Royal Artillery

[Captain Sibourne]

I recently did a review of Allied batteries at Waterloo and realised just how much work needs to be done to get them all ready. Fortune favours the bold and I approached my painting team to see who might be willing to take on batteries. A host of volunteers came forward and each has been sent a British, KGL, Hanoverian or Dutch battery.

I now present the first two batteries, one of which is Royal Artillery and the other Royal Horse Artillery. Each battery is shown with five guns and one howitzer and accompanying limbers. The caissons are not yet shown but will follow.

Two controversies have arisen. First, were the caissons forward on the gun line or held to the rear. Specialist advice suggests some were forward and others ran a relay system from the artillery park in the rear. They will be shown thus.

Secondly, the thorny subject of gun colours has come up. These two batteries are largely by Andre and are magnificently executed. The guns are shown in the grey-blue which is widely considered the right colour. However other sources from original guns suggest that a plainer anthracite grey may be more appropriate. Other British, KGL and Hanoverian batteries will be shown in this way.







































Hope you enjoy, more on my blog at http://generalpicton.blogspot.com

[k.b.]

More joy to behold for those Nappy fans among us. My favourites are the Royal Horse Artillery. Ever since getting the Airfix set in my childhood I've always had a soft spot for them.

[Captain Sibourne]

Thanks KB, much appreciated. It's amazing the way the RHA Airfix set has stood the test of time, though I struggle to use the galloping train horses when all my batteries are at rest.

[Zed1]

Well - here's a very long but interesting essay about the 'colour question': http://thenapoleonicwargamer.blogspot.c ... olour.html

And this is simply the point - depictions of guns on paintings have always to be seen under the aspect of lighting. Grey looks certainly darker under a heavily clouded sky. Plus you must consider the 'state' your guns are in - the longer they've been in service, the more the colours appear to look darker. Same thing vice-versa with the red uniforms of British infantry. Red is the colour that fades out the quickest. So after months of campaigning under the Spanish sun, British uniforms looked more dull and pinky instead of blood red.

So in case of the artillery pieces, the answer to how greyish they looked like is more or less 'it depends...'.

[Captain Sibourne]

Wise words Zed - all colours are highly elastic over time, in different light conditions and with mud and dust.

[Bessiere]

I enjoy seeing every new addition to the project and knowing so many minds are poring over every detail to remain as accurate as possible. Aside from the finished product the lessons learned from working with such a diverse group is a story of it's own, overcoming every challenge on the way towards the final goal. Personally, I find visualizing the finished piece to be impossible; it's too large, diverse and dynamic to conceive in it's entirety. This is why I must find a way to get my butt across the pond to see it in person when finished.
Cheers,
Bessiere

[Captain Sibourne]

You'd be very welcome Bessiere! Being mainly stored in my shed the usual way to see it is its constituent sections but on the rare occasions when it comes together it is fun to see.

[Minuteman]

Splendid work, including a significant amount of care and effort on the groundwork. All that dyed 'teddy-bear fur' depicting the long-stemmed cereal crops on the Waterloo battlefield in June 1815 must have taken quite some time to get right. A very high standard of painting and many good conversions contribute to a highly realistic pair of British artillery batteries in 1/72.

[Minuteman]

My favourites are the Royal Horse Artillery. Ever since getting the Airfix set in my childhood I've always had a soft spot for them.

Yes, me too. I still have memories of receiving a set of the Airfix RHA set in my Christmas stocking as a 10 year old. And I still have it!

[Captain Sibourne]

Many thanks Minuteman, kind words!

[Rich W]

Lots and lots to enjoy in these photos!

[PatrickJ71]

Awesome!
And in line with all the other contributions to this great work regarding composition, painting, conversions.
thanks a lot for sharing these beautiful pictures
...and keep them coming!
Patrick