Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: Alan Mercer on April 20, 2020, 04:11:02 PM
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One positive about having to stay in is being able to make some progress on some dormant projects.
So the 15th Foot gets a second base (only 12 months or more after the first was finished). I need a much more detailed brush to add the cap badge, all I can manage is a collection of squiggles at the moment!
The opposition also gets a start, in this case some North Carolina Militia.
The aim was originally going to be 1777 Philadelphia campaign ( hence the 15th) but I then read ‘The Southern Strategy’ and realised that more of that was achievable without spending a vast fortune and it was more interesting. So Savannah onwards is now the aim. At my current painting rate on this, i’ll have enough ready for a game in about 2025.
The 15th went off to the West Indies and wasn’t involved in the south, but they can stand in as something else for the moment.
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They look amazing :-*
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Super work, well done sir!! :)
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Alan
Super work as always , glad you posted , we’ve got to keep flying the flag for 40mm !
Ian
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Awesome! :-* :-* :-*
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Very nice :)
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One positive about having to stay in is being able to make some progress on some dormant projects.
So the 15th Foot gets a second base (only 12 months or more after the first was finished). I need a much more detailed brush to add the cap badge, all I can manage is a collection of squiggles at the moment!
The opposition also gets a start, in this case some North Carolina Militia.
The aim was originally going to be 1777 Philadelphia campaign ( hence the 15th) but I then read ‘The Southern Strategy’ and realised that more of that was achievable without spending a vast fortune and it was more interesting. So Savannah onwards is now the aim. At my current painting rate on this, i’ll have enough ready for a game in about 2025.
The 15th went off to the West Indies and wasn’t involved in the south, but they can stand in as something else for the moment.
I find some of the Trident sculpts hit and miss when it comes to marching. The miniature with the arm forward is very out of scale. Also a couple of the marching figures crouching look a little ungainly. in many cases the trident faces can be over exaggerated slightly with broad noses which can take away an elegance.
I have just retired 4 units Trident of 20 continental line as I was never satisfied with them. No matter how well painted they just didn't look quite right to my eye in marching position.
I have no problem with the trident firing line positions, I find you have to be selective but be careful can produce a very good effect.
Trident tend to be great with characters figures such as Indians, skirmishers . These play to sean Judd strengths but personally I don't think he's mastered and elegant line formation matching.
Saying that I have used trident hessians and use just one marching position with head swaps and my French 40 mm trident in an advancing position are very effective.
For my main marching line l use front rank 40mm as they are far more structured and give a superior feel.
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I know what you mean. Some of the character models are very good, some of the rank and file just don’t work but you can pick those that do. For me it is the cost of getting them. Postage and customs and handling charges make them an occasional luxury.
I like the Front Rank figures, but the British are all in full dress, so, unless Alec produces a few campaign dressed codes, it will need to be Trident. I don’t mind a limited number of poses, as long as there are a few head variants - Alec, pleeeeease.
I can’t work with the Sash and Saber AWI range, the heads are difficult to get right without creating curved muskets and they are much smaller. Trident and Front Rank are similar in size.
I suppose the ultimate aim is get some figures onto the table.
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I know what you mean. Some of the character models are very good, some of the rank and file just don’t work but you can pick those that do. For me it is the cost of getting them. Postage and customs and handling charges make them an occasional luxury.
I like the Front Rank figures, but the British are all in full dress, so, unless Alec produces a few campaign dressed codes, it will need to be Trident. I don’t mind a limited number of poses, as long as there are a few head variants - Alec, pleeeeease.
I can’t work with the Sash and Saber AWI range, the heads are difficult to get right without creating curved muskets and they are much smaller. Trident and Front Rank are similar in size.
I suppose the ultimate aim is get some figures onto the table.
For late war I use American front rank line in cut down coats ( no lace) as late war British. They work very well but of course are not in roundabouts. My guards brigade are done like this with floppy hats .You have to improvise but can get good results.
I have Trident , the 33rd late war with round hats marching , short jackets , painted excellently by Tony Runkee but the sculpts are inferior in posture , the unit just does not look as good as others.
Alec unfortunately will not increase the range as they never sold in any great numbers. Alec games mainly early war and he has completed his own collection. He did buy some trident jagers to finish off bits and pieces.
I only use sash and Sabre for my Highlanders in trews . Trident only have them in kilts, my black watch are in kilts but the 71st I wanted in trousers for late war. Being selective you can make a decent unit, the detail is not so crisp but as a whole they look fine on slightly raised bases.
Yes I suffered at the beginning from just wanting to get units on the board but as time has gone on I found less is more.
Very good luckand very interested to see how your project goes.
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Excellent paint job on the figures. The Southern campaign is very interesting and lends it self to everything from skirmishes with not many troops to battles with quite a few troops. Glad to see 40mm on parade.
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First rate painting for both units but I'm really impressed with your Americans! Superb!
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Beautiful work on those.
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My snails paced progress continues. These are starting off as the Georgia Continentals and Militia at Savannah 1778, they will morph into Lytle’s light Infantry for Briar Creek (or the remains of the Georgia troops) then they can be used for many other Regiments if I add a suitable command base.
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Great work! :-* :-* :-*
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Great sculpts and brilliant painting.
Inspired me to do a firing line
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Excellent paint job, like the combination of firing and loading.
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Nice painting - I particularly like how you have done the cross belts on the 15th, as it looks as though they have been allowed to revert to their natural (ie buff) colour in the field. Can I just ask - how did you come by the standard bearers, as the uniform depicted is specifically for the 15th's light company, which would not have had their own flags, nor be allowed to carry the battalion colours?
