The musket at this guardsman's shoulder had a name as famous as any general's: Brown Bess. The British Land Pattern flintlock, in the simplified India Pattern carried at Waterloo, threw a lead ball three-quarters of an inch across — heavier than the French Charleville's — and in the hands of a drilled redcoat it was the most reliable killing tool on the field, if only at close range. Like every smoothbore it was hopeless at distance, so the British made a virtue of holding fire until the enemy was near, then loosing a volley that struck like a hammer. Brown Bess armed the British soldier for the better part of a century, and at Waterloo she did her last great work.

The figure stands to fire — Brown Bess levelled with bayonet fixed, the red coat with white cross-belts and lace, grey trousers and black shako. He is the standing rank of a two-deep British firing line and slots straight into a Foot Guards diorama. Kneel a British 1st Foot Guard Kneeling Firing in the front rank before him, extend the line with the second standing firer in the British 1st Foot Guard Standing Firing No.2, and raise the British 1st Foot Guards Colour behind the rank.

W. Britain model 36133. 1/30 scale (approximately 60mm), matte-painted metal. Single foot figure on a sculpted groundwork base. Supplied in a clamshell pack.