = musket stock
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Re: French Line Infantry 1815

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Just the groundwork to add and this will be completed

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Clashcityrocker
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Re: French Line Infantry 1815

Post by Clashcityrocker »

Nice. This is the figure where you add the thumb to the right hand? It makes it look like a claw :) You've done better than I did though :)

Nigel
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Re: French Line Infantry 1815

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That's the one ;-)
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Re: French Line Infantry 1815

Post by Ratch »

Completed
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