Military fan finishes epic 30-year project to build replica of Wellington’s famous 1815 victory

A military enthusiast who has spent the past 30 years collecting figurines has finally finished what he believes is the most realistic recreation of the Battle of Waterloo.

Semi-retired Michael Wrobel, 63, said his giant recreation has cost him thousands of pounds over the years. The set, made up of 5,550 pieces and a custom-made landscape ten square metres large, details the battle between Wellington and Napoleon on June 18, 1815.

Mr Wrobel, from East Sussex, has been collecting the pieces since he moved into his property 30 years ago, but has only had enough room to complete his collection in the loft extension from when his son moved out five years ago.

Michael Wrobel at his home in Wadhurst East Sussex with his Scale model of the Battlefield of Waterloo

Semi-retired Michael Wrobel, 63, said his giant recreation has cost him thousands of pounds over the years. The set, made up of 5,550 pieces and a custom-made landscape ten square metres large

Semi-retired Michael Wrobel, 63, said his giant recreation has cost him thousands of pounds over the years. The set, made up of 5,550 pieces and a custom-made landscape ten square metres large

Mr Wrobel  gave up work full-time work around five years ago and decided he had enough figurines to recreate the battle. All the pieces are to scale on a 4m x 2.5m diorama representing the actual battlefield of 6km x 4km

Mr Wrobel gave up work full-time work around five years ago and decided he had enough figurines to recreate the battle. All the pieces are to scale on a 4m x 2.5m diorama representing the actual battlefield of 6km x 4km

He also gave up work full-time work around the same and decided he had enough figurines to recreate the battle. The 4m x 2.5m diorama representing the actual battlefield of 6km x 4km dominates a loft extension. 

Mr Wrobel told Kent Live: ‘My eldest son moved out about five years ago. hat was probably the other catalyst – I finally had a room to do it.

‘He was very upset,’ Mr Wrobel said in jest, ‘he can’t come back – he would have to sleep under the table.’ 

‘I would not want my wife to know the total cost,’ Mr Wrobel said, ‘but it will run into thousands of pounds.

Mr Wrobel spent hours studying what the battlefield at the Battle of Waterloo looked like in order to create the best possible replica of the scene

Mr Wrobel spent hours studying what the battlefield at the Battle of Waterloo looked like in order to create the best possible replica of the scene

Mr Wrobel holds up two figurines which are part of his 5,550-strong collection. Mr Wrobel said he had always been interested in military history tactics, which was one of the motivations for finally finishing his impressive display

Mr Wrobel holds up two figurines which are part of his 5,550-strong collection. Mr Wrobel said he had always been interested in military history tactics, which was one of the motivations for finally finishing his impressive display

The level of detail that has gone into finishing this replica of the Battle of Waterloo is second to none. The trees, houses, fields and land have been copied to match what the scene looked like in 1815

The level of detail that has gone into finishing this replica of the Battle of Waterloo is second to none. The trees, houses, fields and land have been copied to match what the scene looked like in 1815

‘She thinks it’s insane. She can’t understand why anybody could be the least bit interested.

‘But having seen the finished project I think even she can feel the wow factor.’

Mr Wrobel said he had always been interested in military history tactics, which was one of the motivations for finally finishing his impressive display.

He said: ‘Waterloo was a seminal battle in history that marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars – and it’s also the same date as my birthday.

‘The uniforms of that period are very colourful so it is visually very impressive.

‘And then when I semi-retired I thought I was not far off having all the figures for Waterloo, and I thought I better build the landscape for it. That’s taken me about five years.’

Despite having no background in model making, Mr Wrobel believe his design is the best in its scale.  

He said: ‘I have really gone to a lot of trouble going through old maps and drawings to get it right.

‘I’m pretty pleased with it in terms of its accuracy.’ 

Mr Wrobel still has to act out the key moments of the battle and document it in his photobook.

He said: ‘I think that will take me a couple of years, and then when I am done I will do it all again but, but moving all the troops doing what in my view Napoleon should have done.

‘So I will do my photobooks of what did happen and what might have happened.’

He said there are two professional models to rival his own – both in museums.

But the scales are different, and while the most famous one at the National Army Museum, made in the nineteenth century, is much bigger, the characters are much smaller and it cannot be used for war gaming in the same way. 

Figurines of French and English troops on the battle, as they would have been in 1815. The military outfits and weapons from the time have also been finished impeccably

Figurines of French and English troops on the battle, as they would have been in 1815. The military outfits and weapons from the time have also been finished impeccably

Troops on horseback marching through the grass. Mr Wrobel still has to act out the key moments of the battle and document it in his photobook

Troops on horseback marching through the grass. Mr Wrobel still has to act out the key moments of the battle and document it in his photobook



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