Hussars
Notes from Calpe Miniatures: "The Figures - These three sets of figures are largely based on the Brigade plates by Peter Bunde. Please refer to the Brigade plates for background information and as a painting guide.
The figures represent the Prussian Hussars, both line and Leib, for the 1807-15 period. You will note the lack of standard bearer in the figures lists. The hussars, being light cavalry, did not carry standards into battle. Furthermore, these regiments were not issued with standards until after the Napoleonic Wars. Another idiosyncrasy of the Prussian hussars is that they rarely wore the Pelisse on campaign. The few reliable images showing them wearing these items in the field generally show them on outpost duty in inclement weather with the Pelisse fully buttoned and used as a coat. It would be incorrect to put a pelisse on a Prussian Hussar of this period on campaign so I have not sculpted them.
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The regimental officer is based on a recurring image from many different sources, Knotel, Brauer (and now Bunde) among them. The officer's uniform is striking in its plainness when compared to those of the men he commands. This is very Prussian when one considers the simple uniforms of brigade and corps commanders. This officer's Leibrock is Prussian blue (see the Brigade plates) with no lace. The Brigade plates show similarly attired officers in 'walking out' uniform, wearing tight fitting breeches and boots and with a straight bladed sidearm. The Brauer plate shows an officer by his horse wearing his cavalry overalls and the hussar sabre. Since I wanted the officer to be mounted, I have shown him as depicted by Brauer. The rest of the uniform is as shown in the Brigade plates.
A short note about the hussar braiding and sash, the braid on the officer's uniform had closer spacing than that on the men's. I have tried to reflect this in the sculpting of officers and men within the limits of what is possible in 25mm scale. The barrel sash was not a solid belt. Having had a chance to see some surviving Hussar sashes recently (French and Austrian), I was interested to see that they were made of strands of wool held together by the bindings on the barrels. These strands come to a point on both ends of the sash, at the back, where a toggle (usually wooden) allows the two ends of the sash to be buttoned together. This toggle is visible on the back of the sash on some of the figures. The long tassels extend from one of the ends of the sash and are then brought forward and looped over the sash at the front giving the two distinctive tassels always seen hanging down there. Officers had heavier decorations on their dolmans. I have been able to sculpt this detail on their backs but not on their sleeves as it destroyed the proportions of the lower arm. This detail will have to be painted on round the trefoil loops above each cuff."
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