The Battle of Aspern Essling 21/22nd May 1809

[Bessiere]

So glad I could offer a helpful suggestion Mr D. I love those green chevauxleger outfits, so much more interesting than the endless sea of white. Nice painting!
Cheers,
Bessiere

[Santi Pérez]

That Austrian cavalry regiment looks splendid, Chris. You have done a great paint job on them.

Santi.

[C M Dodson]

Thank you for your kind comments gentlemen.

Third Battalion Moravia volunteers.

This unit was part of brigade Splenyi part of Hillers Sixth Corps.

This was a volunteer, or Freiwilliger unit commanded by officers with military experience.

Part of the volunteer status was that the cuffs were pointed to acknowledge this.

I have used the Hat Landwehr with an Art Miniturian mounted Colonel to represent them.






Lots to do.

Chris

[Bessiere]

Super nice Mr D. I did have a blast painting my own HaT Landwehr, fabulous sculpting so far as I'm concerned. Could not be more pleasurable to paint. Your output is prodigious. How many hours you reckon a unit like this takes you?
Cheers,
Bessiere

[C M Dodson]

Thank you Mr B.

Too long!

I tend to get carried away a bit so have lots of units on the go at the same time.

I have over eight hundred troops in various states of completion at the moment.

On top of that it is minus degrees in my garage so Antietam is stalled.

Lots to do.

Best wishes,

Chris

[C M Dodson]

The Vienna Volunteers.

( Wiener Freiwilliger )

These gentlemen volunteers were military trained citizens officered by experienced personal.

The 1st and 2nd Volunteers formed part of Hiller’s 6th Corps under Nordmann’s Advance Guard.

Rather than have two small units I have amalgamated them.



Lots to do.

Chris

[Rich W]

Nice progress Chris! They look suitably ready for a hard slog on the battlefield!

[C M Dodson]

There were six Austrian cuirassier regiments at Aspern and this is my first.

These fine fellows are the Erzherzog Franz Regiment number two, part of the Brigade G M Siegenthal.





The sculpts are from the wonderful Mr Kane who has been consistently generous in providing a few extras to my orders. I am very grateful.

[Beano Boy]

Everything starts with an idea
that often leads to greater things
Just Like Now.
Well Done Chris,
and please keep this topic ongoing. BB

[k.b.]

Absolutely splendid this thread of yours Mr D, it’s quickly becoming one of my favourites. The figure sculpture and animation by Mr Kane look top class and your painting does them full justice. (Has Harry been smitten by the 1/72 Napoleonic bug after moving to Munich and started sculpting?) Probably not but could you clarify who the minis are from Chris…… This project is coming on in leaps and bounds and hopefully by visiting it frequently it might become contagious.

[sberry]

These guys look absolutely great!
I have just discovered that you can click on those pictures and then look at them at full resolution at Postimage - your crisp painting style becomes looks more impressive then.

[C M Dodson]

Second battalion Erzherzog Karl Legion.

This was part of G M Mayer’s brigade, Second Corps.

Formed in 1809 in Bohemia the Corps consisted of six battalions of which the 2nd saw action at Aspern.

The unit had two companies of jäger in the corse hut and the rest wore the new Austrian shako.

I have used the lovely Piano wargames figures provided by Klaus Hinderks for the jäger section with Hat Austrians for the rest. The mounted officer was a Spanish chap.

Thank you to Klaus and of course, Thomas Mischak who introduced me.



I am most grateful to Erzherzog Johann for the beautiful unit flag link.

Lots to do.

Chris

[C M Dodson]

Eagle eyed members will spot the lack of trim on the bugler .

He has been sorted and I am on a charge!

Chris

[C M Dodson]

Infantry Regiment No.59 Jordis

This unit, in Brigade GM , was part of FML Hiller’s First Column and comprised two battalions. With 973 effectives ( Gill) this would be messy for my purposes, so I have modelled them as one unit.



These are mainly Piano figures supplied, very kindly, by Klauss Hinderks and my good friend Thomas Mischak.

I have supplemented them with some equally lovely Franznap figures from Francesco. They too are a delight.

The camera has highlighted a few errors but overall I am very pleased with them as is Oberst Freiherr Von Wewelt commanding.

Lots to do.

Chris

[Captain Sibourne]

Looking good!

[C M Dodson]

Hungarian Infantry Regiment 51 Splenyi

With 938 effectives present in two battalions, ( Gill) I have amalgamated them into one unit for uniformity.

