The Battle of Aspern Essling 21/22nd May 1809

[C M Dodson]

Oh no!

I have been in communication with Michael from Supreme Littleness and 1809 blog fame.

He has made the point that church clocks were not common on buildings before the 1850’s.

A little research suggests that church clocks were located inside the building before then and the bell ringing was the method of communication.

My Essling clock is history!

A disaster darling.

Chris

[Challenger77]

Hello again,
The Building called "Schloss Essling" is historic and lengthwise to the Mainstreet. The Granary aka "Schüttkasten" stand on a Field, facing the Schloss with the Gableside. Here are a few Pics from the Diorama, that is on Exhibition inside the Granary as i wrote before. And there is a Facebook Site
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066994427531

The Yellow Building should be the "Schloss" the other is the Granary

https://www.bezirksmuseum.at/wp-content ... 40x426.jpg
https://habsburg.org/einblicke/commemor ... g/?lang=en
https://www.aspern.at/beitrag/geschicht ... sten03.jpg

This one show the Church in ASPERN !

https://www.aspern.at/beitrag/geschicht ... sten04.jpg

And that is how it looks from Above via Google Maps today.




Regards
Harry

[Challenger77]

Hello Chris,

[Challenger77]

Oh no!

I have been in communication with Michael from Supreme Littleness and 1809 blog fame.

He has made the point that church clocks were not common on buildings before the 1850’s.

A little research suggests that church clocks were located inside the building before then and the bell ringing was the method of communication.

My Essling clock is history!

A disaster darling.

Chris

Hello Chris,
well for such small Chapels as the Esslinger Pfarrkirche at that Time was, he may be right. On the other Hand on St. Stephan was a Clock since the 1500's.
The Chapel in Essling at this Time has also a wooden Tower, no Stonework.
To this Questions
# The next question is how common were roof tiles in 1809?

I think thatch and wooden shingles would be dominant but Michael thinks tiled roofs were the norm.

I noticed the cars in the granary. Are they of value? #

Tiled Roofs would be more in Common, on small Side Buildings there may be Wooden Shingles. But as i heard from a befriended Historian, the thatch or Reet Roofs are not really there.
For the Cars parked in front of the Granery, these are from residents of the Granary itself and surrounding houses. Also from some Visitors to the riding stables, the L Shaped Building on the left Side of the Granary, and the archery range on the right side.
I hope I could help a little and bring some light into the darkness )
Regards
Harry

[Challenger77]

Hello again Chris,
here are Pics from last Week. First the #Esslinger Pfarrkirche# or the Church. It has nothing in Common with the Chapel that stood in 1809 on the same Place !











Here are some Pics how the #Schloss Essling# looks today, still very Original.On the backside are new Balconys,trees and so on







And here is the Granary, the Stable on the left side, near the so called #Telephonweg# Street is very hidden by bushes, shrubs and other greenery as you can see on the last 2 pics.





















Regards Harry

[C M Dodson]

Wow.

I really must thank you Harry for putting yourself out so much. It’s not just the fact that you have used your time for me but to upload everything as well.

Thank you.

It is interesting that the chapel is opposite but slightly further down the street from the Schloss. That building by the church looks interesting.

The Granary I have of course built but what an interesting selection of pictures.

Furthermore the stables that you refer to look original as well.

Most impressive.

The town layout lends itself to the buildings not being gable facing to the road. I think your observation about tiles and shingles rings true as well.

I will have some thatched outbuildings and some thatched cottages that I have already built.

Brilliant stuff indeed.

Even more to do now!

Thank y oh once again.

Best wishes,

Chris

[Challenger77]

Hi Chris,
no Problem
The Chapel was 200 Years ago a bit illegal, it was build on a more private Source from the Townresidents.And it was really small with Place for only 80-100 People. The Church or Chapel for Essling was designated to be the one in Eckartsau. Around 16 Miles from Essling.
I think the Stables are in bigger Parts Originals, Windowsills looks much like that Aera.
Kind Regards and have Fun !
Harry

[C M Dodson]

Austrian Jägers

My research suggests that the majority of Jäger units were equipped with the corsehut hat in 1809.

Hat have the Landwehr set with this hat and I set about chopping them up.

The jäger rifle is shorter than the musket provided so I snipped them down a bit.

The reloading chaps I have left as this would involve major surgery.

I constructed the powder horns from greenstuff and glued them onto the figures where it would be visible.

The horniest, strictly speaking, would not have carried a musket but I felt it appropriate to have a hornist for the unit and this chap is a French convert to the cause.

I am quite pleased with my first unit of these fellows.





Lots to do.



Chris

[C M Dodson]

The horniest hornist in the Kaisers army.

Predictive text and a slack eye .

Chris

[C M Dodson]

Brickyards.

There were two brickyards on the battlefield, one of which was used by the Emperor as his HQ.

I did a bit of research and found two pictures of Austrian brickyards from the turn of the century.





The kilns looked interesting and a further bit of digging resulted in this offering from Skytrex.



These models are too big for my purposes so I built my own from card covered in decorators caulk and sculpted. Card provided the doors and reinforcing rings.



The chimneys are balsa, again caulked.



They are not perfect but will look the part for what I have in mind.

I will build some suitable outbuildings to accompany them.

Lots to do.

Chris

[Rich W]

Great work on those jägers Chris. I’m not sure the French would want to mess with the horniest hornists!

[Peter]

Lots to see again Chris! Very nice painted Jagers!

[C M Dodson]

Essling Church re-visited.

Michael’s 1809 blog is a mine of information and this together with his observations in the thread have been most useful.



Whilst a lot of Austrian villages layouts seem to have followed Thomas’s research, it appears that the two villages that I am interested in do not.

The plans do show the majority of buildings facing the roads rather than the gable ended versions originally suggested. Nevertheless the types of building styles described by Thomas are informative.

Furthermore, my ‘man in Essling’, a very helpful chap called Harry has sent me some wonderful pictures from his town where he lives, near to the granary.





These buildings, thought to be originals are most instructive.



Harry states , Tiled Roofs would be more in Common, on small Side Buildings there may be Wooden Shingles. But as i heard from a befriended Historian, the thatch or Reed Roofs are not really there.

Indeed, regarding the Schloss church in 1809 he states that it was a relatively small affair with a wooden tower.

The Chapel was 200 Years ago a bit illegal, it was build on a more private Source from the Townresidents.And it was really small with Place for only 80-100 People. The Church or Chapel for Essling was designated to be the one in Eckartsau. Around 16 Miles from Essling.

The Chapel in Essling at this Time has also a wooden Tower, no Stonework.

My version of this edifice, suggested by the picture at the turn of the century I feel is too big.

I was forwarded this wonderful layout of Essling by Mr Crynns which shows a church similar to Michael’s design. I believe this is not Michael’s work as his Schloss is smaller. The gentleman in question is signed as Jäger and I am very impressed with his beautiful work.



I feel, reluctantly, that it is back to the drawing board time!

Chris

[Bill Slavin]

I love seeing the research on this project, Chris. it is hardly surprising to see the lengths you go to get it right!

[C M Dodson]

Reinforcements from Germany

My very good friend and fellow modeller Thomas Mischak has once again excelled himself with his generosity to me.

I have received dozens of rare troops and a lot of beautifully painted ones too.

I have limbers, French chasseurs a Cheval , Austrian and French commanders, dead and wounded and much more.

Thomas is a regular helper in my battle and modelling aspirations with advice and at times like this avalanches of super figures.









They will keep me busy for some time.

Lots to do.

Chris

[Peter]

And we have lots of things to look forward at!

[Rich W]

Very generous from your friend! If anyone can make good use of this assortment of figures it will be you!

[Captain Sibourne]

Well done Thomas, they look fantastic!

[Santi Pérez]

How lucky to have such a good friend like Thomas, Chris. They are beautiful figures that will no doubt look great after your paintjob on them.

Santi.

[C M Dodson]

Klenau Chevaulegers Regiment No. 5

I have finished the first Austrian cavalry unit for the Aspern project.

These sculpts from Mr Kane are wonderful and paint up very well indeed.

Here they are led by Oberst Raban Freiherr Von Spiegel .





Lots to do.

Chris