PlaymoFriends
Creative => Customs Gallery => Topic started by: tanotrooper on September 28, 2010, 23:12:55
-
Hello everyone,
one of the most famous (military) historical periods is the Napoleonic Wars. Napoléon Bonaparte, who gained control of the republic and turned it into a glorious empire, gave his name to this period as it started and ended with him. Although there had already been campaigns in Italy, the Netherlands, Egypt, etc. Napoléon was truly considered to be a powerful strategian and enemy at the battle of Austerlitz in 1805. Here he crushed the united army of Austria and Russia. The conflicts kept on raging throught Europe, going from hot Spain to the freezing Russian winters. Eventually, the returned emperor (he had been banned to the island of Elba) gathered his forces to attack during the Hundred days campaign in Belgium. There, the 'grande armée' found its demise at the hands of an allied army consisting of many different states and countries at the battle of Waterloo on the 18th of July 1815. The emperor died in exile on the island of St. Hélène in 1821.
In this thread, I'll be posting various Napoleonic troops, both French and... non-French. ;D
Sadly though, Playmobil hasn't really produced much of the specific headgear of this period such as various type of shakos (with the exception of the Redcoat shako and the Victorian one.) but I'll try to give it a shot! :D
Up first is a French cuirassier (curassier) from 1812-1815:
(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/Tanotrooper/playmobil/napoleonic/cuirassier1.jpg)
The French cuirassiers were feared and respected amongst foes. Their name comes from their steel armour, a curass, which was worn in combination with the helmet. The armarment consisted of a meter long straight sabre (much longer than the enemy's) and either pistols or carbines. The carbine, a shorter model of the infantry musket, which issued in 1812. It wasn't very accepted by the troops though, and many still used their old pistols until the end of the wars. Inspections at the time also showed that a lot of cuirassiers didn't carry their ammo pouches. They would carry a few cartouches in their pockets since they didn't need them that much. A fully armoured cuirassier weighed in at approx 150 kg, allowing only the strongest of horses to be used. These horses could endure a brief charge, but needed to rest afterwards to regain their strength again.
Cuirassiers were selected on height and experience, using the tallest men on the tallest horses. The cuirassiers served as shocktroops, and charged right into enemy lines, using their weight to their advantage.
CHARGEZ!
(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/Tanotrooper/playmobil/napoleonic/cuirassier2.jpg)
(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/Tanotrooper/playmobil/napoleonic/cuirassier3.jpg)
(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/Tanotrooper/playmobil/napoleonic/cuirassier4.jpg)
construction of the helmet:
(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/Tanotrooper/playmobil/napoleonic/cuirassier5.jpg)
I used the Roman helmet, yellow crest, a black LEGO minifig hand, a black cuff at the end and black feathers.
When I have new customs, I'll update this thread, thanks for looking! :) :wave:
-
I used the Roman helmet, yellow crest, a black LEGO minifig hand, a black cuff at the end and black feathers.
Well I’ll be it is…
;)
-
wow!!!!! :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
-
Very nice custom, tanotrooper! I thought that was a lego hand. :)
-
Never would have guessed the Lego hand bit...
Great custom! He looks magnificent. ;D
And thanks for the in-depth history detail. :)
Great job! :wow:
-
This is very nice I like the combination of the roman helmet and the breastplate...
Good job tanotrooper!!!
-
Neat figures...Me like! ;D
-
I love the "Charge" photo. Great work tanotrooper!
-
Great work, TT, :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: and thank you, too, for the background detail. It's much appreciated. :wave:
-
As close as one can get with original parts and suitable additions (great idea to use the lego hand). ;D
I wish we had this as a set with the release of the next horse and pony stable.
-
I'm bringing this thread back to life! >:D
Since my last post, I have been able to obtain some parts which I had been looking for for a long while. I've finally gathered enough to create a decent amount of French infantrymen, and thanks to the pirate duopack I now have the perfect torsos for British infantrymen.
But first: French fusiliers (1805-1815)
(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/Tanotrooper/playmobil/napoleonic/frenchfusiliers1.jpg)
The french fusilier was the standard line infantryman and was the backbone of Napoleon's armies. They were the 'average' soldier,equipped with the Charleville musket and matching bayonet. Since they were line infantry, they fought in massive formations, firing volleys and charging with the bayonet. The effective range of a musket at the time as 5O meters, but firefights were usually held at 100 meters. (At the battle of Waterloo, this meant that only 1 per +/- 460 bullets actually hit the target they were intended for.)
There are basically three formations for line infantry:
-Line: the basic formation. Line formation is the best formation to fire in. Since the line is only a few ranks deep, the troops are spread over a longer distance, and the firepower increases. Spreading the troops has its advantages against artillery fire but the line formation is very vulnerable to enemy cavalry when they attack from the sides or rear. The standard French (and continental) line is three ranks deep, the British standard line is two ranks deep (to improve firepower since more men are able to shoot at the same moment). At the battle of Waterloo, British troops formed lines four ranks deep, so that they could quickly change to square formation. (A lot of enemy cavalry was present at that day.)
-Square: the square is vital for protection against cavalry. The troops form a closed figure (usually a square but in battle this could be a circle, rectangle, ...) which provides protection from all sides. This way there is no weak point in the formation, and the cavalry usually can't break through. (Horses usually aren't too fond of pushing themselves on bayonets.) When the enemy numbers are overwhelming though, a square can break which usually ends up in a slaughter. Holding the square is vital.
When in square formation, the troops cannot move. Only very experienced units are able to maintain the order needed to march in square formation. (Like the last charge of the Vieille Garde at the battle of Waterloo.) Since the men are packed together and can't move, a square is often a favourite target for artillery.
-Column: the column is usually used when marching, but can be used in battle aswell. The French were very fond of this formation, since the tight packing of men had an emotional effect on the front rows, which were supported by their comrades at the back. This was ideal for a bayonet charge but the column has a lot less firepower than the line formation. It also makes a great target for artillery.
Some blame the extensive use of columns instead of lines for the French defeats.
The french fusiliers were better shots than the enemy line infantry since they were trained to aim at a certain target, whereas most were just trained to fire an untargeted volley.
Enough chitchat, here are the pics! ;D
(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/Tanotrooper/playmobil/napoleonic/frenchfusiliers2.jpg)
The bayonets are kept on the right whereas most troops carried it on the left. (French fusiliers carry only one belt, except for NCO's.) Fusiliers used to carry bicornes but they received new uniforms and shakos from 1805 on. The uniform changed a bit in 1812, but it isn't noticable on this level of detail.
(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/Tanotrooper/playmobil/napoleonic/frenchfusiliers3.jpg)
Hope you like them! :D
Gaetano
-
Fabulous! Great background information too. I love the way you have posed the figures for the photographs
-
very nice customs again Gaetano!
...and thanks for your very informative "chit chat"! :)
-
I like the use of this old torso thingy with modern type legs!!! Well done!!!
-
Marvellous customs and i loved your detailed presentation.
-
Great customs !!!
-
:clap: :clap: :clap:
Magnificient customs. You even used lego! Very cool 8-)
The second photo of the first series is .... :high5: :cham:
-
Great job! I love the detailed history too. :wow:
I learn something new each time. ;D
Love your fusiliers! :clap:
Next will you show us your British infantry, or more French? :D
-
Again, this is incredible! :clap: