French Horse Artillery Limbers and Crew

These are  probably 15mm Outpost limbers (which are an absolute bargain!) for the Franco -Prussian conflict, but which I think will also suit my Austro-Italian and Crimean forces. I probably have a  surfeit of artillery for my French, but I can always post them permanently to separate conflicts or field them as reserves. I've decided to (temporarily) use limbers to designate my horse artillery units ( as well as the 2 crew members to a base). I will eventually try to buy limbers for all my artillery units, if only to complicate the games and create logistical problems :)

I still have traces to do when I find some fine enough chain.

Chasseurs D'Afrique

Picked another random bag from the lead pile. Essex 15mm Chasseurs D'afrique. Originally intended for FPW but I think I can use them elsewhere - Crimea, Mexico, Italy and Indochina(?).

 So I've seen yellow cuffs, white cuffs and black cuffs, white belts and black belts. I will have to order another book from Outpost for the uniforms of the Imperial armies.

First units of French Cavalry

First cavalry units for my C19th French, starting with a base of Spahis. Not sure who made these, your guess is probably better than mine.

Although they can operate as scouts and staff troops, they really need some friends to bulk out the unit.

Then there are my  Guard Guides, a full squadron here. Far too well heeled to waste in battle, I shall keep these dainties in reserve. About time I did some line cavalry. I have nine? Dragoons,12 Curassiers (two regiments), 12 Chasseurs D'Afrique and 6 Hussars. I guess I can use the excess Dragoons as picquets and escorts.

French Guard Horse Artillery

Here are two batteries of French Guard Horse Artillery, possibly Outpost but not certain. I suspect the guns are from elsewhere.

French Artillery

Here are my French foot artillery. I think most of these are re-purposed ACW figures.

French C19th - first recruits!

These are my first troops completed for my French armies. Should be good for Crimea, Italy and Franco-Prussian wars.

First up are three batallions of the French Foreign Legion.

 No idea who made these, although looking a the guys at the back (who must be over a foot taller than their colleagues) I suspect that most of these are freikorps though I may be very wrong.

My order from Outpost arrived together with Tom Nutt's book on the French republican forces. It appears I've got the epaulettes wrong for my Legionnaire battalions so I have a little corrective work to do.

1st & 2nd battalion - red strap, green cresent, red fringe.
3rd battalion red strap, red cresent, green fringe.
 The red is called 'garance'  which I think is a deep terracotta  red or 'brick' red.

C19th Flags from East Riding Miniatures

Ordered some of  the von Fahnestock flags from ERM and they arrived the following day - awesome! I picked a selection suitable for the later half of the C19th. Can't find them anywhere else other than Crimean stuff from Navwar.

These are all hand-painted and reduced so they fit with the hand-painted figures! I found someone selling  flag cravats and tassles too - Maverick Models but the contents are not described so well so I'm going put in an order when I'm a little more flush.

Tried out the Fahnestock flags with this French one. Only just realised it's upside down - silly me! Used a paper clip to make the flagpole. Just need a finial and  tricolore cravat. Next time I'll try using some brass rod, hammered and filed to a point. I tried making tassles for my Austrians a few days ago with gold  thread. Hard work and they look a bit aenemic.

Here are three of my French command bases, just waiting for the men to join them.