On the Evening of Waterloo

[Nap]

Hi Paul and Geoff

Look forward to seeing updates on both pieces with yours agenda as your own SBS

An amazing project ...what's the base size ?

Nap

 

[Viking Bob]

Hi Paul and Geoff

Look forward to seeing updates on both pieces with yours agenda as your own SBS

An amazing project ...what's the base size ?

Nap

Kin huge.

 

[peedee]

Not as big as the paniting
the original figures in the wall of Grenadiers are about 1/9th scale Kev .

 

[Hot_spur]

I'll measure the base tonight. It's an irregular shape of styrofoam and papier maché.

I started on the other two horses in the Berline train. I'll have to add to the base in order to accommodate them, but it's papier maché, so pretty easy to do.

There seems to be a difference of opinion as to what the scene in Crofts' painting actually depicts. I've read that Napoleon is being urged to flee his coach, for his mount, Marengo, and the Old Guard is protecting the coach. In another place I have read that it is Napoleon being urged to leave his mount and enter the coach. By his posture in the painting I have always imagined it was the former. If it was, that might explain the reason for only two horses instead of four or six. On the other hand, I have seen paintings of him looking dejected and forlorn in the coach. So who knows?

I have a high quality print (hanging on the wall in my stairway) and there is no evidence of more than two horses. An egregious error by Crofts? I mean it's not like he depicted the dolman and pelisse the wrong colors on the hussar in front of the Old Guard, not that he did. It's just worth correcting, as Paul has noted.

Have you ever exhibited your work at a show (I used to exhibit at the Chicago Show every year) and have some guy come up and whisper to his friend, "That's not the correct epaulette color on that Dutch Lancer."? It always made me want to go up and say, "Hey, you seem really knowledgeable. Let's go see what you brought to the show."

As to the Berline itself, there are some opinions that it was blue, not green. The original was destroyed in a fire at Madame Tussauds in London in 1925. Mine is already painted green, so I'm keeping it that way. I spent hours fabricating the leather straps that attach it to the chassis. They're too delicate to withstand masking and repainting.

Paul, I'm not sure what you are referring to as laurel leaves on the Berline. Can you supply some photos or context? Also, it looks like I'm going to have to paint the coat of arms on the doors from scratch. That should be interesting.

I'll also shoot some better photos without all of the clutter of my desk in the background, and with less DOF so more things are in focus.

Cheers.

Geoff

 

[peedee]

There's a lot of mstakes in the painting which was completed in 1879.
My digital photo is an archive quality image from the museum and can be printed full size ie: 9x6 feet or therabouts, it's in my local art gallery.
The 'Hussar' at the front is a chasseur a cheval of the guard which is a bit weird.

The coach should have 5 lamps.
one at each corner and one lit from outside that shone in the centre rear of the coach.

Each panel has a thin gold line following the panel shape with laurel leaves spaced alternately each side of the stem.
this is also on the splash board at the front. You can see this just behind the coach wheel

I travel across the country showing my figures at shows and demoing painting at least once or twice a month to encourage scale modellers to paint more figures.
Have a look at my Gallery here on PF.

 

[peedee]

I don't understand any confusion regarding Croft's depiction Geoff......When the coach was captured by the Prussians Napoleon's Bicorne and telescope where inside the door on the left hand side of the seat.
If he was entering the coach from his horse he would not be bareheaded nor would he be walking towards a horse.

It seems obvious to me he's about to race to Paris were he arrived dishevilled and bareheaded.

 

[Hot_spur]

Thanks for that, Paul.

I can now make out the leaves in the image you included. How I'm going to paint them with seventy year old hands and eyes will also be interesting.

Also, your knowledge of the time is very helpful. The problem with reading things online is that without deep knowledge of the situation anything is possible. Your context makes the painting make absolute sense.

Could you post for me a link as to how I can purchase the archive quality image from Walker? (I assume it is digital.) It is much better than the one I purchased from Cranston Fine Arts years ago, that I have been using as my guide.

 

[peedee]

I can't do that till Monday Geoff.
Please be aware they do not offer a speedy service.

You recieve a .tif graphic file which is a time limited download.

