More Russians are coming

Somewhat inspired by the armies and rules we used at the recent AMG weekender I decided that my Russian army really needed to be a little bigger and more imposing. 

The original plan was for a handful of battalions of Observation Corps, supporting arty and cavalry. To be fair that would have been fine for Honours of War and have fitted in with my other armies. But after seeing the Prussians and Austrians a couple of weeks back quantity took on a whole quality of its own! 

I dug out the order of battle for Zorndorf from Kronoscarf and the excellent Obscure Battles site and did some scribbling. Going 1:1 is just plain megalomania, but I noticed that the Russians were organised in roughly 4 battalion brigades, each of two regiments. I figured that was an easy number to work with and so decided to go with a 1:4 ratio. 

Thus the army will be -

Right Wing
Horse Grenadiers, Cuirassiers, Dragoons, Hussars, Cossacks - two stands each of the first 3 and a whole unit of the Hussars (Serbsky) and Cossacks.

Center
10 infantry units - 6-8 line and 2-4 grenadiers, not quite settled on the proportions but probably 8-2. This represents the 10 brigades of Russian Musketeers and Grenadiers
4 Observation Corps Musketeers, 1 Observation Corps Grenadiers - these are the figures I already have painted up.

Left Wing
Cuirassier Rgt, Hussar Rgt and 2 stands of Dragoons. 

 - Again the DR are understrength but can be brigaded with the other 2 stands if required. 

Artillery
1x 12lb battery (2)
1x 8lb battery (2)
2x Unicorn Battery(4)
Limbers.

Plus Officers and Command, hangers on, etc, etc.

I have the 4 Observation Corps, 1 unit each of the Hussars, Dragoons, Horse Grens, Cossacks and Cuirassiers and the Unicorns (the former and the latter need painted, the rest are done). So that really leaves the Musketeers and Grenadiers and 4 other guns, plus some limbers and commanders and some little bits to brighten up the table. 

I will be going with Crusader for my remaining inf as sadly Ingo's Figuren don't make any decent non Obs Corps Russian infantry. They do have some rather nice figures reloading but the matching firing poses look a little odd. It's the butt of the gun and the elbow. Anyway Crusader seem to match the build of my existing Ingo figures without seeming underfed or over chunky, so they'll do the trick. 

Besides which, ordering stuff in Euro's isn't cost effective now - thank you Boris!!!!!!!!!!!

Quite a lot to do but with such simple summer uniforms, it will be relatively straightforward. Eventually this will pan out to be around 15 units of foot 8 guns, 7 cavalry, limbers, officers, equipment, etc. Still not huge, but the upper limit of what I have room for! It should take me to the end of the year to complete. Not a bad plan, lets see how it goes!!

I've already made a start and done a trial paint job on the Serbskiy Hussars. Nice and bright and a contrast to the Reds and greens which will follow. If used a fine nib pen for the detail on the sabretache. I like these chaps!