Light Cavalryman of the 12th Regiment, France 1806 - Pegaso Miniature Review

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Guy

A Fixture
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PEGASO MODELS 75-025 Light Cavalryman of the 12th Regiment, France 1806


Code of Kit: 75-025
Description: Light Cavalryman of the 12th Regiment, France 1806
Scale: 75mm
Sculptor: Maurizio Bruno
Box Art: Danilo Cartacci
Research & Text: Marco Giuliani (Note: thanks to Francesco Simoncini, Enzo Favaro & Stefano De Gioannis for their information on the uniform).
Kit review Franco Andreone


Although this is an ‘older’ 75mm Pegaso kit, I am in the process of painting it and therefore decided to do a quick review before priming it. This kit came in Pegaso’s standard high quality and sturdy dark blue box and all the kit pieces were laid out and protected by two pieces of foam. The smaller pieces of the kit were sealed in a small plastic bag.

There are 12 white metal pieces to this kit and the box art is painted by Danilo Cartacci. Danilo is now famous for his rendering of reds, and the box art clearly demonstrates this artist’s unique ability to render this difficult colour.

P 01 Box art front.jpg


P 02 Box art back.jpg P 03Box art left side.jpg

Historical Notes

The kit comes with historical notes and a painting guide by Marco Giuliani. The historical notes come in Italian, English, French and German. The historical notes read as follows:

The light cavalry was the ‘vigil eye’ of the Armed Forces on campaign. These were all adventurous soldiers dressed in uniforms of the latest fashion, dazzling the ladies of that period. Swift, impetuous, and bold, mounted on their medium sized horses, the light cavalryman moved rapidly alongside the marching column with duties to explore the terrain always ready to engage in skirmishes with their elegant counterparts and adversaries. In 1811, the French light cavalry constituted 30 regiments often deployed tactically as mounted voltigeurs, swift and mobile, excellent swordsmen and capable of accurately firing their carbines whilst seated in their saddles. Characteristic of the light cavalrymen were the uniforms of a green colour (similar to the chasseur). The high leather and felt shako had the dual function of protecting the head of the soldier from sabre blows and at the same time elevating the stature of the cavalryman with the help of the multicoloured plume and fluttering cords and braiding. True dandies of campaign, these superb cavalrymen left their signature on this epoch as brave soldiers wearing splendid and colourful uniforms.



General comments


  • The casting of the kit is up to Pegaso Models usual standard - high quality
  • The fit (as dry runs) of all the pieces is also very good
  • The highlights of this kit for me are the figure’s cocky stance and face. Maurizio has captured the youthful arrogance of this colourful soldier superbly.

Face & Shako (4 pieces)


P 04Face.jpg


P 05Plume.jpg


P 06.jpg


P 07Braiding.jpg

The face and shako component is made up of four parts - face with shako, a plume, a ponytail and a small delicate cord and braiding piece. The plume must be attached on the top of the shako, the ponytail to the rear of the head (small indentation provided) and the cord and braid must be attached on the right side of the shako. I have drilled holes into the points of attachment and will pin all these pieces into place. In the photo you will see the holes I have drilled to accommodate the relevant pieces.

In terms of painting, the shako has a black velvet top, with the sash and visor in black leather. Tricoloured cockade with white external, followed by red with a blue centre. Cockade clasp is made of white metal. Cords and braiding all in silver. Plume can either be white with crimson red base or red top with black base (as per box art).

Torso, legs & arms (3 pieces)

P 08Torso.jpg


P 09Torso front detail.jpg


P 10 Torso rear detail.jpg


P 11 Arms.jpg

The actual figure is made up of three pieces - torso with legs, right arm and left arm. In terms of the painting instructions they read as follows:

Cravat in black silk. Dolman (jacket) in dark green with silver braiding. Silver buttons. Collar and cuffs in crimson red edged in silver. Crimson waistcoat (gilet) with silver braiding. Sash around waist in crimson silk and eyelets in silver. Gloves in black hide with lozenge designs in silver. Bandoleer in red leather with silver braided edge and white metal buttons. Cartridge pouch in red with silver horn and monogram. Belt around waist in red hide with silver edge and brass buckle. Culottes (or trousers) in crimson red with white woollen embroidery. Boots in green leather with silver edge and acorn. Sabre with hilt in brass and steel blade, sabre knot in silver.

Other variations:
Raveneau, head squadron of the 14th Regiment
Black shako, dolman and culottes (trousers) in dark green, collar and cuffs in orange with silver braiding, orange or red bandoleer with silver braiding, white waistcoat (gilet) with silver braiding, black boots with silver edge and acorn.

1st Regiment
Like the 14th Regiment but with red shako, crimson facings and boots.


Spurs (2 pieces)

P 12 Spurs.jpg

Spurs must be attached to the boot’s heel and are in steel.

Scabbard and Sabretache (2 pieces)

P 13 Scabbard & sabretache.jpg

The scabbard must be attached to the rear of the sabretache and this sub-assembly must then be attached onto the left hip of the figure. Three indentations provided on the figure.

The scabbard is made from black leather with bits in white metal. The sabretache can be painted with a crimson background with silver braiding and monogram. Note the Regimental number needs to be hand painted onto the sabretache and the cartridge box.

Raveneau, head squadron of the 14th Regiment
Sabretache painted with an orange background with silver braiding and monogram.


Groundwork (1 piece)

P 14 Groundwork.jpg

The kit comes with a small circular piece of groundwork


Conclusion

This kit is of a very high quality and is highly recommended. I am looking forward to painting this kit in the next few weeks but am sure that all the silver braiding will be a challenge. A big thank you to my friend Guy who helped me with the posting of this review - he has helped me overcome my computer phobia!.
 
Wonderful review Franco, thank you. I`m also preping this one and it`s a gem.

FWIW, it can be painted as any other early Napoleonic period Chassaur Regiment by added the number to the pouch and the Sabretache.
 
Guy

Thanks once again for posting the review for me - really appreciate it.

Richard

Thanks for the additional information on the kit. I will look into those other uniform variations.

Steve

It is a lovely kit - you will not be disappointed.

Thanks both for your words on the review. It was a pleasure to do.

Ciao
Franco
 
Address

Guy
Need your address again --- lost card file --- Have some interesting refrence material to send you
Jim Runyon
 
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