Allies Arrive

This blog has mostly featured British and Loyalist troops opposed by American revolutionaries.  Now this trend is changing.  A treaty of alliance has been signed and His Majesty Louis XVI has sent soldiers to aid the Americans in their struggle against Britain.

More French infantrymen will be arriving in the forthcoming months.  To read more about the engineer and the role of the French Royal Engineer Corps in the American Revolution, visit https://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2018/01/french-engineer.html

"Liberty's Kids" Character Sarah Phillips (Marx)



Miss Sarah Phillips scouts for news in a colonial town.
(click picture to enlarge)

This figure is based on one of the main characters from the television show Liberty's Kids.  In the show, three youngsters serve as journalists for Benjamin Franklin and report on the major--and sometimes minor--events of the American Revolution.  This figure, Miss Sarah Phillips, is the daughter of a British Army officer serving in America.  In the first episode, Sarah comes to America to find him.  During the ongoing show, she provides a British/Loyalist perspective to much of the reporting done.

The figure herself began as a recast Marx "Cilia" figure.  Much change was required to transform her into Sarah Phillips.  From top to bottom: the cap was removed and hair sculpted, golden locket added, neckline squared off, shawl removed, quill pen sculpted, flair and length added to sleeves, pointed bodice, piping down front of dress, and paper to record news.  Whew!  This is some of the most work I have ever done to convert a figure.  However, I believe that the final product was well worth the effort.



Original figure on left; Sarah Phillips on right.
(click picture to enlarge)

French Engineer (Reeves)

This French engineer figure was a Christmas present.  He was manufactured and painted by Reeves International, likely some time in the 1980s.  Because a little of the paint on his hand and map had begun to flake off, I repainted those sections.  I also repainted his face to blend with the rest of my collection, and repainted the flaky gold trim on his hat.

French engineers were elite specialists who were excellent at building and capturing fortifications.  Don Troiani's book Soldiers of The American Revolution states that "Although it was Washington who decided to abandon plans against New York and seize the initiative against Cornwallis it was Rochambeau and his skilled specialist troops--especially the engineers and artillery (experienced as they were in conducting large siege operations--that ultimately led to a victorious outcome." (pg. 177)

With a French specialist now serving alongside the American forces, the question arises...where is the rest of the French army?

2017 Recap part 2--Tarleton's British Legion

(to see the previous installment of 2017 figures, visit https://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2017/12/2017-recap-part-1-french-indian-war.html)


The unit that I made the most progress on during 2017 was Banastre Tarleton's British Legion.  Four riders and their horses were begun and finished in the year.

Charge!

Many American militiamen experienced this scene as Tarleton's hard-riding cavalry slammed into their lines.


Stay tuned for the next showcase of 2017 figures!

2017 Recap part 1--French & Indian War

During this year of 2017, two new figures joined my painted French & Indian War collection.

The first figure is a mounted figure of Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro of the 35th Regiment.

A side view of Lieutenant-Colonel Monro.

The next figure fought against Colonel Monro and his British regulars.  He is a French militiaman standing firing wearing summer dress.

The new militiaman joins his comrade who was finished last year (see https://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2017/01/painted-figures-of-2016.html)

Stay tuned for the next showcase of 2017 figures!

Militiaman Loading

This militiaman was closely copied from a figure in one of Don Troiani's paintings. The picture on the right shows the original painting and my miniature recreation.

This figure was heavily converted from the original figure from Accurate. Originally, the militiaman was waving his hat. After painting one of these figures, I used the other one to make the loading militiaman. The hat was cut from the hand and the arm was bent into position using heat. Due to failed attempts to bend the hand into a fist, I needed to sculpt a new hand onto him. The ramrod was created from a straight pin. The photo below shows a comparison of the original figure and my conversion.

And this is the finished result!  He makes an excellent addition to my American citizen soldiers.

Tarleton's Cavalry

The British Legion is one unit of the American Revolution which has attained lasting fame...or infamy, depending on one's perspective.  Commanded through its American campaigns by Banastre Tarleton, the Legion was known as an effective and sometimes ruthless fighting force.  Whether fighting in the North (for example, at Poundridge NY) or the South (Camden SC), the Legion was generally the victors.  They refused to charge during the Battle of Cowpens, but they later fought desperately at Guilford Court House and executed a lighting raid against Thomas Jefferson, missing him by minutes.

Figures are Chinese copies of Italeri; heads by All the King's Men.  Heavy conversion was required on the riders and some on the horses.  Painted with Testors paints.