Prussian Reserve Infantry

[Chad]

The current 1812-1815 range appears to be missing these figures. Are they going to be available?

[T13A]

Hi Chad

Could be tricky.

My understanding is that the reserve regiments during this period were clothed in lots of different uniforms ranging from bits picked up from the French, uniforms (or parts thereof) provided by the British that were originally destined for the Portuguese army and bits of regulation uniforms. Often individual soldiers could have bits of equipment and uniforms from different sources and certainly battalions in the same regiments could have different uniforms.

A good source is The Prussian Army 1808-1815 by David Nash (an old Almark publication) which details the uniform of individual battalions of the reserve regiments.

I also understand that although things were getting better by the Waterloo campaign, at least some battalions were still not issued with regulation uniforms.

Cheers Paul

[Chad]

Paul

I have all that information and more. My point is that without the Reserve Infantry an 1813 campaign is a non-starter. Although there was a variety of uniforms, I would think there is sufficient similarity in some cases that in 10mm it would not be necessary to reflect all such minor differences to achieve a workable range.

[Not Drowning, Waving]

A number of the Prussian Reserve regiments in 1813 had battalions in them equipped with British uniforms in blue (eg 1st & 2nd Bttns Second Reserve Regiment) or even green (3rd bttn Eighth Reserve Regiment) with Brit stove pipe shako.  Leon could do 2 birds 1 stone if British Peninsular line infantry were done - just a paint conversion. 

He could murder the entire flock if he did that plus the more common Prussian reserve grey uniform in cap and in oilskin shako, and the same with longer litewka for the fabulous black Lutzow Freikorps... 

[Chad]

My point exactly.

[John Cook]

Paul

I have all that information and more. My point is that without the Reserve Infantry an 1813 campaign is a non-starter. Although there was a variety of uniforms, I would think there is sufficient similarity in some cases that in 10mm it would not be necessary to reflect all such minor differences to achieve a workable range.

You could use British/KGL/Hannoverians in stovepipe shakos for some Reserve Infantry but not all.  1815, and 1813, is also a non-starter without Prussian Reserve Infantry in tailess jackets and caps.  

[Not Drowning, Waving]

Chad

I have had to resort to other manufacturers to deal with this problem (curses!), when I did the 12th reserve regiment in grey.

But the other day I did notice SHD2 Danes in the Schleswig-Holstein war in caps, and thought that they were possibly suitable. The photos seemed to show longish tailless coats, but I would need to see the figure.

Assuming that was fine, the only other major problem that might arise were the backpacks, but they are not visible in the photos, and could be ok.

I with be looking at them for my next Prussian project.

Cheers LPWC

[John Cook]

On reflection Good Ground Miniatures in the US do US infantry in a flat cap as part of their So Far from God range covering the US/Mexican War.  They have no packs and would probably work for certain RI regiments.  I have some of their stuff and they are very good, compatible with Pendraken ACW.

[Chad]

John

The only problem with that is that those figures have full trousers as opposed to knee length boots, but is as close as you will get. If I recall the battalions of the 12th had variations in uniforms by battalion.

The only other reserve units I found in the 1813 OOB were in Bernadotte's army of the North, but I am not sure that they saw action.

Chad

[John Cook]

John

The only problem with that is that those figures have full trousers as opposed to knee length boots, but is as close as you will get. If I recall the battalions of the 12th had variations in uniforms by battalion.

The only other reserve units I found in the 1813 OOB were in Bernadotte's army of the North, but I am not sure that they saw action.

Chad

You'll find some in Kleist's II Korps at Dresden in the Army Reserve and at Leipzig as part of the Army of Bohemia.  More were in Bulow's III Korps at Leipzig, part of the Army of North.  Any Prussian line would be lucky to get marching boots.  Gaiters, over or under trousers, would be much more typical I think. 

[Chad]

John

I agree, but again the battalions in some of those regiments had variable style uniforms. Indeed some are in the 'British' style uniform and one appears to look more French. At the end of the day it will depend how much of a purist a person is in 10mm scale as they will be forced to use 'proxy' figures, assuming any are available.  Beyond that the present Prussian range does not allow the 1813 campaign.

Chad

[John Cook]

This is as good a summary of the Prussian RIR uniforms as you will find on-line. https://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/c_resinf4.html

[Not Drowning, Waving]

Nice summary - thanks for posting.

[Ben Waterhouse]

This might help.

[Ben Waterhouse]

and this