Hi Guys ,
On this little planet of our its always good to see an idea from the concept to the finished project and that is exactly what we have here so following on from the initial sculpting work by Markus at Scorpio models to the final release of a Bavarian Artillery Captain

http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showpost.php?p=406544&postcount=1

http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showpost.php?p=425139&postcount=1




Title: Bavarian Captain, Light (Horse) Artillery, 1805-1812

Scale: 1:16th

Material: White Metal


I decided to spend my hard earned euro's and purchased one from Scorpio for review purposes , ordering was easy via the website with the postman delivering the model only 6 days after I had ordered it (2 of those were a weekend ...good customer service there .

It arrived all packed up in a strong cardboard box packed securely between 2 pieces of foam

.......on opening the box I thought I was having a flashback to my long forgotten youth ..it was white metal ...a somewhat rarity in my gray army and generally in todays market (I contacted Markus regarding thsi receiving a prompt reply stating that he had all the required equiptment to cast in WM and found it easier than resin and was pleased with the results he was getting )

...well lets see shall we .

The model itself consist of 11 parts (all WM) these being torso, head , helmet , right and left arm, right hand with sabre , 2 x shoulder scales/epaulettes , plume, belt pouch and finally a base , also included is a small list of parts together with a colour guide , on the box is a painted version of the model



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Nap

PS The history lesson will be at the end this time ..bit of a fresh approach for me as a reviwer and also for you dear reader .

Right then after going to the gym to build my muscles up as I am only used to resin !!! ...

Lets have a look in the box starting with the torso itself , there are minute casting lines to remove on the shoulders (easily done with fine sanding pads) he is wearing a tunic with the plastron on the front , together with a pouch belt and sash .

Looking atthe undercuts , nicely done and not overstated with the folds being softly done as in keeping of a fine cloth used for officers uniforms . the piping on the plastron is well done , and not prominant .

Pouch belt is also well done and not too overstated he really looks like he is wearing this, the shields and chain on this is of a very high sculpting standard, the collar has finely sculpted detailing as well , the sash is really well done , natural folds of the silk with the knot extremely well done ...my first impressions very positive indeed .

Lets have the pictures now .......

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Well done to the caster as well keeping the finely sculpted details , all of which will make painting an enjoyable process .

Onwards and upwards moving on to the head now :

Sculpted in a shouting expression in keeping with the pose , the face has also been sculpted and cast to a very high standard , cheeks are well defined as are the eyes and ears, hair has been well done also .

There is a slight casting plug to remove from under the neck to ensure a perfect fit together with a fine casting line on the right hand side of the neck ..easily done with the modelling file and wet and dry , once this was done dry fit was spot on .

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Lets go now to the helmet the very distinctive Raupenhelm , we will also look at the plume , firstly the helmet ...

This was often over 30cm high and extremely awkward to wear , so tall that NCO's often kept their notebooks in it with the military even looking at keeping mess tins inside as well !!!!

On went the optivisor and I could find nothing whatsoever to clean up , all I found was finely sculpted details from the brass bands that acted as stiffners to keep the shape to the chains that loop round the helmet , the cockade and the oval plate with "MJK" on it all are nicely done .

The "sausage" is very nicely done all of which would be brought out by careful painting and washes ., undercuts are good , no prep needed with dry fit being 1st class , with no filler being needed .

Possibly as this is an officers helmet I would add a plume holder and put lionmasks on the studs (ref Osprey MAA 106 page 18- Napoleons German Allies-Bavaria) ..but then again this was the regulations so often flaunted and ignored by officers .

Looking at the plume now , again another good piece of detailing , dry fitting with no filler being needed .making the final result very imposing .

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Its the arms now , as with all pieces so far minimal casting lines to remove with cast on plugs to ensure good fit , the right one is sculpted without the hand (which is included with the sword) with the left in a pointing mode , in keeping with the facial expression .....shouting in horror at the cavalry that are bearing down on the guns.

Both are wearing gauntlets which are well , folds on both arnms are natural and accurate with the positioning of the arms , I like the way the fingers have been done , an area so often a let down on resin models IMO.

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Lets go to the rest of the pieces , the sword, the shoulder pieces, the pouch belt and finally the base itself ....

Firstly the sword , I must admit I was concerned about this when I saw it was WM but all my fears were quickly washed away , its a cracking piece , and received perfectly straight (easy enough to sort if yours isn't) ..being WM you can go to town on the sword , using the metals natural qualities to enhance the finish , together with washes , it has the left hand sculpted with it as well and again finger definition a really good , the sword knot well done , a small fitment plug is on to help ..remember dear reader don't sharpen the blade !!!!!

