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WIP On The Evening of the Battle of Waterloo

Discussion in 'vBench (Works in Progress)' started by Hot_spur, Jun 4, 2019.

  1. malc PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    England
    Looks great looking forward to see more.
  2. fogie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Rooting about earlier on another matter, I found some rather detailed information about 'Berline' carriages in an old Historex catalogue.
    Not sure how you're fixed on Historex reference stuff, or indeed whether you're full to the back teeth of it and just want this project to end
    ( 'Bugger the Berline' to paraphrase King George V ). The bumf shows details of various interior arrangements, optional harnessing, what
    the postillions had for dinner, so forth. If you think it might be useful, just shout and I'll send it.

    Mike
  3. Hot_spur Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Hi Mike. I would love too see what you have.
  4. fogie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    OK... standby

    IMG_0001.jpg IMG_0002.jpg IMG_0003.jpg IMG_0004.jpg
    Nap likes this.
  5. Hot_spur Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Mike these are amazing.

    My biggest mistake is that my postilions are not "stout" per your source. Oh well. Too late, I'm not redoing them now. No one but you and I will know. ;)
  6. fogie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    You're welcome...hope they help a bit rather than create extra issues.

    By the way, I see from your photos that the postillions are wearing the large 'post' boots and using those oversized stirrup irons.

    The explanation for this is that the boots had a heavy iron frame structure, and were actually worn over lightweight shoes.

    The idea behind them was to enable the rider to extricate himself in the event of a fall where the horse pinned him to the ground - the boot would support the weight of the horse allow him to free his foot.

    Post and courier horses in the French army were often driven to exhaustion. They had just two speeds - the
    walk or the gallop (which was actually less tiring for the rider) - the English canter or rising trot was not adopted by the French until 1830 or so.

    The stirrup irons were not fixed to the saddle in the conventional way but suspended by a chaplet across the pommel.

    Best of all - we can relax a bit because I think the 'stoutness' thing referred to coachmen rather than postillions.

    Mike
    Nap likes this.
  7. Hot_spur Member

    Country:
    United-States
    I could use a little help. I've researched the daylights out of this, and I cannot figure out what to do. Any advice would be appreciated.

    In the attached illustration, which postilion (or where) do I lead the indicated reins? (My knowledge of horses could be put in a thimble with space left over.)

    In a vehicle with a driver, they would lead to him. But in this case the postilions are the drivers. Is one like the lead, and the other just sort of helps? I feel really out of my depth.

    Also, is it safe to assume the furniture crossed out would not be in use at Waterloo? I've assumed they are for parade dress. Berline Team copy.jpg
    Grod likes this.
  8. fogie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Might have something that could help... give me a bit of time and I'll find it - back 'dreckly'

    Mike
  9. fogie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Right then....this will help a bit ( We must doff our caps to the venerable 'Maitre' Leliepvre again ). Still checking
    on the wheeler's reins... I believe they were held by the postillions along with those of their own horse....we'll see.


    Mike

    IMG_0001.jpg IMG_0002.jpg
    Hot_spur, Grod and Nap like this.
  10. Hot_spur Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Thanks very much Mike. These pages are most helpful. What is the title of your source? It looks like a publication I might like to have in my collection.
  11. fogie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    They're from an old Historex catalogue. Leliepvre devoted several pages to explain the finer details of uniforms, horses, harnessing,
    even roadside marker posts and artillery procedures. It's the sort of thing you keep just in case it comes in useful later - which it has.

    Mike

    PS.............will you have operational bells on the 'grelottiere' :happy:
    Hot_spur and Nap like this.
  12. fogie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Found something that suggests that the 'wheelers' reins were indeed held by the postillion. You'll have noticed that the old boy makes a point
    about Greys and Roans being the colour of choice for carriage horses - his picture here reinforces this.


    9_Eugene_Leliepvre_Postillon_HD.jpg mp821000 Berline 4-horse Team.jpg

    Onwards and upwards...eh?

    Mike
    Hot_spur and Nap like this.
  13. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Hi Guys

    I am learning so much from this thread on the carriage and the horses

    Cheers

    Nap
    MattMcK. likes this.
  14. Grod A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Great reference material.
    Gordon
  15. fogie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Absolutely...the finer details of 'Napoleonics' are fascinating and once you're able to include them in a figure the finished thing looks so much better.
    Back in the day when Historex were the thing, we learned quickly that although a lot of the explanation sheets were still in French, everything we
    needed to know was shown on Leliepvre's illustrations. Nonetheless, unless you were totally au fait with the French army, there were things - especially
    horse harnessing - that remained confusing. So the early catalogues with all their extra bumf were no end useful. I'm glad that I've kept them and they're
    still proving useful.

    Mike
    blaster, Hot_spur and MattMcK. like this.
  16. Hot_spur Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Mike, this has been so helpful.

    I've decided to include the grelottieres and fox tails. I've seen loads of artwork showing them in use even on campaign. But, will they jingle? Probably not.

    LOL - The more I learn, the longer my project will take.
  17. fogie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    It's a bit like having your own Golden Gate Bridge to paint....right ? :LOL:
  18. MCPWilk A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Those old Historex catalogues were a mine of information.

    Mike
  19. arj A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    I was looking through one of my Historex catalogues, and found a couple of extra pages which might be of use.

    Extra 01.jpg Extra 02.jpg

    Cheers,
    Andrew
    blaster likes this.
  20. Wayneb A Fixture

    Country:
    United-States
    Impressive...….If it's worth doing....It's worth doing right...…..

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