Napoleonic Spanish Cavalry

My Spanish Cavalry brigade for the early Peninsular War. Very much a mix and match force


Maria Luisa Hussars (later became Estramandura Hussars) nicknamed the run-away Marys. These are Zvezda SYW hussars on the Esci Polish Lancer Horses.


Cazadores a Caballo - Voluntarios de Espagne. Italeri French hussars on the carabinier horses from the same manufacturer.


Villaviacosa Dragoons, using Italeri Prussian Cuirassiers


Rey Cavalry Regiment, known for its successful charge at Talavera, again Italeri Prussian Cuirassiers

Setting the Scene - Mediterranean

Just landed. Had a quick browse and it's full of goodness!


Further reading and I'm already contemplating a terrain mat

On the Workbench - November 2019

Another partial month, not satisfied with a holiday in September. SWMBO decided that we would have a couple of weeks on the Isle of Man! So I've got a fair bit of catching up to do and start on my Spanish infantry. So I have

• Two units of Napoleonic Spanish Cavalry (using Esci Prussian Cuirassiers) - the horses are painted
• One unit of Spanish Hussars - the horses are painted
• One unit of Spanish Cazadores a Caballo - the horses are painted
• Four units of Napoleonic French Hussars
• Five units of Napoleonic Spanish Infantry
• Two units of Napoleonic Spanish Light Infantry

The two Spanish light cavalry units have been assembled from various suitable bits

Zulu Riflemen rebased

Just to finish off the month some Zulu Rifles that I have rebased to the 1-2-3 style.

Having tried this for my Nine Years War French for Pikeman's Lament and liked it for skirmish units, so I though I'd use it for these Zulus who were beginning to fall off their old bases.

Changing of the Guard

Time to retire my old long serving Les Higgins Guard Lancers and replace them with new Zvezda figures


Polish Lancers


Dutch Lancers



My old figures


Not yet decided how to dispose of the old figures, maybe put them on ebay.



The old Les Higgins Lancers have now found a new home.

Latest acquisitions

Thought it was about time to replenish the reading and painting stashes


If the reading doesn't indicate my next direction then the figures will.

My plans for these are

• The Spanish infantry and sampler, together with earlier purchases will provide me with enough figures to complete a Spanish infantry brigade
• The Andalusian infantry will provide some skirmishers for my Crusades forces
• 1805 French will put my Revolutionary French back in balance with the Austrians
• The Zvezda WW2 British will hopefully provide enough together with my others I have acquired to create a platoon plus some supports for the BEF in 1940. (Yes, I know I said I would try and not work on WW2 this year, I'm just getting ready for next year!)

Of course the Roundway Down and British Army of 1801 books my give me other ideas.

Winter Werfers

A couple of Nebelwerfers that have been lurking at the back of the painting tray finally got finished.

I had debated for a while getting the Italeri Nebelwerfer set, whenever I saw it on B&Bs, but the prices were never tempting enough. While sorting thought some figures donated by Peter B I came across a similar set, but in metal. These were painted up and then combined with a pair of Werfers that had come with some die-casts. These were fixed in the towed position so some careful cutting and glueing was needed to change them over.