After more in depth chatter at the club it was decided I would start with the 3rd Division for the Battle of Talavera in 1809. So then came another list of questions to be answered, who makes the figures, what rules does the club use, how many figures would be needed and how are they based, what paints to use etc?
The most important answer I received was that the club used Shako 2 for napoleonics and that was how the members' vast collections of figures were based. But we were most likely to try Black Powder for the Peninsular games, but that was ok as the Black Powder rule set didn't fixate on basing so units based for Shako 2 could be used. So that meant eighteen figure infantry units for standard size battalions and a two to four figure base of skirmishers to represent the light company when deployed forward of the main body.
This led me to buy a box of plastic Perry Miniatures Napoleonic British figures which includes some riflemen, which I would need to represent the 5/60th Royal American Regiment of Foot companies which were attached to the Brigades I was to build. For the extra command figures I would need to make two Battalions from the box, an extra command sprue was purchased from Perry Miniatures along with a couple of extra sprues of riflemen.
A starter set of Vallejo paints (Napoleonic specific) were sourced on-line, with extra colours and the main box of figures bought from a FLGS (friendly local game store) in Norwich. For basing after initially trying to cut plasticard to uniform sizes I decided life was too short and ordered 3mm MDF bases from Warbases.
Now to decide who to start with, I decided on the Irish, specifically the 2/87th "The Prince of Wales's Irish" Regiment of Foot and the 1/88th "Connaught Rangers" Regiment of Foot. These were the two line regiments of Colonel Donkin's brigade of Major General Mackenzie's 3rd Division, the rest of the brigade was completed by five companies of the 5/60th. A couple of miniatures were completed as test figures, had been a while since I had done any miniature painting of any sort, and a painting night at the club allowed for much constructive criticism and pointers.
So that was it, up and running. Over the two years between then and now I have completed the whole 3rd Division and half of the 4th as well as enough artillery for three and a half two model batteries. Also just completed are the 14th and 16th Light Dragoon regiments of Major General Cotton's brigade. I have used figures from several different manufacturers to achieve this, see list to right, sourced on-line, at my FLGS and at wargaming shows.
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| 2/87th Prince of Wales's Own Irish 3rd Division, Donkin's 2nd Brigade |
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| 1/88th Connaught Rangers 3rd Division, Donkin's 2nd Brigade |
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| 5/60th Royal American Parcelled out to various brigades. Five companies in 3rd Division, Donkin's 2nd Brigade |
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| 2/24th Warwickshire 3rd Division, Mackenzie's 1st Brigade |
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| 2/31st Huntingdonshire 3rd Division, Mackenzie's 1st Brigade |
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| 1/45th Nottinghamshire 3rd Division, Mackenzie's 1st Brigade |
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| 2/7th Royal Fusiliers 4th Division, Campbell's 1st Brigade |
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| 2/53rd Shropshire 4th Division, Campbell's 1st Brigade |
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| 14th Light Dragoons Cotton's Brigade |
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| 16th Light Dragoons Cotton's Brigade |
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| Command: Two Divisional commanders Four Brigade commanders two ADCs |
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| Royal Artillery |
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| Member of the 29th Worcestershires of the 2nd Division capturing an Eagle of either the 24th or 96th Ligne Regiments. See separate post Talavera and French Eagles. |
To have a break from British but very much still allied, I completed two thirds of Pack's Independent Portuguese Brigade but that will be covered in another post.
For a lot more in-depth history behind these regiments and more, I would heartily recommend checking out JJ's Wargames blog, specifically his work on re fighting Talavera in 18mm later this year where he is providing all the units for both sides.
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