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The Best Napoleon?

The most important of important questions today for you 1/72 Nappy experts: in your opinion, which set offers the best pose of the man himself? I know Strelets and Zvezda have a couple of contenders, but are some of the competitors from older sets still relevant? Do not mind if he is mounted or dismounted.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

I have always thought (plastic) that the Strelets seated and Italeri mounted were the best can`t remember if Fraznap do him but the personalities they do are quite stunning.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Plastic:
Italeri staff set for Mounted pose.
Strelets Guard infantry at attention set for standing pose.

Metal:
SHQ/Kennington mounted figure.

If I had to pick only one, i would say Kennington/SHQ figure. Not entirely sure why, I just really like it!!

Re: The Best Napoleon?

The mounted Italeri version is ok if you want to stay true to the scale. I still use my dear old Minifigs Nappy as well as their Wellington, which I bought years ago when no personality figures were available in 20mm plastic. With 25mm they stand a bit tall but with such "larger than life" personalities that's only fair 😄.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

I've tried a few in my time. Here are some of my efforts:





Re: The Best Napoleon?

Great stuff as always, General Picton! I like the picture with the huge crowd of staff officers best. Splendid! Can you identify the different Napoleons for us?

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Wow!!

Thats a fair few "Boneys" you have there!
Excellent work again.

Yes please, if you could identify each one that would be grand. A couple I recognise but not all.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Rear left dismounted is Minifigs. Mounted with hand on hips is S Range. Mounted rear centre is Kennington. Mounted half profile is Italeri. Dismounted hands behind back is Qualicast. Half hidden, mounted is Hinton Hunt. Thin chap rear right with hands behind back is Legio. Front in greatcoat is Strelets. Front without greatcoat is a railway conductor with a head swap - Napoleon as the fat controller, a different and less well known aspect of his career.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Very nice. That's one of those days I regret Hanover ever decided to part ways with the United Kingdom ... :smirk: We might have had the same access to a wealth of miniatures in our youth ... instead we got overprotective mothers who protested at toy stores to remove all "war toys" from their stock. It's an unfair world ... :sob:

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Quite a varied collection there.

I have to admit, i too am a sucker for general staff figures!!

Think I have 4 Wellingtons, 4 Napoleons, 3 Pictons, 3 Neys & 3 or 4 Uxbridges. Oh and 2 Prince of Orange's!! One of the Uxbridges is a conversion of the hussar ADC from the Zvezda French HQ set. Gave him a sword and the rest was just painting really. He can then join the Household brigade in counter attacking French Cuirassiers!

Thing is i dont know whether Uxbridge with the shako or Uxbridge with the Busby is the one more representative of him at Waterloo.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Good question. The best answer probably is "as you like it". There's a lengthy discussion of Uxbridge's dress under

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=179346

but no conclusive answer I'm afraid.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Two hats, one leg.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Roger W
Thing is i dont know whether Uxbridge with the shako or Uxbridge with the Busby is the one more representative of him at Waterloo.
Hi Roger.

Originally I wanted to do Uxbridge in a busby, simply because I really like busbies. But in the end I kept the gold laced shako that came on the Strelets figure. I did mount the figure though, I think the commander of the cavalry kind of needs to be mounted:



Uxbridge's Waterloo uniform is displayed at his house, Plas Newydd in Anglesey, and includes the gold laced shako. There's no doubt that all of these items belonged to Uxbridge, but are they all from the same time or were parts of different uniforms put together at a later date?







The trouser leg is the one cut off by the surgeon prior to amputating Uxbridge's leg, so we know that is definately part of his Waterloo uniform. It's also an unquestionable colour reference for the mud at Waterloo.

The shako kind of looks like a later style but it also looks knocked about enough to perhaps be from Waterloo. The National Trust Collections catalogue for Plas Newydd dates it to 1815:

http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1175882

Interestingly the N.T. catalogue also has a busby dated as 1815 but it's listed as a tea caddy??

http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1175839.3

Most paintings of Uxbridge at Waterloo including the Dighton painting, which is hanging in Plas Newydd, show him in the shako:





All of the paintings were painted some time after the battle and it's possible that they were based on the Plas Newydd uniform. But that would mean the uniform was associated with waterloo not too many years after the battle. Which, perhaps gives it some credence.

