British Infantry Square – nearly there!
After a mammoth painting session the British Infantry Square is almost there.
The problem I have is stopping myself from adding more (extraneous) figures. My original intention was to have a small number of mounted dragoons in the middle of the square, but to be honest, the middle of my corner of the square is full enough as it is.
So I have decided to stop with my current layout. The infantry square will have 2 part sides. Each side will have 1 front rank of infantry firing and 1 rear rank of infantry loading or preparing to fire. A Sergeant with his ‘halberd’ is keeping one side of the square in line. Each side will have its own officer, trumpeter or drummer. I will retain 1 senior officer on foot and 2 senior officers on horse.
Layout of the Infantry Square showing the last 3 figures to be painted.
The layout is roughly as shown here, with the three figures still to undercoat and paint in their final positions. If you look at the left of the picture you can see the Sergeant using his halberd to keep the rear rank in line where one of the infantry has fallen to the ground, wounded.
The final shape of the base has not yet been decided. Although I favour the square shape shown here, I wanted to bring in some movement by means of having 3 or 4 French heavy Dragoons charging one face of the infantry square. To have the Dragoons very close to the square would not be so realistic. Putting the Dragoons some way away, charging one flank of the square, would lead to an unusual and off balanced shape. Nevertheless I think I will undercoat and paint up some French Heavy Dragoons and try them in different positions to see what works best.
The British Infantry Square seen by French Cavalry
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:11 am
great idea and love the view from the french.