The Continentals are also good - rare to see an AWI gamer who doesn't insist on having a rainbow assortment of hunting shirt colours, whereas in reality the colour was specific to that battalion (ok, maybe a few tonal variations). Another little tip is that when a handful of regimental coats was issued to a battalion, they tended to go to the sergeants (and corporals, if there were enough) in order to emphasise their rank; officers tended to have their own made up for them.
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Thanks. I took the reference for the 15th from Troiani, where he mentions that the 15th were issued slop jackets etc on the voyage out, I have seen it somewhere else, can't remember where. Neither reference suggested it was just for the light company. It gave me an opportunity to produce a slightly different look from the usual.
Whether the slop jackets would have survived into 1778/79 is a good question, probably not and most likely they would have been back in regimentals, albeit probably cut down.
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I love the plaint work on these. I think you did a excellent job in showcasing the detail and creating a very clean and concise look. That is often a challenge for many I have found over the years so I commend you on it. I can't wait to see the collection on the whole when it is complete.
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Thanks. I took the reference for the 15th from Troiani, where he mentions that the 15th were issued slop jackets etc on the voyage out, I have seen it somewhere else, can't remember where. Neither reference suggested it was just for the light company. It gave me an opportunity to produce a slightly different look from the usual.
Whether the slop jackets would have survived into 1778/79 is a good question, probably not and most likely they would have been back in regimentals, albeit probably cut down.
You are quite right, he does indeed. The 15th was one of several regiments intended to serve in the Southern colonies initially (they were present at the attack on Charleston, SC in early 1776, but then headed north to NYC) and so would have been kitted out for warmer climes. The "slop jacket" was one such item, made from old regimental coats (as opposed to the "roundabouts" worn by the Light Infantry battalions from 1777, which were made from the red light company waistcoat with the sleeves of the regimental coat added to them). As long as there was a supply of old coats, then it is quite likely that the regimental tailors would have continued making the slop jackets - I suspect their unsuitability for more northerly climes might have been a more likely restriction on their use. Incidentally, a similar item, but in white (possibly with coloured facings) was issued to new recruits trained for service in America, who would have worn them crossing the Atlantic; they were only properly kitted out after being assigned to a regiment on arrival in America (not necessarily the corps they had been recruited by/for, which usually involved all sorts of horse trading).
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Lovely stuff Alan - particularly love your faces - very realistic
Ian
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Not only the faces are very realistic, but also the postures are so well chosen to show a firing line in action!
And you did so well their leather! :-*
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Thanks for all of the comments. The main problem, if it is one, with the Front Rank 40s, is that they are such great figures that they demand my absolute best efforts. So they take longer.
My next challenge - the 71st (I already have the Sash and Saber figures for this). Big question, tartan or white overalls? I have seen both done, white would be easier, tartan will drive me nuts, but which is right? Somebody will no doubt say both!!!
Plus, for the light companies, cut down coats, or sleeved waistcoats?
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In the Osprey books the 71st -
Savannah, they are portrayed in white trousers (although campaign weathered), and in Cowpens they are in brown trousers.
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Thanks for all of the comments. The main problem, if it is one, with the Front Rank 40s, is that they are such great figures that they demand my absolute best efforts. So they take longer.
My next challenge - the 71st (I already have the Sash and Saber figures for this). Big question, tartan or white overalls? I have seen both done, white would be easier, tartan will drive me nuts, but which is right? Somebody will no doubt say both!!!
Plus, for the light companies, cut down coats, or sleeved waistcoats?
It's got to be white overalls as that's more historically correct. Also a lot more bloody easier to paint. The detail isn't so crisp as front rank with sash and sabre figures but they have plenty of movement.
Can't wait to see
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The white overalls were summer issue; for the winter months, regiments in N America were issued coloured woollen overalls, usually in brown, blue or black, bought by public subscription. Records show the 71st had blue in the winter of 1776/77; unknown for the winters of 1777/78 and 1778/79; tartan for 1779/80 (see Troiani) and brown for 1780/81. The "small kilt" (philabeg) was worn in garrison; I suspect the reversion to tartan overalls was when the winter ones did not arrive from Europe for whatever reason, and they cut up their kilts, each of which would produce two pairs of overalls.
In terms of regimental coats/sleeved waistcoats for the light company, I will ask some US friends who specialise in AWI highland re-enactment, but I would be tempted to leave them in their coats. The light companies of the 1/71st and 2/71st only served briefly with the 2nd Light infantry, before being sent South with the main body of the regiment in 1778 (leaving only the two grenadier companies in NYC). Whilst in the South, Campbell formed a troop of 50 light dragoons from the regiment, and they were equipped with 50 sets of cavalry accoutrements supplied by Erskine, which may or may not have included some Tarleton-like helmets (again, I'm asking my US contacts).
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A quick diversion while painting the 71st a rebel command base. I’m fairly happy with it after the adventures it has been through.
Painting went fine, gloss varnish coat went fine. Spray Matt varnish needed in disaster, a strong gust of wind caught both figures and blew them down onto a concrete path. So I have had to repaint the damaged areas, rebuilt one of the horse’s ears that was crushed and re-varnish them, which ended up with a small amount of whiteout. Cue another small repaint!
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Oooh! That was quite and adventure! But now they look perfect! Excellent sculpts and a painting of top quality! Congrats!
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Like the command base, very nicely done.
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Enjoy seeing your painting, congrats!