Another little group of command figures emerges, blinking, into the bright lights. This is an example of the classic 1805 regulation uniform. Ordenes Militares were the 31st line regiment of the Spanish army; like Navarra (24th), America (26th) and Jaen (30th) they had dark blue facings, but the configuration of white lapels, blue collars and white metal buttons identifies them uniquely. I'll get their flags printed up during this next week.
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| You know what they say about men with big noses? - that's right, the Colonel of the 31st can smell the enemy miles away. This is a Falcata casting. He is wearing his sash of the Order of Sant Iago. |
Top work Sir! The officer does seem to have a rather large hooter!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Ray - yes, it's the pride of the regiment!
DeleteYou have been lucky, getting so much sets from Falcata!
ReplyDeletecheers
Uwe
Hi Uwe - I guess so! The major part of the infantry of my 1809 Spanish army is NapoleoN - I bought loads and loads of those (does anyone have any of NapoleoN's Spanish grenadiers, by the way, or the cavalry figures?). I bought quite a few Falcata too - eventually I think I had about 6 boxes of the line infantry, maybe 8 of the grenadiers, plus a stack of the guerrilleros and the round-hatted voluntarios and militia - I even got a couple of packs of the Baylen-type Spanish lancers. Some of the round-hats came direct from Falcata, during their Twilight Zone phase, and I think some of these have never made it into full production yet. In theory, the Falcata range is still available - I think LaFlechaNegra in Madrid sells the new-style packs, though I don't know how much of a supply they get from the casters. I was finally put off by dreadful casting quality - I have some artillery figures which are not good at all. I never got any of their Spanish dragoons, and only a few of the light infantry (I still keep an eye open).
DeleteI am a big fan of the original Spanish Falcata figures (the Tomas Castano sculpts) - I bought all the remaining stocks from the UK supplier, and from a well-known stockist in Holland and I even got some on Todo Colleccion (?), which is a kind of crazy Spanish version of eBay. It is an expensive and frustrating way to do it - I have plenty of odd command figures, and a good few skirmishers, and most of my grenadiers will be Falcata, but the mix of poses in the boxes and the number of miscasts means a small proportion are suitable for wargames units. For the new 1809 troops, I will finish up with just one battalion of marching line infantry, and I have boxes and boxes of loading figures. Not a good return for a lot of hunting and a fair amount of cash.
The NapoleoN figures are great - ideal for wargames - they are the backbone of the army!
Where else could I have fun like this? :-)
Regards - Tony
Excellent work Tony - will we be seeing your Spaniards in action soon?
ReplyDeleteThanks Ian - I certainly hope so. Serious outbreak of Real Life recently has left insufficient time for actual gaming (not quite true, it's more a lack of organisation and peace of mind - whatever that is...), but the intention is to get something set up sometime in the next few weeks.
DeleteVery attractive figures, and quite distracting. Stop it, I'm trying to concentrate on Prussians!
ReplyDeleteThat man there! - eyes FRONT! Get on with them Prussians, lad.
DeleteDon't start on Spaniards - that's a lone furrow, and your chums will make jokes about you...
Martin emailed to ask what's in the glass that seems to be distracting the bareheaded colonel - nothing very exotic in this instance - Courvoisier VS.
ReplyDeleteI find it is perfect for getting the brushes really clean.
Phew. I thought it was a mis-placed urine sample.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work Tony, no bull my friend, they look the part :)
ReplyDeleteMay I quickly add ...... Liverpool/Chelsea Saturday, Go on you Reds, lets hope you can do what the Hammers did!
They look wonderful, Monsieur. My word, though, that chap has quite the schnozz, doesn't he? Obviously a gentleman of breeding.
ReplyDelete