There's some thought that the busby is part of his uniform as Colonel of the 7th Hussars or perhaps as a General of hussars in The Peninsula. But there's really no reason why he could not have been wearing that uniform at Waterloo. I still like busbies and if you do your Uxbridge wearing one I'd like to see it.

P.S. During the operation to fit my Uxbridge figure to his horse, one of the figures legs came off. :astonished: How authentic is that?

Re: The Best Napoleon?

He looks brilliant Graeme! I like that you used Dighton's painting as inspiration. Converting standing figures to mounted is a really pleasing 'operation'. The leg coming off is classic. Was it the right leg too?!

Regards, James

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Thats a great mounted Uxbridge there!! His leg fell off??!! Spooky!!!!
I agree the commander of the cavalry should really be mounted.

Well for with a Shako i just more or less did a paint conversion on the Hussar ADC that comes in the Zvezda French HQ set. Only alteration was attaching a hand with a sword on his outstretched arm.
My Busby version is the metal Waterloo 1815 one which im none too fussed on to be honest. I have an SHQ/Kennington Uxbridge with Busby but as yet have not painted him.
I have to find a better steed for him as I didnt like the horse that he came with...too big and heavy like a cart horse!

Re: The Best Napoleon?

IIRC it was the right leg, not the wrong one.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Great stuff Graeme! Brought forth a good laugh at my end.

Right in both respects then?! I did consider that 'right' was safe either way as I was not sure which myself, but a quick check before hitting 'submit' suggested it was, indeed, his right that is correct.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

I'm not sure but it seems you missed out on the first one of those (I think the sitting and standing Napoleon are in your collection but you missed to mention that they are Linear-B ...)

https://www.linear-a.de/shop-figuren/plastikfiguren/linear-b/

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Handlewithcare
I'm not sure but it seems you missed out on the first one of those (I think the sitting and standing Napoleon are in your collection but you missed to mention that they are Linear-B ...)

https://www.linear-a.de/shop-figuren/plastikfiguren/linear-b/
I believe they might be Strelets:





Interesting to see those metal figures though, anyone who is finding it impossible to get the Strelets Napoleon sitting with his foot on a drum without paying eighty dollars or so on e-bay might be interested.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Graeme, that are some most interesting figures in the upper image. They seem to be from PSR but I'm unable to find them. Can you help in identifying the set?

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Its one of the very early ones, from around 2002.
Strelets set 003
"Polish Infantry & French Engineers".

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Thanks!

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Dear General,

may we add to your collection yet another, a bit younger, 1/72 replica?

Best regards,

Strelets

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Ooooh interesting!

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Very nice, thank you Strelets. This must be on St Helena when he had to hold his own coat while doing the gardening. Previously, a valet would have been available.

Re: The Best Napoleon?

General Picton
I\\\\\\\'ve tried a few in my time. Here are some of my efforts:





That looks like the worst manifestation of a psychosis ever.

"I'm Napoleon!"
"No! I'm Napoleon!"
"No! I am!"
etc.

Great collection!

Here is an old picture of mine.

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

Steve Pickstock
General Picton
I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'ve tried a few in my time. Here are some of my efforts:





That looks like the worst manifestation of a psychosis ever.

"I'm Napoleon!"
"No! I'm Napoleon!"
"No! I am!"
etc.

Great collection!

Here is an old picture of mine.
Let's not forget Marengo in all of this. That famous white/grey Arab stallion is getting a lot of photo coverage here but little mention....

Best Marengo..??:racehorse:

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

Yep, gotta remember Marengo!!

Best Marengo is the Italeri horse..... well at least I put my SHQ/Kennington "Boney" on a Italeri horse anyway!!

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

That horse is probably the true reason for the ferocious charge of the Scots Greys. They saw Nappy on his grey horse and said "Hey he's stolen one of ours! Let's go get him!" :relaxed: :relaxed: :relaxed:

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

Haha!!! As a owner of a grey horse I liked that one!!!!