These gentlemen were in Division FML Vincent, forming part of Hiller’s VI Corps.

With regard the black spots on the trousers an American fellow modeller, Mr Bessieres, suggested using a fine waterproof marker pen . I think it works very well and am very grateful for his kind suggestion.

The troops are mainly Hat which, compared to their Austrian counterparts are of a much better quality in my opinion.



Interestingly, I have noticed that a lot of modellers show the Austrian muskets with steel bandings.

According to Rawkins, the model 1798 musket with brass fittings had begun to replace the older version, predominantly in the German units, with fifty per cent having the new design by 1807.



Many Hungarian troops still continued with the 1784 version until the end of the Napoleonic war apparently.

A new variant, with steel fittings of the 1798 Gewehre was introduced in 1807 so it seems appropriate that for the 1809 campaign a mixture is in order.

Lots to do.

Chris

[Bessiere]

Fine work Mr D and my compliments on both the quality and quantity. I recently read the volumes by Gill and was fascinated by the debut performances of several of the Rhine confederation units out to prove themselves. Their change in attitude only 4 years later is interesting too and put poor Boney in a very precarious position. When you game Aspern is it correct that historically killed figures get a second chance? Can Lannes come back for Wagram? Any idea what battle you wish to re-fight next? Anyhow your work as always impresses me and your depth of researching is admirable indeed.
Cheers,
Bessiere

[C M Dodson]

Thank you Mr B, you are very kind.

My rules only allow generals to be hit by direct fire, ie round shot , shell , canister or sniper fire.

If one is in the ‘thick of it’ , ie melee,I can always use dice if military probability suggests they are at real risk.

This has worked well with Antietam.

Hooker was in a shell blast radius following an overshoot, and was wounded as per the original engagement.

Mansfield was felled by a marksman and Der Feldmarschal’s six on a dice roll.

Who knows who will fall at Aspern, it will be some time before I even lay out the terrain as Antietam is still ongoing.

One of the problems with my projects is repetition of the pictorial story. It is interesting to find new angles to tell the story.

This, apart from the scenery element, would make it a bit boring to do a similar battle as the photographs would also be very similar , hence changing the periods.

My attic is full of WW11 equipment and I do have a hankering for a Normandy battle having stomped around a lot of the terrain.

However, senility approaches so I am concentrating on Aspern preparations.

As they say, SABLE ( stock acquired beyond life expectancy).

Best wishes ,

Chris

[C M Dodson]

Erzherzog Johann Dragoon Regiment No.1

This unit was in Division FML Kottulinsky with 700 sabres, part of V1 Corps under FML Hiller.

I originally was not going to model them as they were initially positioned in a supporting role outside Aspern. However, as the action escalated, it appears that they moved towards the centre to assist the cavalry action and therefore have a relevance.

With this in mind and to reduce costs I have used the Hat Dragoons. They are surprisingly detailed for their age but not as good as Mr Kanes chaps. I have however used two of his gentlemen for the standard and trumpeter. Not a perfect match but ok from a distance I think.

The problem with Hat troops is that despite all methods the paint has an irritating habit of wanting to flake off. Washing with detergent, vinegar, priming, rustoleum, oil, acrylics all have failed .

Nevertheless, here they are with Oberst Johann Von Szombathely in command.



Lots to do.

Chris

[Bessiere]

Well done Mr D. Like I said you are very productive, got these guys done smartly. They're very fine as always. I do like this HaT set and for me fun to paint. I've had success turning the heads of those troopers facing hard right using pliers with some thick rubber or leather between the jaws to not tear it up. Too many of an awkward pose tend to bug me. Much easier than chopping and gluing heads anyway.
I got into painting about 8 years ago thinking to create 2 Napoleonic armies to war game with. I have the armies but can't get the gaming aspect together and no one around to show me how. I could fill up 2 kitchen tables with the armies I've painted and with the Waterloo dio getting near completion the steam is kinda out of me. I had grand ambitions upon starting! I did the hard part first with all the painting. Having disability issues whatever project I can get into really gives me some solid ground and support. Its my work essentially whatever activity I'm indulging but it's gotten me to start writing and that is much easier for me to find motivation to do. I still have units I want to finish to have completed armies but I need a break for a bit. Thanks for your concern, I could sense that in your reply to KB. Very kind of you. You gotta fill up that Marchfeld so I suppose you have your "marching" orders?
Cheers,
Bessiere