Airfix Waterloo Farm House - Part Three

The first Airfix Waterloo set was first shown to us back in 1975 and was called ‘Waterloo Assault Set’ where it contained the farm house and the eight boxes of figures plus the accessories which had two uncovered wagons and farm equipment. Version two came out in 2008 and was titled ‘The Battle of Waterloo Set’. This set now contained nine boxes of figures including the Prussian Infantry set which came out in 1979, two paint brushes and paints with a tube of glue. Version three came out in 2015 and was titled ‘Waterloo 18th June 1815 Gift Set’ and this re-released by Airfix to commemorate the 200^th bicentenary of Waterloo. Nothing new added to this set just the same as the second version but in a different box and so this was a great disappointment.  Will Airfix ever bring out new Napoleonic figures? I very much doubt it as there are so many other plastic companies out there that are making them and are still making new sets.

Picture's from plastic soldier review site

Model: A50174 Waterloo 18th June 1815 Gift Set -Scale: 1/72

Contents of set:

- Farmhouse - Diorama Base: L580mm x W580mm

- Highland Infantry - British Cavalry Hussars - British Infantry - British Artillery

- Prussians

- French Imperial Guard - French Cavalry - French Artillery - French Infantry

- Farm Accessories

- 22 x Acrylic Paints - 2 x Brushes

- 1 x Poly Cement

‘I am often asked whether we should not now, in these days of European unity, forget Waterloo and the battles of the past. My reply is, history cannot be forgotten and we need to be reminded of the bravery of the thousands of men from many nations who fought and died in a few hours on 18th June 1815 and why their gallantry and sacrifice ensured peace in Europe for 50 years’. - The 8th Duke of Wellington 2015.

Airfix Waterloo Farm House - Part Two

The next time that we see the farm house from Airfix came in 1975 when it appeared in the “Waterloo Assault set”.

I can remember how impressed I was with this set as not only did it have the farm building again in a grey plastic but it now came with eight boxes of figures including two civilian wagons and accessories.

The figures came from all that they had produced for the Waterloo Battle to date. There was one box of each of the following the French had Foot Artillery, Line Infantry, and Imperial Guard which was their new set that year and one set of cavalry the Cuirassiers. The British had Line Infantry, Highlanders, Royal Horse Artillery and Hussars. No Prussians figures were in this set as they had not been made then. The wagons were new from Airfix and unique as they were not produced in their own set. The Accessories included barricades and supplied for the two wagons with two civilian wagon drivers, as they would have been employed by the British army at that time to move supplies around for them.

I can remember this set being out for a long time before it disappeared and then in 2008, they brought it out again but this time called “The Battle of Waterloo” set.

This set had now grown into one hell of a set to collect. Everything you needed for your Waterloo Battle. Not only did it have the farm house and all of the 8 sets of figures from the previous assault set and the two civilian wagons with accessories, but now it came with a plastic base for the farm house, paint brushes and paints. This set also included a box of the Prussian Infantry, which was Airfix last Waterloo set ever to be produced by them. No doubt that this set will make another appearance very soon as the 200th Anniversary is coming up in a couple of years’ time. Now would that be great if it had contained a new set? Roll on 2015.

 Back of Box

Airfix Waterloo Farm House - Part One

The Battle of Waterloo had many buildings and villages that were fought over in the three days of Waterloo in June 1815 but three were made very famous by the battle. These were the farms of Hougoumont, Le Haye Sainte and Paperotte.

Le Haye Sainte was in the centre of Wellington’s battle line and it was defended by the 1st & 2nd Light Battalions of the Kings German Legion a regiment of Nassau Light infantry and the 5th Line battalion of the KGL while defending outside on the eastern side of the farm there were two companies of the 95th.

 

This complex of farm buildings became the hospital for the Allies and was fought over all day by the French with d ‘Erlon Corps with the 54th and 55th Ligne. The farm changed hands several times during the battle were at one stage the KGL ran out of ammunition and had to retreat out of the farm. Unable to move the Allies casualties, they were bayoneted to death by the French when they first over ran the farmyard and by the end of the day it was back in Allied hands. 

Airfix brought out the famous farm house in 1970 after they started to bring out the Waterloo figures for the battle. The 1/76 model was made in a grey plastic and has made a few appearances how and then by Airfix through the years. Once off the spur it took just minutes to assemble the farm and I still have mine although it needs urgent attention, another project for me to do to rebuild and base the farm house one day.

Although the model is not historical correct as some of the windows to the rooms in the roof of the main house are missing the farm was also much bigger than the model, but space would be a problem for most gamers. I have seen this model painted up on other people’s blogs and what a good job they have made of it. I must admit that I liked my Airfix model back then and still do today but wouldn’t it be nice for Airfix to bring out Hougoumont and Paperotte for the 200th Anniversary of the battle as I know they will do with the farm house once more.

 

The farm House today