Difference between 1809 and 1812 figure ranges.

[paulr]

Well said & I would happily use those French in any Napoleonic game

[Last Hussar]

About three years! 

Cheers, thanks for clarifying.

Seriously, I like Zipper's answer. Not just (year), but noting what it could be representative of.

[John Cook]

Very nice.  They are perfect for the Russian 1812 Campaign too.  Even the eagle and colour.

[Shutuphippie]

Does anyone have pictures of the 1812 range?  So specificially the French?

[John Cook]

Cheers, thanks for clarifying.

Seriously, I like Zipper's answer. Not just (year), but noting what it could be representative of.

To summarise, up until 1813 the line infantry kept in the main part, the blue uniform they wore at the start of the Empire, essentially as described in October 1801 – blue coats (habits) and bicornes.
 
In  April 1806, however, a decree stated that the infantry would in future be dressed in white coats and in July the text describing the new coat was published. Nineteen regiments were designated to be the first to receive the white coats in 1807, but the 1807 campaign demonstrated that the colour was not practical and the change was dropped and blue coats were retained.  Although decreed in 1806, no regiments wore white coats during the 1806 campaign and it is far from certain which regiments actually received them for the 1807 campaign. 

The bicorne was replaced by a shako by decree of February 1806 and a description published in March of the same year but the line infantry continued to wear the bicorne throughout the 1806 campaign.  The shako was introduced army-wide in 1807. 

After 1806 the shako became the universal wear for the line infantry.  This remained the situation until 1813 – blue coat with shako.

The text to the so-called Bardin regulations appeared in parts throughout 1812, first in February 1812 and finally in November 1812.  It is clear that the new uniforms were to be issued initially to the conscripts of 1813.  We know, nevertheless, from various sources that stocks of the old uniforms continued to be issued during first six months of 1813 and were worn into 1814.

Clearly these new so-called Bardin uniforms, the description of which was not disseminated fully until November 1812, could not have been issued and worn in Russia. 

So, the old uniform, with long habit and bicorne was worn from the start of the Empire, and before, until the end of the 1806 campaign.  It continued to be worn, with the shako replacing the bicorne, during the campaigns of 1807, 1809 and 1812, and throughout the campaigns in the Spanish Peninsular from 1808 to 1813.

The 1812 uniform was initially issued to conscripts in 1813 from about August 1813 and gradually replaced the old uniform from that time but the old uniform continued in use.  The 1812 uniform was not in universal use until 1815.

Now, you can choose what figures you like to represent whatever period you are playing, but I suggest that you wouldn't use a late war variant Sherman in a 1942 scenario based around the 8th Army in North Africa, but it isn't a hanging offence if you do.

I hope this helps.

[John Cook]

Very nice.  They are perfect for the Russian 1812 Campaign too.  I should have said except the eagle and colour.

[Westmarcher]

In 1812 the French see a big change under the Bardin reforms.

This sees the loss of the:
Lozenge style eagles and the introduction of the tricolour
Long thigh length infantry gaiters replaced by shorter knee height ones
Coat with big lapels goes and replaced by the song,e fronted coat with shorter tails and turn backs
Line Grenadier companies are officially stopped from wearing the bearskin - shakosf for all now
Line voligueur coys are officially stopped from wearing the colpack - sharks for all

They wore fish on their heads?

[FierceKitty]

Only when on sentry duty at the Eel de France.

[mollinary]

Only when on sentry duty at the Eel de France.

And on Best Eel Day!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Cod! Here we go again!

[Last Hussar]

Shocking.

[mollinary]

I admit  this thread puzzles me a bit. The original poster asked for the differences between the 1809 and 1812 ranges (ie Pendraken figures). Since then, apart from the occasional thread derailing (OK, Guilty as charged) the posts have concentrated on the differences in French uniforms between 1809 and  1812,  not the differences in Pendraken figures in the respective ranges. For a start, given the difference in age between two, are they the same size?  Does anyone have comparison pictures between the two ranges?

[O Dinas Powys]

I admit  this thread puzzles me a bit. The original poster asked for the differences between the 1809 and 1812 ranges (ie Pendraken figures). Since then, apart from the occasional thread derailing (OK, Guilty as charged) the posts have concentrated on the differences in French uniforms between 1809 and  1812,  not the differences in Pendraken figures in the respective ranges. For a start, given the difference in age between two, are they the same size?  Does anyone have comparison pictures between the two ranges?

Careful now - you're trying to talk sense in a Pendraken forum thread! 

[Last Hussar]

I was more interested in what the 1809 figures could pass as

[mollinary]

I was more interested in what the 1809 figures could pass as

And we are yet to find out! 

[Westmarcher]

You see that title? I'll let you work out what the thread is about.

Seriously, what are the differences?

Having given this deep thought, I think this is where it all started to go wrong.

[Zippee]

I was more interested in what the 1809 figures could pass as

In majority the French 1809 range can provide figures suitable for the 1806 campaign through the 1812 campaign and the entire Peninsular War. There are changes in style within that but on the whole that's true. Lancers don't appear until 1811, Carabiniers a Cheval change uniform in 1811 (both options are available as part if the 1809 range weirdly) the rest of the cavalry and artillery can push through to 1815 if you're not too particular. If you limit yourself to the greatcoated figures the infantry can also pass muster through to 1815 again if you're not too picky.


The Austrian 1809 range is more complex. The cavalry and artillery are good for 1798 through 1814 on the whole, the German infantry are good for 1798 through 1809 and the Hungarian, Landwehr and Jager are good for 1809 through 1814. Again minor changes but they're fine.


The Bavarian 1809 range is goof for 1806 through 1815 essentially.


All ranges are missing items from later/earlier periods and as always with these things it all depends on how fussy you are personally.


My recommendation would be to build a collection around an 1809/Peninsular formation and then happily use them for games set in other sub-periods.

[paulr]

My recommendation would be to build a collection around an 1809/Peninsular formation and then happily use them for games set in other sub-periods.

A very sensible approach

[John Cook]

A very sensible approach

Except that there is no Peninsular range to oppose the French.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

But there are KGL and Hannoverians with stovepipe shakos.