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New from CASTLE MINIATURES 54mm French Carabinier "Sapeur"1812

Discussion in 'Figure News' started by Zastrow.cuirassier, Nov 3, 2019.

  1. Zastrow.cuirassier PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    France
    I'm coming back to present some novelties starting with my favorite period:
    The 1st Empire.
    CASTLE MINIATURES will soon offer a beautiful horse figurine
    Sapeur de Carabinier à cheval "1812, a subject that pleases the Carabiniers with cuirass
    Sculpted by the talented: Andrei Bleskin, one of my favorite sculptor!
    54mm, resin
    available soon from Castle Miniatures, more info from :
    https://www.castleminiatures.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

    the figurine can obviously represent, a simple Carabinier, we'll see!
    [IMG]
    [IMG]
  2. DaddyO A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Great looking figure although I'd definitely opt for the version without the beard :)
    Cheers
    Paul
    Zastrow.cuirassier likes this.
  3. fogie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    They look the business ! For a lot of us, I suspect there's something very compelling about about Napoleonic cavalry... .perhaps it's the Historex legacy.

    Mike
    Jaybo, OldTaff and Zastrow.cuirassier like this.
  4. NeilW A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Doesn't seem to be on the Castle site yet?

    I can't find much (well, anything really) about Carabinier (or Cuirassier) sappers/sapeurs' (or farriers/fourriers') uniforms and equipment. However, sources for sapeurs for other mounted regiments show them with the traditional axe over their back (carried in a holster- the Dragoons plate shows this well) and often their apron rucked/tucked up around their waist.

    Note that the only armoured sapeur (Murat's Naples Regt) doesn't wear his cuirass... perhaps impractical with an axe slung over your back (similar to trumpeters).

    Is this model similar or was another reference used?

    Sap1.JPG Sap2.JPG Sap3.JPG Sap4.JPG Sap5.JPG Sap6.JPG Sap7.JPG


    And the only Carbinier fourrier I could find:

    Sap8.JPG
    Jaybo and Zastrow.cuirassier like this.
  5. Fantomas A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Neil,
    Here is what I have:
    %20-1_~1.JPG
    Manfred, Jaybo, Edorta and 2 others like this.
  6. Zastrow.cuirassier PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    France
    Will ask somebody how is a great specialist of the French Uniform !
    Nap and NeilW like this.
  7. NeilW A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Thanks for that Alexandre.

    Not disputing this but it seems curious. Interesting that they wear the crossed axe insignia (and beards) but none of the equipment* that they'd normally have as sapeurs.

    Perhaps Zastrow's contact can cast some light on it.

    BTW: should have said that either way it's a good sculpt :)

    *and an axe in its case a la the Dragoons ref could easily be added

    Neil
    Zastrow.cuirassier likes this.
  8. Oda A Fixture

    Bleshkin is an amazing sculptor and this last creation is an absolute stunner.

    Oda.
    Jaybo, Zastrow.cuirassier and Reptor like this.
  9. Reptor A Fixture

    Country:
    Japan
    Thank for the news! This is a very beautiful work ! Bleshkin is a very fantastic sculptor ! :love:(y)(y)
    Oda likes this.
  10. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    A really nice looking sculpt

    Lots of fine details , interesting the orginal reference shows no axe

    I like the way the beard remains true to the reference

    Look forward to seeing his painted

    Thanks for sharing

    Nap
    Zastrow.cuirassier likes this.
  11. Zastrow.cuirassier PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    France
    According to an eminent specialist member of the famous society / French association "LA SABRETACHE", it seems to him that the sappers of "Carabinier à cheval" is well existed, according to the control of the numbers of the time (1812/1813), however, he leans towards a distinction (higher balance), and that the ax, was not necessarily worn (the illustration of Begnini is very close to reality), no apron either (at least on horseback), but the insignia of the sapper on the left or right sleeve to see both according to the rank (there is the complexity of the uniform knowledge)
    Fantomas, Jaybo, Nap and 2 others like this.
  12. Edorta A Fixture

    Country:
    Spain
    NeilW and Oda like this.
  13. NeilW A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hmnnn, curassier and curassier (;))...

    Thanks for that (and your colleague). Interesting that the axe was 'not necessarily worn', which I assume makes it an option (which I'd prefer-also the apron which some refs from other mounted regiments also show).

    Of course Benigni, Knotel and their like were working well after the actual period but I did come across a contemporary illustration of Chasseur Sappers in Hamburg 1811-12 by the Sahr brothers and guess what: a whole squadron and not an axe or apron amongst them! Some (senior ranks?) do carry lances/pennants (also shown on other prints) and ride to the right , so that may present another option (though for a more static model).
    Sap11.JPG

    See: https://www.napoleon-series.org/mil...Plates/Suhr/Hamburg/c_SuhrHamburgCavalry.html

    So, on balance I think that the answer is 'maybe/sometimes'... for me personally, I'd scratchbuild and add the axe/holster and perhaps the apron, tucked up diagonally as in the Dragoon illustrations.

    More refs, some showing both the lance and the axe- the last shows a Carabinier farrier, but no sapper (who I believe were only in elite units):

    Sap13.JPG Sap14.JPG Sap15.JPG Sap10.JPG Sap12.JPG
    Jaybo likes this.
  14. NeilW A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    As a final aside.

    Interesting discussion ref light cavalry sappers sappers here: http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=146746

    The final posting makes some pragmatic pints*:


    *thought I'd leave my typo in as it's bound to amuse some :hungover:

    Don't know if I should do this now :)eek:)... but below is an infantry axe and holster (with en suite giberne): could serve as a model for a mounted sapper... if you dare :nailbiting: !!!!!

    Sap16.JPG
    Jaybo likes this.
  15. Jaybo Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Castle has been turning out some fantastic figures. This is another must get for me.
  16. Fantomas A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Thank you very much, guys, for your comments and compliments. I think that this figure will be available in two different options: sapper or carabinier. You will choose a version that you like or find historically correct!
    NeilW likes this.
  17. NeilW A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    I promise I'll shut up after this (and as I have said, the fig itself is great in both versions)... but I knew I'd read about this somewhere.

    Turns out to have been Elting (Swords Around A Throne, 1988. pp231):

    Sappeurs.JPG

    The description of the sapeur contingent isn't specific to Carabiniers and no source is given. However, I read this as suggesting that if 'most regiments' had them, then on balance that would include the Carabiniers and that they would be 'trained and equipped as sapeurs'... including axes. The only fly in the ointment is that elsewhere I've read that as Carabinier were already classed as elite troops, they wouldn't have had any 'extra' elite detachments.

    That's now me schtum :censored:
    Fantomas likes this.
  18. Fantomas A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Thank you, Neil!
  19. Huw63 A Fixture

    Looks great. Not sure where I can get one but I will certainly try.

    As an aside near Jena there's an excellent small private museum about the battle (or there used to be at least). They have many interesting items, one of which is a cuirassier tunic with sappers axes on it, which confirms that sappers did exist in the cuirassiers. I assume pre the 1810 uniform transition the carabiniers also had sappers and would have continued to have them after the uniform transitioned as a uniform change had no impact on the role or organistation.

    Cheers

    Huw
    NeilW likes this.
  20. Fantomas A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Jaybo likes this.

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