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

Flambeau
That horse is probably the true reason for the ferocious charge of the Scots Greys. They saw Nappy on his grey horse and said "Hey he's stolen one of ours! Let's go get him!" :relaxed: :relaxed: :relaxed:
Well, here is the relevant clip from the film 'Waterloo':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsVziFEWLlM

I have always, always, wished that the Producers and Directors of this film could have portrayed the charge of the Union Brigade better. They had the riders, they had the grey horses, they had the special effects, but.....the dialogue is awful (ie: (Napoleon) "we'll match them with our lancers"...really???? Frenchmen, many raw recruit teenagers, with lances on tiny horses against ferocious Scotsmen with 42 inch hacking sabres on huge great grey horses??), and the cinematic shots are awful as well. The Scots Greys charging at full pelt at nothing...... Where are D'Erlon's infantry that they are meant to be attacking??

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

Knowing your (history) books too well can spoil a lot of fun when watching them made into a movie ... I still like this one despite its inaccuracies. The old "War and Peace" is far worse in its depiction of Borodino. Sometimes we do behave like hardcore Tolkienists critizing Peter Jackson's trilogy. Seems to be a professional habit 😄. Let's remember it's still a HOBBY. That said, yes the deficiencies of that scene are ... mmpf ... blame it on budget redtrictions. At least Pericoli showed them the correct uniforms.

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

Good old TV & film industry!!
Still entertaining though!!!

There definatley were lancers involved in the counter charge (3rd & 4th I think), but so too were Cuirassiers and I believe some Chasseurs a Cheval. I have read somewhere that the guard light cavalry lancers/Chasseurs also may of been involved but im not too sure on that one.
I think its assumed that it was all lancers that countered the Scots Greys due to what happened to Ponsonby. Certainly isn't true though.

As for lancer effectiveness, well I guess the lance has a longer reach, but apparently it was still possible to parry it away. I think a big factor to take into account, is the Scots Greys would of tired and the horses been "blown" from the charge in thick mud. They would of been exposed and probably outnumbered so even if they fended off one trooper, there was probably another ready to thrust or stab.

Once the fresher light cavalry of Vandeleur and i think de Ghingy arrived, that probably levelled things up allowing the heavies to fall back.

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

Roger W
I think a big factor to take into account, is the Scots Greys would of tired and the horses been "blown" from the charge in thick mud. They would of been exposed and probably outnumbered so even if they fended off one trooper, there was probably another ready to thrust or stab.

As is often the case, a fair amount of mystique has built up around 'The charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo' (and Lady Butler and her fine painting is partly to blame for this!).

Let's be honest: The tactical reason for the charge was to halt D'Erlon's 1st Corps infantry. The charge simply got a bit out of hand.

Let's also remember that the Scots Greys were about 30% of the Union Brigade by numbers of effectives. The other two regiments, 1st Royal Dragoons and 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons were at least as strong; but they did not ride grey horses and had the 'ordinary' heavy cavalry helmet rather than a fancy bearskin (in oilskin cover).

But they were just as fearsome...they have simply been lost in the mists of time, and to military myth.....

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

"As is often the case, a fair amount of mystique has built up around 'The charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo' (and Lady Butler and her fine painting is partly to blame for this!)."

Good painting though!! If not perhaps accurate!

Yep there is a certain amount of folklore involving that charge definately. The charge did indeed get out of hand.
The Royals & Inniskillings are no less important. Captain Clark of the Royals also captured an Eagle, that of the 105th Ligne, but that isnt as well mentioned or portrayed as the one captured by Sargent Ewart of the Scots Greys.

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

Roger W
\"As is often the case, a fair amount of mystique has built up around \'The charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo\' (and Lady Butler and her fine painting is partly to blame for this!).\"

Good painting though!! If not perhaps accurate!

Yep there is a certain amount of folklore involving that charge definately. The charge did indeed get out of hand.
The Royals & Inniskillings are no less important. Captain Clark of the Royals also captured an Eagle, that of the 105th Ligne, but that isnt as well mentioned or portrayed as the one captured by Sargent Ewart of the Scots Greys.
Indeed, and here is another good painting (Denis Dighton):

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

Wellington always believed that the only man who could handle British cavalry - which was otherwise a 'fire-and-forget' weapon - was Sir Stapleton Cotton, who sadly wasn't at Waterloo.

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

Let's not forget Le Marchant who sadly died at Salamanca.

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

Roger W
The Royals & Inniskillings are no less important. Captain Clark of the Royals also captured an Eagle, that of the 105th Ligne, but that isnt as well mentioned or portrayed as the one captured by Sargent Ewart of the Scots Greys.
Roger.

