The Russian Army

The Russian army was in a state of transition during the 1808 war with Sweden. They were changing into a new high level organization, new uniforms and flags were introduced, and it seems that new infantry tactics were tried out.

Figures

We chose 1805 uniformed figures from Minifigs, mainly because they are one of the few who produce something else than the 1812 range, the figures are readily available, not too expensive, and go well with other 15 mm figures. If only their cavalry figures were better. Image of figures used.

Painting technique

Painting the 400 or so figures was a very fast affair. The figures were cleaned up, hot-glued to cardboard strips, spray primed black, then basic colour and highlights were used. The figures were finished by washing the hands, musket and face with dark red brown and lightly dry brushing the figure with grey sand colour. The painted figures were mounted on artist board and the base was flocked.

Musketeer regiments

The russian musketeers and grenadier companies were painted in the 1807 uniform. The coat is dark green, collars and turnbacks are red. Trousers are white with black leggings. Greatcoats were painted in variouts shades of brown, forage hats are dark green with a red band.

The following table lists some or the musketeer regiments and their regimental distinctions. At this stage the russians had started organising their army into divisions, and each regiment had different flag stave and shoulder strap colours based on their seniority in the division. (Please refer to the Osprey Men-at-Arms 185 or other literature for more information). Officers had a gorget and a hat with a black plume. NCOs had a golden band in the shako. Although officially recalled from use by 1808, I painted a few NCOs with a spontoon, because it simply looks good to me and the Russians seem to have been fairly lax with uniform regulations.

The Russians had a wide range of flags in use, with old and new regulation flags used at the same time. Accurate information is hard to find, and I used flags from various periods for these regiments. Each regiment had a white flag for the 1st battalion and coloured flags for the 2nd and 3rd battalion. More information and excellent flag images are available online from www.warflag.com

The basic square flag images were touched up in photoshop, and skewed to better simulate the look of a cloth flag.

Regiment Shoulder staps Flag stave White flag Coloured flag

Azov Red White flag_azov_wh (4K) flag_azov_col (3K)

Bieloserk Yellow Brown flag_stpeter_wh (3K) flag_stpeter_col (4K)

Perm Red White flag_smolensk (3K)

Petrovsk White Pale Yellow flag_petrov_wh (3K) flag_petrov_col (3K)

Sievsk Yellow Brown flag_sievsk (4K)

Veliki-Loutzk Red White flag_velilutz (4K)

Jäger regiments

Jägers were painted in the light green 1805 uniform. Jacket and trousers were light green, some white trousered figures were mixed in. The regiments had distinctive collar, cuff colours and pompom center colours. Leatherwork is black. Officers have a hat with a tall green plume. Jägers did not carry flags in the field.

Regiment	Colour	Pompom center
3. Regiment	Red	Red
23. Regiment	Orange piped white	Black
26. Regiment	Dark blue piped red	Red

Cavalry Squadrons

Regiment	Hat	Collar, Cuffs	Jacket	Trousers	Sabretache	Saddlecloth
Grodno Hussars	Black, white braid	Light blue	Dark blue (both)	Dark blue	Dark blue, light blue lace	Dark blue, light blue edging
Constantine's Uhlans	Red top, black lower, white braid	Red	Dark blue	Dark blue	-	Dark blue, red edging