Friday 2 May 2014

Spanish 28mm Army

I couldn't resist putting the whole army together as a group before they get stored away whilst they await the advent of their French protagonists:



















This was a fun project, although I am not sorry that it is over especially as it was on the back of around seventy or eighty 15mm Essex Spanish units which I am also in the process of finalising. I have probably now painted enough Spanish to last me a life-time:


















I like this picture as I believe it conveys some of the diversity of colour that can be found in a Spanish Napoleonic army, in this case the Irlanda, Ultonia, and Swiss regiments, a light battalion and an artillery battery.


































All up, the army includes the following:

  • 19 line battalions (including the 1st and 2nd Irlanda and 1st Ultonia battalions)
  • 2 composite grenadier battalions
  • 3 Swiss battalions
  • 1 Guard battalion
  • 2 light battalions
  • 4 militia battalions
  • 7 cavalry regiments
  • 2 artillery batteries
  • 1 guerrilla unit

Which is around 709 infantry and cavalry figures, with 98 horses and 6 cannon.


















My next project is to put the finishing touches on some 15mm Spanish, and then move on to Portuguese in both 15mm and 28mm.

22 comments:

  1. Magnificent, Lawrence. I have enjoyed following your efforts on this spectacular project. That is a HUIGE Spanish army - when I start mine in about a yuear, it will likl;ey be about 1/3 tro 1/2 that size at the most!

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    1. I did get a bit carried away in the end, but quite enjoyed myself on this project.

      I'm looking forward to seeing yours Peter, when you have completed your Waterloo project.

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  2. OK - I am really impressed. That just looks fabulous. I just received three regiments of Spanish cavalry from Nathan so that is my next Spanish project.

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    1. I'll look forward to seeing those completed Brian. I haven't actually seen the Elite figures first-hand, but the British you have already done came up beautifully.

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  3. They are OK from my initial look at them. Nowhere as as crisp a detail as the Front Rank ones have but look good en masse. I got two regiments of dragoons/line cavalry and a unit of hussars (using Prussian hussars with mirliton type hats). It was that or the Eagle Miniatures ones - which look quite good too as it happens (at least as far as I can tell fro their website)

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    1. I ended up going the Eagle Miniatures route for my Spanish Chasseurs and Hussars. They are quite finely detailed, but are slighter when compared to Front Rank. Of course a lot of figures do, and they don't look out of place as separate units on the same table.

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  4. Absolutely wonderful stuff Lawrence. A really beautiful army - and to do it all again in 15mm is clearly an indication that you enjoy being spanked on the wargames table! Or prefer that an army looks great to how it performs. If my 15mm efforts turned out half as nicely I'd be very chuffed with myself.

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    1. Thanks for the kind words LittleArmies. The 15mm army has ventured out a few times now and managed to hang on quite bravely each time. A refight of Albuera was the closest they have come to a win, and they performed quite well as they did in the real battle with the eventual loss being due more to mistakes on my part, and also some bad weather which allowed the French to get up close without having a shot fired at them. It was a fun game, all the same.

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  5. A splendid army, for sure! An excellent paint job, I've got a Spanish army too, in 15mm, but yours is really excellent!

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    1. Thanks Phil. I was pleasantly surprised how much variety there was to be found in a Napoleonic Spanish army, and there was always something to keep me interested.

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  6. This is a great idea! I might try some kind of parade style photo shoot as well. Looking forward to some games I expect?
    Best wishes
    Jeremy

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    1. Thanks Jeremy. The main reason I did it is because they will probably be packed away for a year or two until I can get some French painted, and this way I can get come back and remind myself what I have got without having to haul out the boxes again. I am looking forward to their first game, but as the group I play with each week play mainly 15mm Napoleonics it may be a little while longer.

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  7. Lawrence,

    I have nominated you for the Leibster Blog award.

    Peter

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    1. Thanks Peter, much appreciated. I'll look it up now and try to return the compliment.

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  9. This is amazing and inspiring, Lawrence!

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  10. Thanks for the kind words Noss, much appreciated. Some lovely work over on your blog too, I must say.

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  11. I keep coming back to this page. Probably generate half your page hits on this one. Just stunning - I am going to have to get painting to get 30+ battalions of Spanish onto the table. I got about ten if I include my guerrillas.

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    1. Thanks Brian, and sorry I missed your comment until now. Thirty plus battalions will look superb, and I hope you'll manage a group shot once they are completed.

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    2. Oh, I see what you meant there Brian (penny slowly dropping). To be honest, it's all a slightly distant memory now, two years on.

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  12. Wow! Lawrence, this is an impressive sight! You have superb Spanish collection.

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    1. Thanks Jonathan (and apologies for having missed the comment earlier).

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