First Figure of 2017!

This Ideal militiaman is the first figure which I finished in 2017!  He is not an original Ideal figure, but is recast.  Since he wore a bicorne hat, I cut it down and sculpted a roundhat turned up on one side instead.  In addition, I lengthened his waistcoat, making him look more like a militiaman of 1776 than 1812.  His socks are medium blue with light blue stripes, an interesting combination which I like.  Click on the pictures to expand them.  Figure by Ideal (recast), painted with Testors Paints.

Painted Figures of 2016

One of my goals for the past year was to paint 25 figures.  I succeeded, painting a total of 26 figures.

The first group showcased is the center company of the 80th Regiment of Foot (Royal Edinburgh Volunteers).  They muster 11 men, including an officer and flagbearer.

 Next is a group of six militiamen completed this year.  The man waving his hat makes an excellently patriotic NCO, while the armed minister is ready to resist both Episcopalianism and George III.

 The 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment received their own flagbearer in 2016.

 I began a French & Indian War collection in 2016 by painting this French-Canadian militiaman.  Comrades and opponents are not far behind...

In my opinion, no military diorama is complete without civilians, and these six personalities will add color and charm to any layout.  A tavern keeper, gentleman, porter, and printer all fill needed roles in my 54mm colonial world.

Another fledgling collection of mine is the Seven Years War in India.  It was bolstered with the recruitment of an EIC European and Sepoy.

Last but not least come these two enforcers from the American Revolution-era movie Beyond the Mask.  In the movie, these black-coated gentry follow the orders of Charles Kemp and harass his opponents.  I have given them the nickname "Kemp's Greys" based on their facing color.

And that was my progress in 2016!  2017 will see even more additions to my 54mm armies.  Stay tuned!

Flagbearer of the 80th Regiment of Foot

This is an ensign of the 80th Regiment of Foot (Royal Edinburgh Volunteers) carrying the King's color.  British regiments of the mid-to-late 18th century carried two colors: a King's color and a regimental color.  The King's color was a Union Jack throughout, with a wreath enclosing the regimental number in the center.  The regimental color was in the unit's facing color, with a small Union Jack in the upper left corner and a wreath enclosing the regimental number in the center.


And speaking of facing colors, this man is wearing blue facings!  Why the change from a previous post when I put the Royal Edinburgh Volunteers in yellow facings?  More information will be coming in a future post...


The figure and flagpole were from All the King's Men Toy Soldiers.  Visit their website at http://www.allthekingsmentoysoldiers.com/ATKMAWI.html


The lance head on top of the flagpole was hand-sculpted by me; the gold and crimson mixed cord is made from embroidery floss.  The flag itself was borrowed from the website "British Regimental Drums and Colors" at http://www.fifedrum.org/crfd/images/D80.htm.  Do check out this website, as it is full of the ornate flags and drums carried into battle by King George's redcoated armies.

Riflemen

These two figures are militia riflemen in the service of Virginia.  One wears an olive-drab hunting shirt, while the other is dressed in a tan waistcoat and olive breeches.  They both carry long Pennsylvania rifles.  Lafayette's army during the Virginia campaign of 1781 included a unit of frontier riflemen.

Because the rifle lacked a bayonet, a rifle-armed unit was at a serious disadvantage when confronted with a musket-armed unit, which had bayonets.  To overcome this difficulty, riflemen were commonly paired with bayonet-equipped troops.  The riflemen could begin to inflict casualties on the enemy, while the musket-armed infantry would defend them with their bayonets against a sudden enemy rush.  Both the Americans and the British used these tactics, for the British had rifle-armed German Jaegers.

The rifleman standing firing is from Accurate American Militia #1, and the rifleman running is an Ideal recast.  I sculpted the roundhat turned up one one side for the Accurate figure.  Both are painted with Testors paints.

Massachusetts Light Infantry Officer

 This figure was previously featured on this blog at https://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2016/02/massachusetts-company-gimats-light.html.  However, I decided the officer needed a form of self-protection other than his sword, so he was supplied with a French fusil (light musket).  This makes him look far more like a partisan leader (partisan was the 18th century term for light infantry, etc.) and less like a typical line officer.

Now he and his light infantrymen can slink through the forests of Virginia, facing off against the British invaders under Benedict Arnold and later Lord Cornwallis. 

Figure by BMC, musket from MPC "Colonials".  Painted with Testors paints.

Canadian Militiaman of the French & Indian War

While most of my painted figures come from the American Revolution, I have finally taken the plunge and embarked on a small collection of painted French & Indian War figures.  The figure in the picture is the first one completed, but there will be more to come.

This figure is a French-Canadian militiaman of the French & Indian War.  He wears a light-colored shirt like his Indian allies, but dons a knitted red cap like many other Canadian militiamen.  Armed with a musket, tomahawk and three knives, this man is ready to fight les Anglois.

Figure is originally from Accurate's American Militia #1.  I converted him by shaving his bushy beard, cutting off the fringe from his shirt.  I sculpted him a knit cap and three knives, as well as changing his British musket to a French one by adding barrel bands.  This means he is likely armed with a military musket, rather than a "trade gun."  Figure painted with Testors paints.

Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day to all my readers!

These figures are a mix of MPC and Accurate.  They represent the militia (citizen soldiers) of the American Revolution.