I think one reason for that is the fact that there is no controversy regarding Sgt. Ewart's capture of the Eagle. Everyone knows that Ewert took the Eagle, and I've never heard of anyone claiming he didn't. We can celebrate his remarkable achievement without the intrusion of any negative undertones, a glorious moment for both Ewert and The Greys.

Not so with the capture of the Eagle of the 105th. Some say Captain Clarke took the Eagle, others say it was Corporal Stiles. The capture of this Eagle should have been a glorious episode for the Regimental history of the Royals but instead it is one sullied by an ugly spat over who actually took it. Personally I suspect it was down to the combined efforts of at least four men, Clark and Stiles included, whether one of them could have done it alone, who knows?

Re: The Best Napoleon? And the best Marengo?

That is very true. I was aware of the controversy, and was i suppose just referring to the fact that another eagle was captured by members of the union brigade.

Wonder if it wasnt some sort of "class discrimination" that was to blame?

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Dear generalpicton,

Your production is absolutely marvellous as ever! Napoleon and his Napoleon staff is a real wheeze—reminds me of 'Rimmerworld'!

The second photo of the Emperor and mounted staff is magnificent. Is that the one for your brilliant the diorama? (You may be keeping that 'under your hat'—unless I have missed it on your blog?—so I'll understand if you 'neither confirm nor deny'!).

Regards, James

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Oh my! Thank you to Picton, Strelets for the preview, and everyone else. That is a most persuasive young Napoleon there, might have to bide my time a little. But yea, I need Marengo too. I can see how one may end up with a few Napoleons... :grin:

Re: The Best Napoleon?

Thanks Handle with Care, you can only have so may Napoleons, so I chopped his head off and sat him in front of La Belle Alliance with an infantry shako and his foot on a drum:


Re: The Best Napoleon?—the first of vingt et un

A little vignette that I put out for this week's bicentennial of the death of the Great Man.



Having begun with la mort de Napoleon I'm now working forward from 1796 with the other 20. There won't be one per year but rather a few different command stands and/or vignettes, inspired by famous paintings. A few are partially completed others to be commenced, all planned to be done in this last of the bicentennial years. Strelets' Napoleons feature heavily.

Regards, James

Re: The Best Napoleon?—the first of vingt et un

A very different diorama to the norm and certainly one very inspiring & definately one well executed.

Top work there James. Very thought provoking.

Re: The Best Napoleon?—the first of vingt et un

Great work James, very nice!

Re: The Best Napoleon?—the first of vingt et un

Great idea James and very well realised, I really like this.

I look forward to seeing the rest of the series.

My favourite Napoleon and Marengo is the Italeri mounted figure. I managed to get the now very rare Strelets Napoleon sitting with with his foot on a drum, which I think is a fabulous figure, but an army commander needs to be mounted and the Italeri figure does everything you need it to.

My Wellington, Blucher, and Major Henry Percy are also Italeri. Gneisenau is an Italeri figure with a Strelets head. Orange, Brunswick, and Picton are from Waterloo 1815. But Uxbridge, Hill, De Lancey, Richmond, Ney, Grouchy, Bulow, and sundry other personality figures are all from Strelets. And wonderful figures they are too.

Re: The Best Napoleon?—the first of vingt et un

Very good, I particularly like the fact he is dying with his hat on:wink:

Re: The Best Napoleon?—the first of vingt et un

Boots too Alan! :)

Thanks all for your supportive comments.

Bonaparte and staff at Castiglione, based on the painting by Boguet, is next in line. I have spent time this morning doing some prep. and simple conversions for a stand for Marengo, based on detail from Lejeune's famous painting, which will be number five in the 'series'.

Re: The Best Napoleon?—the first of vingt et un

Speaking of Castiglione. There was an 1/72 Republican general Bonaparte by Bruno Arnal ...

http://bennosfiguresforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=106800

:relaxed:

Re: The Best Napoleon?—the first of vingt et un

I have used an Imex Washington from the "George Washington's Army" as the basis (and a figure from the Accurate "American Militia" for Pont a'Arcole). Improvising and adapting are all part of the fun for me.

James

Re: The Best Napoleon?—the first of vingt et un

Thanks for sharing James! This thread just makes me happy in general. :grin: