PA80-10: 54mm French Imperial Guard Mounted Mamaluk 1805 Moulds

The Napoleonic Wars (1803-15) were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly owing to the application of modern mass conscription. French power rose quickly as Napoleon's armies conquered much of Europe but collapsed rapidly after France's disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. Napoleon's empire ultimately suffered complete military defeat resulting in the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France.

This product has 3 moulds that can cast 54mm scale metal mounted soldier. Some assembly may be required. Assembly can either require soldering or gluing parts together. Glue is not included.

When Egypt was evacuated by Napoleon in 1801, those Egyptians who had co-operated with France and the French were allowed passage to France. From those émigrés Napoleon formed a squadron of Mamelukes under the leadership of the French colonel Rapp. In 1803 this squadron was reformed as a company of Mamelukes under, and attached to the chasseurs a cheval of the Imperial Guard, a unit which was charged with the personal safety of the Emperor. The company was commanded by captain commandant Delatrie who together with the adjutant and five of the nco's were French men. In addition, there were two mameluke captains, four Mameluke lieutenants and fourteen Mameluke nco's. Including the 2 trumpeters and other support troops the company strength was 9 officers and 114 men in other ranks.

At Austerlitz the company received its baptism of fire by taking part in the charge of the Grand cavalry against the Russian horse-guards and thereafter received their standard.

In 1806 the company was re-organised and its strength raised to 13 officers and 147 men. During subsequent years the number of Mamelukes of true Egyptian origin inevitably declined, their being only eighteen left in 1814. After the campaigns of 1812, however, the unit was reorganised once again with an influx of French born troops and its strength raised to 250. It now become part of the Chasseurs a cheval of the Old Guard while a second company was established with Young guard status. In its 15 year history, a total of 583 men served as mamelukes of whom only 209 were Orientals of either Egyptian or Syrian origin.

The Mamaluk kit is one of the most complicated models that Prince August has ever produced. In order to create the full detail of this magnificent cavalryman and to place him in such a realistic pose we have had to make the kit in 11 pieces. The number of pieces has necessitated that we lay the pieces out in the mould in a certain way. In order for the home caster to get the best results from the mould it is necessary to cut vents into the mould. The vents allow excess air to escape and enable the cavities on smaller items to fill completely.

The only tool needed is a very sharp craft knife or scalpel. Always cut away from you. To make the vents cut a continuous V shaped groove into the rubber from the area which needs venting (see broken lines on diagram below) to the edge of the mould. Make sure your vents follow the lines on the diagrams as these show the correct direction for the flow of air. The vent need not be deeper than 1mm, if the area still does not fill after venting try to make the vent a fractionally deeper and make sure that there is contact between the vent and the part. Before venting the part try out your cut on a blank area of the mould.

It is possible also to vent the moulds with a mini drill. Drill the hole from where the beginning of the vent line would start completely through the mould. Make sure the hole is free from any blockages. If a mould has been drilled it is not necessary to put in the vents but they can still be cut as a back up.

Once the figure has been cast the there will be small marks where the vents have joined the piece. It is easy to remove these marks with a file.

This product is not suitable for children under the age of 14.