Looking next at the shoulder pieces , the right hand one being full with the left being the lower crescent as the rest would be under the pouchbelt , nicely detailed scales , well engraved , use washes to bring out the fine work on these , fit was again no problem , remember thought these were metal so would not sit like cloth epaulettes.

The pouch belt is an absolute joy to look at , some of the finest sculpting I have seen , fit to the actual belt is very good and only needs minimal filler(if any) for a perfect fit.

The base is a small pyramid which fits well to the underside , it has been worked to represent stone with crossed cannons on the front , a nice piece although a little small IMO especially as this is a WM kit and heavy ..if you use the base then pin it .

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Nap

Hi Guys ,
Well now my final thought and conclusions :

I had my reservations being WM but to be honest I am very impressed by the quality and detailing that that has been incorporated in the model.

The model can be painted to represent either Artillery or Light Horse with minor conversion required .

Would I recommend this to all of you ...YOU BET I WOULD ..2 benefits really , you get a great kit , well presented and sculpted and you get to work out without going to the gym !!!!

To purchase this one at a reasonable 37.50 euro's plus shipping then go the Scorpio models website (they take paypal) , ordering is easy and simple ..well I did it !!! , service is very good indeed with the model appearing on your bench very quickly

Have a good look round the website www.scorpio-models.com there are more busts , together with a full figure of this bust there is also snalis and a snowman ..enjoy your vist , e mail details : info@scorpio-models.com

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As promised lets have a bit of history about the Napoleonic Bavarian Army :

After patterning its army on the French model, Bavaria became an important French ally. Later, as the largest military contingent in the Confederation of the Rhine, the Bavarian Army participated in all of Napoleon’s major campaigns, contributing significantly to the victory at Wagram in 1809. Based on its new military power, Bavaria remained a kingdom after Napoleon’s abdication.

Before the Second Coalition, Maximilian abolished the purchasing of commissions and adopted a new Bavarian blue uniform with the distinctive Raupenhelm helmet. From this time on, Napoleon’s Bavarian troops would be identified by the tall black leather helmet, named after its high peak crested with a black tuft of wool or bearskin resembling a caterpillar. After the war, the elector introduced general conscription, reduced the number of offenses subject to corporal punishment, and began promoting officers based on merit. General Bernhard Deroy redesigned the army to include smaller battalions and new skirmish units.

For the Russian campaign, VI Corps, commanded by Marshal Laurent Gouvion St. Cyr, comprised two Bavarian divisions, totaling 30,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry. Guarding the northern flank of the army, they won a minor victory at Polotsk (18 August). General Maximilian von Preysing’s cavalry division served with the advance guard under Eugène de Beauharnais and suffered heavy losses at Borodino. Only 20 percent of the Bavarian troops returned from Russia.

The flags carried by the Bavarian regiments underwent many changes during the Napoleonic Wars. At any one time the flags carried by the army included examples issued in the previous century, more recent issues which had been altered as the status of Bavaria changed, or completely new issues. Details of which regiment carried which particular pattern and at what time are unknown. However it is certain that as late as 1812 the regiments carried flags of all the patterns and variants presented here.
At the turn of the 18th century Bavarian infantry regiments carried one Leibfahne and one Ordinarfahne, the Leibfahne was carried by the 1st Battalion. In October 1801 this was changed to two Leib- and two Ordinarfahnen. In December 1803 the scale of issue was changed to one Leib- and three Ordinarfahnen, and in March 1804 to one Leib- and one Ordinarfahne, carried by the 1st and 2nd field battalions respectively. Two flags per regiment remained the norm for the remainder of the Napoleonic period.
All flags issued before 1813 were carried on staves with a light blue velvet covering, the flags issued in 1813 had staves covered in black leather. All staves were topped by a gilt spear-shaped finial which was either pierced or engraved with the cypher of the elector or king. The ferrules were also gilt. Gold fringed blue and white cravats 1.06 metres long by 18cm wide were tied beneath the finials. These cravats were usually plain, however some richly embroidered examples were presented by colonels and senior officers to some regiments.

The Artillery had a red plume with ARTJLLERIE-REGIMENT on the front band , dark blue double breasted shirt turnbacks , black lapels with cuffs piped with scarlet , turnbacks scarlet with grenades on them , brass buttons and scale epaulettes on a red backing , the oficers sash9worn till 1812 was silver and light blue .

Chevau Legers wore the same helmet but with CHEV-LEGERS-REGJMENT on the band with a white plume , light green coat (changed to dark green in 1809) .

There are many fine references to look at including the Bavarian Army Museum at Ingolstadt , together with Military artist like Johann Cantler , Knotel and Muller-Braun, John Eltling and many others .

Nap