French Napoleonic Horse Artillery of the Imperial Guard

Naismith 1:120 Scale Figure Review

French Napoleonic Horse Artillery of the Imperial Guard, 1806–1815, 1:120 Figures Naismith NF13.

French Napoleonic Horse Artillery of the Imperial Guard, painted as Royal Neapolitan Guard Horse Artillery. Gunners and field pieces are sold separately. These Naismith artillery pieces are a French howitzer and a 6-pdr. gun (Systeme An XI) to the right of it. Neapolitan gun carriages and wagons were painted light blue with black metal fittings.

Contents

  • 6 miniatures in 3 Poses – 15 mm equal 180 cm body height in 1:120 scale
    • Gunner № 1 with Sponge (2)
    • Gunner № 2 with Cannonball (2)
    • Gunner № 9 with Water Bucket (2)

Evaluation

Naismith offers 15 mm miniatures in sets of six foot or three mounted figures. Artillery sets include six figures in three different poses. The French Napoleonic guard horse artillery is modelled in the process of reloading the gun after a round was fired. Gunner № 1 is in the process of swabbing the barrel with a wet sponge, while assistant gunner № 9 is picking up the water bucket to return to his post behind the gun. Gunner № 2 is waiting to place the cannonball into the barrel once the charge has been rammed home. During the swabbing of the gun barrel and ramming home of a new charge, the ventsman must block the gun’s vent with a leather thumbstall to prevent a rush of air which might make any glowing embers burn brightly. The ventsman is missing in this set.

Suitable wargame poses for grand-tactical simulations. Considering the small number of different poses, these Naismith artillerists are most suitable for wargames like Empire or Age of Eagles, which require only two or three gunners per artillery base.

These Naismith figures are nicely detailed, and they will be fun to paint.

French Napoleonic Horse Artillery of the Imperial Guard