Waterloo in 20mm Request for Support

[Captain Sibourne]

I've been collecting Napoleonic figures in 1/72 scale since I think about 1972. My collection was largely of the Airfix variety, mostly yellow with some Old Guard in grey; painting was terrible until about 1976, then I got better. In the '80s some Esci entered the collection, but it was only about 1993 that I began to collect in earnest.

By the late '90s, I had a model which had outgrown my house so I dismantled it. For many years, the figures lived in boxes, growing in numbers but without any means of being displayed.

Since about 2010, I've been clear about the target: a full-scale reproduction of the battle of Waterloo in 20mm.

Here are some photographs of my work to date.

































































Outside Help

In order to speed up production, last year I appealed for support to help with the painting of figures. I've had a great response and presently have some kind friends working on:

Four battalions of Hanoverian Landwehr in Hugh Halkett’s brigade (1600 figures)

A battery of Prussian Artillery (300 men, guns, horses and limbers)

Bull’s Battery, RHA (300 men, guns, horses and limbers)

A company of the Old Guard (100 men)

A Belgian infantry battalion (400 men)

60 Landwehr cavalry

20 miscellaneous figures

Here's one of the Hanoverian battalions:





I am also a trustee of Waterloo Uncovered, a small charity conducting archaeology at the battlefield and helping serving soldiers and veterans. Waterloo Uncovered are approaching their contacts to see who might like to volunteer. I provide the troops, they derive pleasure from being part of the project by painting the figures.

If there is anyone else out there who would also be interested in joining this project do please let me know, it would be great to involve more of you.

[Susofrick]

I love massive projects like this! Had some plans to make my own Waterloo, but I can't keep to the same theme for too long and I wasn't a very good painter while I was doing it. The figures are quite bad, but I had fun and realized in time I could do other stuff. But I'm still quite a lot a Waterloo-buff (even though I slept over when ABBA won).

[Egbert]

Wow...it's a hammer...fantastic work.
I love your wonderful painted figures very much
and then in this overwhelming amount.

[Emperor]

Great project. Glad I saw, first picture is the best.

[Bessiere]

I was born on the wrong continent, I should have been in the UK or Europe so I could participate in something like this. I'd love to but have too many commitments to possibly help out. I do have a question though; where did you get the Chasseurs a cheval? I love those pics of massed cavalry!

[Captain Sibourne]

Hi Bessiere, the Chasseurs are a mixture of the Revell set (with pelisses added), some Airfix, Hinton Hunt, Qualicast and the odd Kennington.

[Bill Slavin]

I saw this posted on TMP as well! I hope you find some painters - it’s a glorious project.
I was tempted to offer my brush to the cause but my eyes aren’t up to the task right now. And 400 figures is a huge commitment! But I will think about it...
In the meantime, could you tell me who manufactures the limber in the last photo? Thanks!

[Captain Sibourne]

Dear Bill, many thanks - I hope you can be tempted perhaps by fewer figures. It's an Art Miniaturen limber - I love the way he puts life into his figures. His website is here:https://www.schmaeling.de

Best wishes

[Bill Slavin]

Thanks. Yes, the energy is fantastic!

[Marvin]

What a wonderful sight! It makes me feel better too about the number of Waterloo figures I've got (a lot, lot less...).

[Beano Boy]

If you are in self isolation due to recent world wide events and changes, a couple of boxes of figure painting might fill in lots of the time.
i only wish that i could paint these days, rather than being able to.
So i cannot help with such useful colored dippings. BB

[Captain Sibourne]

Thanks BB it's certainly true that COVID-19 could do wonders for this hobby!! I hope you are keeping well.

[Andre]

Hi Sibourne,
I totally recognize the dream. I have been collecting and painting 1/72 Napoleonics for decades now and am at about 20,000 of which 10,000 are suitable for Waterloo. My problem, which i suspect is shared by many fellow hobbyists, is where can we ever find the space to (permanently) display them? Do you have that kind of space available?

[Beano Boy]

i am OK, Captain. Isolation is no problem for me as i am a recluse anyway. My Mrs B, finds it strange missing friends and brothers and sisters in our congregation,but we are all on ZOOM! now and fully supporting one another by keeping in touch each day.i refuse to dress formally though and so they get to see what a real Hobbit looks like now. It is good to communicate when isolated . BB

[Captain Sibourne]

Well done BB, keep your pyjamas on, at least to the waist, when on Zoom!!

Dear Andre, that's quite a collection. My project has the backing of a couple of British charities, Waterloo 200 and Waterloo Uncovered. We are also close to the UK's National Army Museum and Royal Armouries. If you were interested, 10,000 would be a very respectable reinforcement!

[Andre]

Hi Sibourne,
Why not? i have been thinking about such a project for quite some time and even proposed a similar venture to the Dutch and Belgian National Army Museums, but to no avail. My collection includes about 35% metal figures of Art Miniaturen and others but also a lot of the familiar plastic brands. I am still painting like there's no tomorrow to keep up with all the recent Strelets releases.
I can see that you have already covered some significant parts of the battle, especially in the center. I also have quite a bit available at the right side of the battlefield around Plancenoit. Perhaps we can start by sharing a sketch of the units and positions that you still need, so i can see what part of the collection would be able to fill the gap. Let's also take the discussion off line.

[gbvarese]

Dear Captain Sibourne,
You have done an unbelievable work! This would deserve to be located in a museum with appropriate explanation to illustrate the various phases of the battle. It would be an excellent intrument to teach the history of the XIX century to the local schools.
Congratulations!!! One cannot do more in terms of quantities of figurines deploied and accuracy of the context. This work will remain a milestone.
Gio.

[Beano Boy]

i like and honor the response this topic is receiving. Captain i never wear them! BB

[FredG]

Captain i never wear them! BB

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! Once read never forgotten

[Captain Sibourne]

Dear Andre, that's fantastic. It sounds like we could have a plan. Plancenoit is quite a big gap in my project which it would wonderful to fill. It's never wise to exchange emails over a public forum but I believe Benno's has a private message facility - let me have a look. Best wishes Capt S