Napoleonic Artillery Equipment
1:72 Scale Equipment Painting Guide
French guns open fire at Waterloo 1995.
Photo © by Klaus Schäfer.
Guns & Caissons in 1:72
- Bavarian Limbers
- British Guns, Howitzers, and Limbers
- French Guns, Howitzers, and Limbers
- French Horse and Foot Artillery Caissons
- Russian Guns, Howitzers, and Limbers
- Naval Cannon
Napoleonic Equipment Colour Table
| Country | Year | Equipment Type | Woodwork | Metal Fittings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 1792-1815 | Austrian | ochre | black |
| Baden | 1805-1815 | French | dark grey | black |
| Bavaria | 1805-1815 | Prussian French |
light blue-grey | black |
| Berg | 1808-1812 | French | stained wood | yellow |
| Britain | 1792-1815 | British | medium blue-grey | black |
| Brunswick | 1809 | Austrian | ochre | black |
| Brunswick | 1813-1815 | British | medium blue-grey | black |
| France | 1805-1815 | French | olive green | black |
| Hesse-Darmstadt | 1805-1815 | Prussian French |
medium blue | black |
| Hesse-Cassel | 1806 | Prussian | medium blue | black |
| Hesse-Cassel | 1813-1815 | Prussian British? |
medium blue | black |
| Hannover | 1814-1815 | British | medium blue-grey? | black |
| Italy | 1806-1814 | French | grey | black |
| Naples | 1805-1815 | French | light blue | black |
| Netherlands Kingdom of Holland |
1805-1819 | French | olive green | black |
| Poland | 1807-1813 | French | olive green | black |
| Portugal | 1807 | French | olive green? | black |
| Portugal | 1808-1814 | British | medium blue-grey | black |
| Prussia | 1792-1815 | Prussian British |
medium blue | black |
| Russia | 1805-1814 | Russian | apple green | black or polished |
| Saxony | 1805-1813 | Prussian French |
dark grey | yellow |
| Spain | 1807-1815 | Spanish | dark grey or stained wood |
black |
| Sweden | 1805-1814 | – | greenish blue | black |
| United States | 1812-1814 | – | olive green | black |
| Westphalia | 1807-1813 | French | green | black |
| Wheels had a green and yellow striped pattern. | ||||
| Württemberg | 1805-1815 | Prussian French |
stained wood | yellow |
| Würzburg | 1807-1813 | Austrian French |
red | black |
Iron gun barrels were painted to protect them from rust, black being the most common colour used, although some British gun barrels are reported to have been painted dark brown. Bronze gun barrels only required polishing to keep them clean.
Bibliography
- Funcken, L. & F.: L'Uniforme et les Armes des Soldats du Premier Empire, pp. 41, 73, 77, 117, 143
- Wise, Terence: Artillery Equipment of the Napoleonic Wars (Lond. 1979)
Frequently Asked Questions
For further information and updates, please join us on facebook or in the Miniatures Forum.