My late father was extremely interested in painting military figures, with a special interest in the Historex Napoleonic figures.

In going through my mom's house I found a bunch of his stuff that I brought home with me, including an entire French Army band of some sort which are almost certainly Historex Napoleonics.

Unfortunately, he didn't label what unit they represent, and I'd like to know.

Are any of you out there experts in Napoleonic Figures who can determine what unit this is?

Grenadiers of the Guard.
Will add a pic or two when I get home from work tonight.


Here we are a couple of pics.
1º Regiment - Musiciens - Grande tenue - apres avril 1810.









And that will do. "Enough I say". LOL

Your Dad did a great job!!!

Thanks so much for the info. He was indeed an excellent and prolific figure painter.

I have quite a few more figures that are currently wrapped up in tissue and in various boxes that I brought back from cleaning out my old house.

I have no room to display them, but there was no way I wasn't going to keep them.

I have a friend here in Michigan who collects bands of all things, so this one is going to him.

At least now I'll be able to identify who they are!!

BTW, I don't suppose anyone has an extra oboe lying around in their stash do they? One of the figures is missing his.

I could scratch one from stock styrene, but I'd rather just replace it if one's available.

You can buy spares for Historex, wait for it, Historex Agents in the UK.

https://www.historexagents.com/specials/index.php#

Thanks, so much. It appears that it's available for 65P. Plus no doubt about £3.00 for shipping.



I've contacted them and we'll see what happens, as they usually want a minimum order of £5.00 PLUS shipping.


BTW, one thing I've noticed is that according to one of your plates, there's some difference of opinion on whether the bandmaster did or didn't wear a plume.

There isn't one on the figure dad did, and it doesn't appear to have had one originally, although two of the musicians had lost theirs, but they were lying on the base and have been reattached.

And because the plumes are all white I'm supposing that he meant for these to be prior to 1810 based on the notes.

Oh boy! This takes me back! More Tom, more!

Let me take a look through all the stuff of his that I brought back and see what's there.

OK, I've gone through some of my late father's stuff and the following are the major Napoleonic Figures that he did which I have. There are a few others but they're only very partially finished.

I know that he did quite a few more and I believe he gave away or donated many of them. At one point I think he had a plan to do a number of Napoleon's Marshals on horseback as there are quite a few unpainted horses in the box with various names painted on the bottom as if he had planned to do that figure but I don't know if he did or not.

So here are the ones I have. A couple of the have what they are (Handpainted by my dad on the bottom of the base) so I know what they are supposed to be, but the rest, not so much.


So here are the pictures, and I would GREATLY appreciate the experts on the forum to help me by identifying what each of these figures is supposed to represent, i.e. unit/rank etc.

Here we go:

1




2





3





4





5





6





7





8





9





10





11

Those hand painted standards are wonderful. He actually got all the lettering, insignia and battle honors!

Basically
#1 Officer Chasseur a Pied (foot chasseur) of the imperial guard.
#2 Sgt major Chasseur a Pied of the Imperial Guard (two gold stripes and gold interlaced braid)
#3 Sapper Chasseur a pied of the imperial guard
#4 Private Grenadier a pied of the Imperial Guard
#5 Standard bearer 2nd Regiment Grenadier a pied (or so the flag says)
#6 Standard bearer Chasseur a pied of the Imperial Guard
#7 Standard bearer 1st Rgt Grenadier a pied of the Imperial Guard
#8 Drum Major Grenadier a Pied
#9 Officer Grenadiers 3rd Swiss regiment
#10 Heavy Cavalry General in Carabinier uniform (there was both a personality head and a generic officer figure in the line)
#11 Marshal Ney I know it's a marshal and with red hair it should be Ney, but I can't be sure without seeing the head sculpt

OK, here's some re-takes of #11 which hopefully confirm your ID:




So, are you thirsty for MORE?

I've dug out a bunch more figures and could use some help ID'ing them.

These next four are Historex, and are either unfinished or incomplete.

