Post
by Ronan the Librarian » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:26 pm
Certainly most of the figures in greatcoats would be ok, and there are several British accounts suggesting that the French tended to wear long coats quite a lot in battle. Your problem is the figures in "normal" uniforms.
1812 saw a change in style for the French army, with all arms moving from the more Ancien style of the "habite" to the "Spencer" coateee wit the square, closed lapels and no sign of the waistcoat underneath. There were a few other minor changes, eg shako plates etc, but these can be covered over with a good paint job.
The early 19th Century being what it was, it took a long time for French units in central Europe to get the new uniforms - mid- to late-1813 was typical, and some units - such as detached battalions in minor theatres -not until early 1814 (it didn't help that some items of clothing were not replaced annually, but in batches of 1/3 or 1/2 the regiment at a time). It is difficult to know where units in Spain stood, vis-a-vis the supply chain; I would imagine those nearer the border got their stuff quicker (note the use of the relative term) than those further west, if only by nicking the stuff that trotted past in the supply wagons!
Unfortunately, most of the Allied contingents in Spain - with one or two excceptions - changed their uniforms around the same time, and most had supply chains of equal or worse quality to the French, so you have similar problems with them.
In short, if you wanted to be an "authenticity nazi" you'd be limited to late 1813, or the 1814 campaigns, but it's really up to you how happy you are "making do" with what is, after all, an irresistible range of figures.
Ssshhhhh!!!!!
, but how "off" would the 1815 range be in the peninsula?