How to Start Napoleonic Russians 

Just started with my Napoleonic army’s after getting the Waterloo set for Black Powder I painted the French and my brother did the British so these videos really helped us out on what to purchase for are armies.

Worth noting the Russian reserve system by 1812. Each regiment had three battalions. 1st and 3rd were mobilised. 2nd battalion's 1st company (Grenadiers) were also mobilised (formed into converged Grenadier battalions - without heir flags as stated in the video). The Converged Grenadiers were either added in pairs to existing divisions, or formed into new "all grenadier" divisions. The important thing to understand is that the Russians have 2 sorts of Grenadiers. High status regiments, like the Pavlovski, honoured after exceptional service. Reservist converged Grenadiers, the physical cream of your reservists, but not first line in experience or equipment.

Another very fine presentation mate. Since I'm just getting to the point that I can put on a good sized, peninsula skirmish, I'm not sure I'll get around to scraps with the Russians in this life time. Still it was all very interesting regarding their uniforms, the various grenadiers and the opportunity for conversions and all. Speaking of conversions, have you had a look at the new plastic box of Austrian Cavalry? The kit offers enough torsos and heads to do either Light Cav., Dragoons or Cuerassiers. I'm pretty sure you could convert the Light Cav. or the Dragoons into the Rusky categorization with a simple paint job. Some, like the Cuerassiers would require a bit of green stuff work, mostly just altering the cock's comb a bit. Thanks for being a great promoter of our hobby and historian of this historical period.

Very detailed and well thought out. Will absolutely follow this series when I get started with my napoleonic minis

Just to add: Other scales are available. 10mm from Pendraken (A few light cavalry short) and 6mm form Baccus6mm (very complete) are excellent. Smaller scales allow more figures per unit (the mass look), and generally a lower cost per army. Worth a look.

Hello Tim, another excellent video here and thank you for it. Actualy lets update it for some info. As from 1812+ Grenadiers was not taken away from combat battalions to form converged grenadier battalions. Converged grenadiers are grenadier battalions formed from grenadier companies of replacement battalions. The result is the same - you can use grenadier heads to do a converged grenadier battalion. But do not forgett to paint 1/3 of the minis with black belts representing grenadiers from jager battalion. Now There are 96 infantry and 32 pavlovsk (total of 128 line infantry figures). So you stay with spare 8 infantrymen, but all of the 1812 Infantry gets extra heads. So you can realy be creative. If you include 4 or 5 commands, you have another 20 miniatures spare which are substituted in regiments by the new command. So you are easily able to do: 1 battalion of Pavlovsk Grenadiers - 20 figures + extra command 5 infantry/jager/converged grenadiers/grenadier battalions - 5*20figures + 5 extra commands and still have extra 8 figures. The officer on horse can be used as Colonel or Major as command figure in battalion (another 2 figures free) just because the Officers in command are NOT colonels (but thats realy a minor issue - the epaulets are for ober-officers and not stab-officers). Actualy if you left Pavlovsk heads for later, you have six battalions in it, where division is 12 battalions (+2 converged grenadier for 1812 if you like) . Very clever by Warlord.

You explain everything as if I know nothing about the period and have no idea what I'm doing. This is exactly the video I was looking for to get into napoleonic as I'm all of those things, thank you for a great and informative video!

Are you sure Perry isn't a better deal . Infantry boxes include command ,flags and bases.

I wouldn't say, that the figures with the pre-1812 shakos are dressed for the wrong period, as this shako was worn up to 1814 by some units. So it's perfectly fine to use them for the 1812 campaign and the wars of liberation.

I thinks is cheaper buying the Russian infantry box sets, than buying the starter and then the drummer, captain, standard bearer set. I only say it for recommendations

Thanks for the post. I'm starting on Russians for Kalisch right now.

I bought dozens of Russian sprues when Warlord had a £1 sale a couple of years ago as well as loads of command and artillery packs which were also in a sale. Plus I bought several boxes of Perry, I’ve got over 400 infantry now 😬. Cavalry have been the expense, I bought Front Rank but I do know that Perry are planning to do Russian cavalry in plastic so I’m looking forward to those.

I have a great idea for a plastic cavalry for you. For this free regiment of Cossacks (and a brigade of Cossacks). Bashkirs. You can easily make them with the Mongol kit from Fireforge Games.

Thanks i needed a video like this

I don't know if you get notified on comments on three year old videos but if you do: if I want plastic Russian cuirassiers, can I take Perry's Austrian Napoleonic Cavalry (AN80), build them as cuirassiers and paint them as Russians? From what limited imagery I have been able to find the Austrians and Russians do look very similar...

Interesting and informative video on a fascinating subject, impressive command figures...

My favourite Napoleonic army and period (1812 to 1815)

Thanks for this video! Perfect timing as I'm about to start a Russian force after finishing my British.

I am building a 15mm Russian army and between this and your Russian Infantry video I now know enough to get started! :)

This vid is 2 uears old at time of watching and the perrys russians mold lines are on the sides and not down the middle

This video was very useful helped me start my napoleonic Russian army I actually have a video up showcasing my progress if anyone is interested cheers!

I [refer 15mm. Lancashire Miniatures do an army pack for around 100 quid! I live in Bulgaria and postage can be expensive, so the less weight ithe better

Instead of bases try cutting white board with a steel ruler , couple of clamps and a carpet knife

I got the 'Perry starter deal' with the Generals and some cuirassiers having so much fun painting them and recently I ordered some Perry artillery, dragoons and more cuirassiers to finish of the unit. On the subject of basing in the generic perry infantry sprue base what's the measurements for the large bases. Plan at some stage getting more russian line

Very interesting video.

damn you for getting me into this... ooooh my £££ lol

What are your recommendations for Napoleonic 1/72 brands

Just picked up the Warlord Games Russian starter box for an amazing £49.39 from Zatu Games in Norwich.

By the way, what kind of mitres are in the set - both types?

I see a picture of a man with a hand full of cash, I'm nervous.

Maybe Prussian or polish next?

And that’s how I started my russian army with the warlord box and then bought two guns

Can you not convert the perry plastic Austrian cav

Next time prussians please;-)