French Old Guard-Grenadiers

Figures used: AIRFIX French Imperial Guard- 48 figures in a Box. Made in grey plastic 

Painted in Early 80’s 

The might of the French army had never failed in battle, until Waterloo. These brave old men of Napoleons Guard must have made a spectacular sight on the battlefield in their uniforms and big black bearskin hats. These Airfix figures were the only ones you could buy in plastic back in the 70’s and they can still hold their own today even though there are quite a few companies that have now added these to their range. These were the eighth Airfix Waterloo set to come out in 1975. The uniform is very accurate on these, well sculpted with plenty of detail, these were the best that Airfix had made up till then and once painted they look really great.

These were painted before we had the internet and the only research I could do was at my local library, but the Airfix box picture helped a great deal. These are another one of my favourite Airfix sets and I have painted these as another regiment which you will see later on in this section. 

H= Humbrol 

H34 Vest, Trousers, Belts, Straps, Grenade Badge on top of bearskin, Bearskin cords & flounders, Hair

H25 Coat, Coat on backpack, Collars

H21 Boots, Ammo Pouch

H62 Backpacks, Musket

H60 Cuffs, Coat-tails, Epaulettes, Crown on Bearskin

H25 Cuffs, Collars and piping on jacket

H33 Sword & Bayonet Scabbard, Bearskin

H61 Flesh

H53 Musket Barrels

R11 Firing Locks, Bayonets, Sword

H54 Musket fittings

H16 Bearskin Badge, Ammo Pouch Badge, Coat-tail Badge, Buckles & Buttons

H80 Stand 

Officers Notes

Epaulettes, Bearskin cords & flounders - Gold

Gloves - white

Sword Scabbard – Silver

NCO’s Bearskin cords & flounders – Red/Gold

French Fusiliers

French Fusiliers of the Line

Figures used: AIRFIX French Infantry- 42 figures and 1 mounted Officer in Box

Painted in Late 70’s

These are the very first Airfix figures that I started painting for my Waterloo French Army. These were Airfix fifth Waterloo set to come out in 1972 and although the first sets were okay with their sculpting, these are very poor but they are all that we had to wargame with back then. The Uniform is accurate on these for Waterloo and they are a joy to paint.
I have painted two of these Fusilier regiments the 1st and 2nd. But you can paint all four fusilier regiments by changing their pom-poms colour. These were painted before we had the internet and the only research I could do was at my local library, which did not have many books on Napoleonic uniforms at that time. These are a favourite of mine and I have painted these as other regiments which you will see later on in this section.

H= Humbrol
R= Revell

H25 Coat, Officers Jacket
H34 Trousers, Waistcoat, Coat-tails, Belts, Straps
H62 Backpacks, Hair, Musket
H64 Blanket Roll
H60 Cuffs, Collars and piping on front of coat
R21 Boots, Ammo Pouch, Hat
H33 Sword & Bayonet Scabbard
H61 Flesh
H53 Musket Barrels
R90 Firing Locks, Bayonets, Sword
H54 Musket Fixings, Bayonet & Sword Scabbard
H16 Chin Strap, Hat Badge, Ammo Pouch Badge, Buttons
H60 Pom Pom, (1st Green, 2nd Blue, 3rd Orange, 4th Violet)
H80 Stand

Officers Notes
Officers Coat- Blue
Coat-tails White trimmed with Red.
Gold Epaulettes
Gloves white.
Sword Scabbard-Gold

Painting Guide

French Young Guard Tirallieurs

Figures used: HAT 8034 Young Guard- 48 figures in Box

Painted in 2009

Before I started on painting this set, I cut all of the figures from spur and clean up any flash, which there is a bit on these. Then give them a good wash in warm soapy water. Once dry we can then start painting them.
Now I have no idea what you want out of this box but I usually use one box per regiment. As this box contains four spurs of the same figures, I then do not need to have all four officers in this set. So I have a Regiment of 45 figures.
Below is my painting guide to these figures painted in Enamel paints.

H= Humbrol
R= Revell

H25 Greatcoat, Officers Jacket
H34 Trousers, Straps
R75 Gaiters
H62 Backpacks, Hair, Musket
H61 Flesh
H53 Musket Barrels
R90 Firing Locks, Bayonets
H54 Musket Fixings
R7 Boots, Ammo pouch, Hat Peak
H16 Chin Strap, Ammo Pouch Badge, Buttons
R89 Hat
H60 Pom Pom
H80 Stand

Officers Notes
Officers Coat- Blue
Coat-tails Red trimmed with white.
Gold Epaulettes, Band around top of hat.
Gloves white.
Sword Scabbard-Gold