From PeteF: Minifigs Marines of The Guard (40 points)

The Aquifer presented a bit of a problem. I don't play any nautical games and I painted my free-from-Warlord Jack Aubrey last year. Trawling through the lead mountain looking for something seaworthy, not holding out much hope, unearthed these fine fellows.

The Marines of the Guard were naval infantry who served Napoleon as part of his Imperial Guard. One battalion (made up of five "crews") saw action in some of Napoleon's major battles including Austerlitz and Eylau. After being all but wiped out in the Peninsular the unit was reformed with eight crews for the Russian campaign from which only 85 officers and men returned. A single crew of 3 officers and 104 men fought at Ligny and Waterloo.

These are Minifigs - but an older casting. I'm a little shaky on the different versions that Minifigs went through - these casts are somewhere between the original 1970s (thinner, shorter figures) and final casts (chunkier, taller) - they have the same numerical designation as the ones still sold by Calivers - but they're holding their muskets on the other side.

I really enjoyed painting these. I tried a new recipe from the Painting War French Napoleonics Magazine/Book for the gold thread and it turned out nicely. Maybe I'll have to start collecting for the Russian campaign so that I have a reason to paint a whole battalion.

First level complete

That's all the rooms on the first level completed! Four 25mm figures plus a room bonus.