Zaragoza Light Infantry 1808

[Bill Slavin]

Continuing with a theme, I painted up another battalion of round-hatted Spanish infantry for my ever-growing Spanish army. So good to be back at my painting table!
The beauty of painting the Spanish, as a wargamer, is that you will literally never run out of new and varied units to paint. This week’s offering is the blue-coated light infantry formed in 1808 in defence of Zaragoza during its prolonged sieges over 1808-09.
There are more photos and a bit of history here on my blog.
https://tinywarsplayedindoors.blogspot.com/2020/03/zaragoza-light-infantry-1808.html

[Bluefalchion]

Brilliant stuff and eye candy as always!

You may have answered this elsewhere, but why has Napoleon's Peninsular Campaign always held a special interest for you?

[Bill Slavin]

Brilliant stuff and eye candy as always!

You may have answered this elsewhere, but why has Napoleon's Peninsular Campaign always held a special interest for you?

Thanks, Aaron. The short answer is a friend suggested the Peninsular War when we discussed gaming Napoleonics a few years ago. Up until then I had only gamed WWII, focussing on the Sicilian/Italian campaign.
The plan was he would paint the British and I would paint the French. I’m up to about 1200 figures, French and Allies, British, Portuguese and lots of Spanish - my friend has completed a British battery.

[carlosfaro]

That is very funny and interesting, not only peninsular, but specially the Zaragoza double siege, which seems not be very popular by foreign wargamers (everybody use to play Los Arapiles, Vitoria.. wherevr the British were)

1808 battles (alone Spanish vs French) need more attention for sure, spanish country with irregular and regular forces inflicted the very first defeats to mighty Emperorr (Zaragoza, Bailén...)

Greetings from.. Zaragoza

[C M Dodson]

Lovely as always and the horse seems impressed too.

I notice that you have a few head variants.

If you fancy some bare headed chaps I would suggest the Newline bare headed gunners as a source.

Nice faces and cheap too.

Best wishes,

Chris

[Egbert]

Wonderfully staged figures …
I love the atmosphere of the peninsular Campaign which you bring to life.

[Beano Boy]

Very impressive works. Yes and i like that little space of created illusion. BB

[Bill Slavin]

That is very funny and interesting, not only peninsular, but specially the Zaragoza double siege, which seems not be very popular by foreign wargamers (everybody use to play Los Arapiles, Vitoria.. wherevr the British were)

1808 battles (alone Spanish vs French) need more attention for sure, spanish country with irregular and regular forces inflicted the very first defeats to mighty Emperorr (Zaragoza, Bailén...)

Greetings from.. Zaragoza

I totally agree, Carlos! Although I'm not likely to game the sieges of Zaragoza as they don't adapt well to a game - just liked the look of these guys! - there are scores of Spanish/French battles worth gaming in Spain that are at a scale well-suited to a battalion level game. I read through Oman and have a wish list of dozens and have happily teamed up with a fellow gamer who knows more about the Spanish end of the war then anyone I know. Alcaniz will be our next go around wth Maria to follow.

[Bluefalchion]

Bill you have fallen pretty far down the rabbit hole of the Peninsular Campaign. Are there any carrots down there? Keep up the good work, I love it all.

[carlosfaro]

I totally agree, Carlos! Although I'm not likely to game the sieges of Zaragoza as they don't adapt well to a game - just liked the look of these guys! - there are scores of Spanish/French battles worth gaming in Spain that are at a scale well-suited to a battalion level game. I read through Oman and have a wish list of dozens and have happily teamed up with a fellow gamer who knows more about the Spanish end of the war then anyone I know. Alcaniz will be our next go around wth Maria to follow.

WoW you really know a lot on the subject, ibfind It funny to find the name Alcañiz in this forum (it is just a little town 1h away from Here)

[lobo]

Bill, brilliant unit, scenography, layout and photos. The Spanish War of independence is a not ending source of interesting stories…
Congratulations for your blog¡ I like it a lot¡
Antonio.