Hi,

This is something I've been doing in the few freetimes I've got right now.
Started it right after the my last figure was completed and there is much to do yet before it is done.

It's an excellent figure, pitty it isn't much seen around.

The only parts complete are the face, the fur of the colpack, the blue of the jacket and the trousers. the rest is just basecoated.

The face is always something that I take much time around making sure it is good. And still is something I'm never much comfortable doing.

I don't like to see the french uniform blue too light, as I see sometimes... It is dark so dark it is, despite it may become a little dull...

I kinda felt the need to post something, so here it is
Pics:




Regards
Pedro

Great start Pedro,
If this is the fig in the metal box, I really like it too. They have it in the local shop and I always think about buying it.
You've done an awesome job on the face and beard and the bearskin looks really good too.
I agree, French blue looks almost black when new and even faded it is still very dark. Make sure there's lots of weathering around the bottom edge of the leather apron and equipment as this guy is a grizzled veteran.

I'll be following this guy closely

Colin

Nice start Pedro.

Thank You Colin, Mike and the others (who liked).

Colin, this on didn't come in metal box... I'm never lucky on that, always catch the hard card ones. It's a Romeo Figure, sculpted by MAB, so it is good for sure!!
To a Napoleonic enthusiast like you I think you should buy it! Better still is that I bought it with a discount, I paid 35euros.
BTW, the Apron is leather? Didn't know that, but makes sense... I kind of followed the painting job of Cartacci and in the back part I painted it a little more brownish... so it will look good.

Regards
Pedro

So far very good Pedro.
Brian

Great start Pedro! Glad that you decided to go for an sbs. Will follow closely!
Cheers,
Zeno

Posted 3 more pic's of the figure, sides and back.

Pedro

so far so good.
Like what you are doing.

marc

Great start Pedro.
Cheers,
Keith

Pedro
The apron is a heavy stiff leather that protects the legs and uniform when mucking around in the brush. On parade it would be pipeclayed white but obviously that wouldn't last long in the field. I'd keep the white as dull as possible with the natural tanned leather colour showing at the edges, where there are tears and maybe some scuffs on the knees and fronts of thighs. As the campaign went on it could end up showing as dirty natural leather brown tones.

Food for thought

Colin

Lovely, I am jealous, as my avatar shows I only got as far as the head
Please please show more and I will finish mine this year
Very best wishes
Gra

Thank you Gra! Your painting of the face is amazing!! Very smooth, very natural, a thing that only can be achieved with oils. It's Very well done.
I think you should work on yours without doubt.

Regards
Pedro

Thanks for the advice Colin I'll keep it mind, of course...
Regards
Pedro

Hello Pedro, Great start to your Sapper. The face is excellent. I also like the dark blue of the uniform. Your rendering of the apron is authentic, as I have read it was leather, and yellowish brown in color. I also found it quite interesting to learn, that it was mandatory for French Sappers to have beards. Was this for easy recognition among the other troops? Best of luck with the completion of this figure Pedro. Regards, SG

Thank You SG for your comment! Yes, they all have beards... I don't know why too. The army then had strange outfit rules...
The French Hussars also had to have moustache and little things on the hair...I don't know the name now...funny stuff. Maybe it's something history related.

Regards
Pedro

Interesting subject Pedro, really good work so far, something usual with your stuff
Keep up the good work, i follow!.
Saludos

Cadenettes- (My spelling might be wrong) The side braids worn by Hussars... could just be a fashion copied from the Hungarian origin of the Hussars or I've also read they denote a veteran Hussar.

Good start, I lke the beard and face. It´s too soon for the rest. I follow. About the blue, I think the tone is correct, it must be dark, but by the photo seems a bit prussia blue, more than the dark indigo of the french napoleonic infantry.

Military miniatures painted by Eduardo Garcia

About the beard, all the sappers of the french army wore it, in infantry units and dragoons, based on the the tradition and rule that only the strongest men could wear beard, and to be sapper was necessary to be very strong.
In other units like the imperial Guard grenadiers a pied and grenadiers a cheval, or chasseurs was common wear rings on ears, moustaches ( the guys that did not had enough own hair, wore false moustaches or painted!!!! ( Like Groucho)
Another curiosity and now well known, was the custom of wear tatoos in arms with imperial eagles and grenades.

Military miniatures painted by Eduardo Garcia

Stunning piece of work so far Pedro, think the apron is super and you have done a lovely job of his tunic.
I believe the sappers of the Legion all have beards and they all seem rather long.

Don