Maximilian-Down Mexico Way

 

If you want to do the French Intervention AKA the Maximilian Adventure in 15mm you really need QRF. A venerable but comprehensive range of figures. Substitutes are possible but will only take you so far.

Back in January I got the Maximilian bug. I had some figures but nowhere near enough. QRF under new ownership was just about to hit the rocks which didn't help. I placed an advert on LAF and got a good result.

Last month I commenced unpacking what I got. Below you can see my painting progress so far.

The Austrian Legion. I need a second Battalion of these.

The Belgian Legion Battalion. Apparently these lads were all young with no real military experience. Their Commander was keen for glory. There was a second battalion and I have the figures for them. QRF make some excellent mule mounted Belgians. I want some.

Death in a sky blue coat - the Chasseurs de Afrique. Feared and famous. They are getting a second squadron.

Mexican National Guard. This unit in a distinctive red coat. Uniforms varied from place to place. White is always good if you are stuck.

Mexican Battalion Supreme Powers. I should have painted 3 yellow sardinas (vertical stripes) on each sleeve. It would hardly be noticeable in this scale so I didn't. This battalion was very well armed with Henry repeating rifles. They were described as very confidant soldiers.

The Egyptian Battalion. Mostly Sudanese slaves who were collected in lieu of back taxes by the soon to be Khedive of Egypt. Once in Maximilian's Service they were freed. Everyone had only good things to say about these fellows. Their flag is not the Egyptian one as I substituted a Company Flag. The survivors ended up in Paris.

The Empress Lancers named for Carlotta, Empress of Mexico. Mrs Max' in other words. Her daddy was King of the Belgians. Hence the Belgian Legion.

Two squadrons of Mexican Irregular cavalry. Handy with the lance. 

Lances were used to herd cattle in Spain and Spanish America. Great training for spearing people apparently.

Mexican regular cavalry. Depending on when these lads could be Imperialists or Republicans. 

That is it so far. 

Now, good news. Geoff is shortly to launch GeoffQRF and will sell the Maximilian range along with half of the old Frei Korps range.  I will be adding to my collection. 

Also I'm keen to do a Great Paraguayan War/ Triple Alliance Project. GeoffQRF can provide the figures. Here I think of Eliza Lynch, what a story.

SYW Austrian Dragoons in 15/18mm

 

Hot on the hooves of their Prussian opponents comes my first Austrian Dragoon brigade.  There will be a second smaller one subsequently.  All are from Blue Moon.  Let's see them in detail.

 

Erherzog Joseph, natty in green.

 

 Red coats next.

Jung- Modena above and below.

 

 Back to green again.

 

The Saint Ignon Dragoons above and below.

 

As you can see I took the opportunity to avoid painting more Austrian white coats.  The flags are from Wargames Designs.

Here's the brigade again.

 

I have two bags of Old Glory figures for the next brigade. You get a lad or two in Bearskin cap from Old Glory.  I’m not sure which regiments I’ll choose to do.  Probably Prinz Savoyen for one and perhaps a blue coat unit.

I had a look at my Prussian grenadiers.  Not bad but room for improvement.  Also the facings do not match those of my musketeer regiments. Enough to warrant a repaint.  

There's not too much to it.  Re-painted cuffs, facings and caps will do the trick.  I also needed 6 additional figures to bring my second Grenadier unit up to strength.  After some humming and hawing I ordered them from Eureka. They are a tad taller than the Blue Moon fellows.  Regardless, I'll mix them in. I've made a start and will do the outstanding command figures while I'm at it.

My next SYW post then, will be the Austrian and Prussian Command a Prussian battery and the aforesaid grenadiers.

Also, my new Flodden Scots have turned up from QRF.  Much to do there.

SYW 18mm Distraction Strikes

 

I’ve been a bit busy of late.  Hence the delay in posting. Also, my SYW French Army has arrived.  Naturally, I felt the need to paint up a couple of units.  My Austrian/ Prussian output has suffered consequently.

All is not lost.  Here is Austrian Dragoon Regiment Jung Modena.  Figures from Blue Moon and flag from Wargame Designs.  Poor light for the pic's but enough I hope.

 

Now, the French.  These ones are from Lancashire Games with flags from David at Not by Appointment.

 Above, the second Battalion of the Grenadiers de France.

 

Next, Bulkeley's lads, part of the Irish Brigade of France.  I like them.  Most of their comrades will be from Blue Moon with a few Eureka.  That said I'm going to be using a lot of Lancashire command figures.  I've learned the virtue of mix and match.

We will be back to the SYW Austrians and Prussians in the next post but one.  The reason being we are going to talk about Billhooks Deluxe next week.  I wrote the Hibernia chapter so it is appropriate I declare an interest in advance of commenting.