While prowling YouTube I came across this rather interesting video of FIW reenactors, which I have posted here because it gives a good view of the off-white colour of French infantry justeaucorps, and the kind of shadows that it gets in the folds and creases Clearly it is possible to go for fairly dark shading, so my black-lined figures don't seem all that far off.
Now, I can appreciate the appeal of reenacting, and am aware that it is not an inexpensive pastime. It is also more accessible to those of an age where they have accumulated a good degree of disposable income and time now that the children have grown up.
I also realize (to my own personal annoyance!) that as one gets on in years, a certain "thickening of the torso" is hard to prevent- and even harder to reverse.
I also realize (to my own personal annoyance!) that as one gets on in years, a certain "thickening of the torso" is hard to prevent- and even harder to reverse.
Nevertheless, there are some mightily-proportioned individuals here wielding their Charlevilles. Whatever perils the French army may have faced while on campaign in the New World, starvation evidently wasn't one of them. One can see the strain on many a buttonhole.
The average annual calorie intake evident for individuals here would probably have equalled that of an entire company back in 1759. Says a lot about modern diets and lifestyles.
Anyway, the next time some people slag off my beloved Front Rank miniatures as being over-fed gargoyles, I will simply reply with a link to this video.
Oh, and lest it be thought I'm knocking these people, and their hobby, I'm not; I'm no string-bean in the least, and I would have loved to have been there and to have been part of it.
Oh, and lest it be thought I'm knocking these people, and their hobby, I'm not; I'm no string-bean in the least, and I would have loved to have been there and to have been part of it.
7 comments:
Probably a good view of what a Militia regiment would have looked like :-)
That would have to be Sedentary Militia, I'd imagine.
If 'full time soldiers' note that they *also* look in clean and new clothes: it's certainly the very beginning of the campaign (and de Saxe urged to slightly overfeed *horse* just before they took the field -it may apply to men also).
Imagine what they will look like in a few weeks....
Now, as freecloud remarked, if they are a "Burgher City Watch" at the monthly gathering...
Bill Protz (AKA Msr Chevert) , the author of Bataille de l'Ancien Regime rules is the offiver (with sword) following the drum corps and just ahead of the flag (from 0:14 - 0:18 seconds into the clip). He runs the Campaigns in Germania blog and wargames with Der Alte Fritz. I had the honor to play across from him in the Big Battalions game at MilleniumCom in Nov 2008.
Jim
Thanks, Jim
I knew Bill has been an avid FIW re-enactor as well as a general SYW buff (from his days as editor of the SYW Journal).
I couldn't imagine him not wanting to attend an event of that scale, and was pretty sure he would have been there somewhere.
Hi Robert - I'd like to use your Sarkozy Hussars Ad in an article I've written on Imagi-Nations for this years' Salute. Is that OK?
If you want tos ee a darft email me on a.patrick At btinternet.com
I am a little late here, but I also saw Bill Protz leading the French regulars. He is generally in charge of all the French forces at the larger re-enactments, due to his experience and long years of service in the North American FIW community.
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