Whilst my aim has always been to replicate the painting as it is, there are no Imperial pages by the coach and his escort of chasseurs who were ever present is missing, this is to me an important historical mistake.
The uniforms ate obviously wrong, for many troops depicted are in parade dress rather than campaign dress, but that's ok, and so, in the area behind the coach, I am adding 2 or three more figures...just for balance to the model scene.

 

[peedee]

With regard to the gold leaf and coat of arms decoration Geoff,
I am going to produce a digital scale drawing, colour it and have it printed onto decal sheet , which is readily available for guys making decals for aircraft.
A pack of 5 clear sheets of A4 cost me about £5.00.

This will be applied as a waterslide decal over the gloss black paintwork on each panel, and then gloss varnished in place.

 

[Hot_spur]

Thanks ever so much.

I knew I needed to add more figures to the pile up, but with the better resolution of your vignette it is clear I need about ten more. Luckily I have them on hand unassembled, so it's just going to take me a bit longer to get to priming and painting.

One thing I have always loved about working with Historex is reposing figures. I think I like it better than painting them. I also love adding belts, straps, and horse tack. I use the lead foil from from wine bottle capsules as it can be cut, shaped, and sculpted into natural looking forms. It just takes patience.

 

[peedee]

I obtained a large quantity of Airfix collector series figures too because the Guardsnan in the centre was the one used by Sid Horton to create that figure, but without the wonder that is Historex this would take forever in putty.

 

[OldTaff]

There is an amazing book, albeit in French(Naturally!), published in 2012 entitled " La Berline de Napoleon, Le mystere du butin de Waterloo". ISBN no. 978 2 226 20813 2. The website is; www.albin-michel.fr
It wasn't cheap when I bought it, but is packed full of useful Napoleonic stuff, excellent photographs of various clothing, decorations, etc. Many learned folk have contributed, from respected museum curators to serious researchers.....lovely book, but you'll need a French/English dictionary ! Worth it, though.

Alan

 

[peedee]

Merci mon Veille brave.

As the 5th Grenadier from the left in that wall Alain, you did a great job of illustrating this book with those charcoal drawings you made on the inside flap of your giberne.
We all owe you a debt of gratitude.
Bless you mon ami.
Vive L'Empereur.

 

[Hot_spur]

Nap was asking about base size.

Long dimensions are about 18" x 19" (45.7cm x 48.3cm).

I took an aerial view to show the curvilinear shape. I have to add to the upper left area to accommodate the extra horses.

Most of the figures need to be repositioned slightly. Chiefly the entire gun vignette - gun is repositioned - horses and men are not. About ten figures are to be added to the pile up. All are upright, so conversions will be modest.

I've been looking at a lot of youtube videos on groundwork. Static grass is a whole new concept to me so I'll be experimenting with that.

 

[Hot_spur]

Alan, thanks for the book suggestion. Just ordered a copy, and am excited to get it.

Paul, I'm curious about the custom decal idea. I'm planning on using the attached image for my coat of arms, but my printer doesn't do white. (I would clean it up in Photoshop and adjust the colors.) I checked with the local Kinko's stores and they don't have white ink either. I looked at MicroScale's website, and they have a 250 sheet (!) minimum. Do you have a source that will do small jobs?

Thanks much.

Geoff

 

[peedee]

Because you can't print white ink Geoff you print as if you can, your printer leaves it white and all you need is to underpaint the area to be decalled in white on the model.

There's lots of places Geoff.
I bought from this Company in the UK but I know it's on Amazon and available from scale modelling wholesalers too.

https://mrdecalpaper.com/collection.../products/clear-inkjet-waterslide-decal-paper

 

[Hot_spur]

Underpainting in white - who'da thunk?

Sometimes I feel so dumb.

 

[peedee]

Underpainting in white - who'da thunk?
Sometimes I feel so dumb.

If ya knows ya knows, if you don't....
you do that facepalm like I did too

 

[peedee]

Contact details for the image Geoff.

 

[blaster]

Hi Paul and Geoff,

what an interesting and fun thread featuring a couple of really ambitious projects!! I sincerely hope that these two projects are brought to completion.

Rgds Victor