I don't think (but you never know) that I'd go back and finish the ones my dad didn't but it would depend. So for this next group if the members of the forum could identify the figure by rank/unit, IF THE UNIFORM or PAINTING is not finished and what perhaps point me to a reference that would help complete it, that would be awesome.

The FIRST figure appears to have been completed but is missing his right arm so in this case in addition to rank and unit it'd be very helpful to know what this guy would have had in that arm, i.e. sword/sabre, rifle, flag etc.

SO here goes (and there's a whole bunch more to follow!

12






13






14






15

This next group of figures are NOT Historex, but are lead figures and I strongly suspect that these came pre-painted and were not done by my dad.

So the questions here are:

What rank/unit are these guys (I have an idea about the sappers) and can anyone confirm whether these were purchased pre-painted.

So here we go!

16



17





18






19





20






21






22






23

That's the Ney headsculpt. He's in the full dress, as opposed to service dress, campaign dress or gala dress. Marshall uniforms were that diverse.

#12 Is a Drum master of the Imperial Guard grenadiers a pied. The missing arm should have a baton. (as opposed to earlier figure which is a Drum major, two different people)

#13 3rd Dutch Grenadiers standard bearer without his flag and a sword instead? Could also be a Westphalian with the white cockade, but more likely the plume fell off in storage leaving the white circle where it was glued on. He could have also lost the flag and the sword substituted.

#14 Voltiguer (or light company) of 3rd Swiss Regiment. Even has the short tunic skirts. His fringed epaulets are missing but you can see where they're supposed to be glued on.

#15 Standard bearer in shako, squared lapels. Judging from the shako plate probably line infantry.

The painting really varies on the metal figures and some are definitely classic toy soldier style with poorly defined detail and rosy cheeks, while others are more modern and have much finer detail.

16. Line Infantry Fusiliers 1812 Bardin regulation uniforms. The discs are different colors for the different companies.

17. NCO sapper, light infantry. Pointed lapels. His companion i a Sapper of the Chasseurs of the Guard, at least that's what his epaulets are painted as, but the uniform doesn't quite match with square lapels?

`18. Grenadier of the Guard pre 1808 with the cross on the back of the bearskin rather than the grenade.

19. Line Drummers in Imperial Livery post 1812. They appear to match the Line Infantry fusiliers except both have red epaulets and one has cap lines and plumes which should be grenadiers. But there were variations.

20. Line Dragoon officer. Not guard as missing aiguilettes

21. Line chasseur a cheval officer. The painted rank doesn't match his 2 epaulets? The cuff rank is a sergeant major but he has officer's silver epaulets? And two chevrons on the breeches doesn't match two epaulets for an officer. Unless he's supposed to be carabinier but then he should have a bearskin and -- factory painted because he can't decide what rank he is.

22. Polish Cheveau Leger of the Guard? Officer, probably pre-painted as the aiguillettes are on the wrong side. Officers had theirs on the right, after 1809 with the adoption of the lance, enlisted ranks had their on the left. But silver marks him as an officer. Or he could be a Line Polish lancer officer. Could actually be an enlisted lancer Polish lancer of the Guard painted as an officer.

23. Line infantry Volitguer cornet. The flank light infantry company had cornets rather than drums.

As you can tell some of these figures's uniforms are a little problematic so probably pre-painted as castings were often painted as ranks and units they didn't match.

So in order to complete (at least 12, 13 and 14) does this sound about right?

#12 Purchase a set of arms (part #288) and paint up the right arm with a baton


#13 Dad must have intended the figure to be carrying a sword as opposed to a flag as there is no sword in the scabbard. Why he has a sash without a flag is a good question. So should the figure have a plume added, and if so, what is the correct part number for either just the plume or if required the entire head-dress, and what color should it be painted?

#14 Which part number is correct for the fringed epaulettes? Is it 66,255 or 302, and how would I find out? Also, clearly the figure is not completely painted, so does anyone have a good reference plate for this one, particularly the head dress and cartridge box?

(#15 has more to do to complete, including a flag, so I doubt I'll attempt that one. Too many other projects on the desk!)

Any ideas on what parts to purchase to complete the figures mentioned?