Prussian Jaegers for the Franco-Prussian War of 1870

28mm Prussian Jaegers for the Franco-Prussian War from Wargames Foundry.

My painting efforts this fall have been fixed primarily on GW's 30k/40k setting, driven in particular by the launch of the re-booted "Adeptus Titanicus".  But my 28mm Franco-Prussian war project still grinds on in the background! In between bouts of building and painting new Titan models, I would be sure to paint a few Prussians - just to keep in practice, and to help move that project ever-closer to the finish line.  The few figures here-and-there over the past month have finally added up to another unit for the collection - Prussian Jaegers.  

Newest Prussian recruits on maneuvers in my kitchen...

These are 28mm castings from Wargames Foundry, sculpted by the excellent Perry Brothers. They are just lovely castings to paint.  As with the other formed units I have been painting for this project, there are 24 castings in total - 20 in the formed unit, and four individually-based models to be placed on the table when the unit is maneuvering in a mixed-order formation with a skirmish screen to the front.

Love the splash of green for the Prussian ranks!

I had previously painted some 28mm Jaegers previously for the skirmishing portion of my 1870 collection, but these fellows represent the first "formed" unit for my collection.  

My recollections on the Prussian OOBs of 1870 are a touch fuzzy, but I believe each Prussian corps included a battalion of Jaegers.  I won't be doing any corps-sized games in this scale, but I still I wanted to include one in the force to give the Prussians a dash of a different colour among the ranks - some nice green to break up the waves of blue. I also like the old-school-ish look provided by the shakos - these troops have a bit of a Napoleonic look and feel to them still. 

A bit of variety among the poses.  The Officer certainly seems calm and cool, while the musician is giving it his all with the horn! 

The individually-based models out front are used to represent a skirmish screen. 

My goal remains the same - to play a game of Black Powder set in Franco-Prussian war using formed units.  It won't be one of the major engagements or anything like that, but rather a smaller scenario, enough for the gang on Thursday night to have some fun. The Prussian side of that plan is coming together nicely, as the collection now includes six formed infantry units, an artillery piece, and a unit of Dragoons (which could be split into two smaller units on the table). That's a fair amount of bits to take the Prussian side in a small but engaging game, particularly if we engage in some "recycling" of units.  A few more command figures, and the Prussians will be ready to go. 

My collection of Wargames Foundry Prussians to date...

Over on the French side of the ledger, I still have only two formed units of infantry painted - indeed, the first figures I painted when I started this project last year - and a lone Mitrailleuse. Certainly the Franco-Prussian war went very badly for the French, and any scenario we attempt would want to reflect this, but it would be a bit much to expect this small group to hold out against the Prussian lot.  The next edition of Curt's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge is approaching, and I hope to use the Challenge to dive back into the French side of things once again.