Need help finding figures for Mexican Imperial Army (1821-1823)

[El Chintete]

Hello everybody!

I'm planning to start a new project sometime in the future. I want to build up a 28mm Mexican Imperial Army force for Rebels and Patriots and Sharpe Practice.

I'm looking for 28mm figures that could depict the following:

Mexican Imperial Grenadier:


I've been looking for months and I've yet to find a mini that has all his characteristics:
- Bearskin (cords and plate optional).
- Shoulder wings.
- Coatee with lapels.

This is the closest I could find:
NN71 Grenadier Advancing Low Porte 1st Regt In Colpack Without Decoration

But this one's lacking the lapels and instead of a bearskin it has a colpack with a hanging bag and tassel on its left side.


Artilleryman


Characteristics:
- Colpack with hanging bag.
- Shoulder wings.
- Coatee with lapels.



Musician:


Characteristics:
- Weird side bonnet 
- Coatee with cords.


As any good miniature wargamer, I'll make do with that I have. But I just wanted to be sure I exhausted all my options before committing to the project.

For you attention, thank you.

[vodkafan]

I would do a simple headswap to get the bearskin and add the lapels from green stuff....I have done much more than that in the past to get what I wanted, whole battalions....

[El Chintete]

You know what, maybe that's the solution to my problem. I've never done any headswaps, what tools would you recommend I get for the job? Any tips would be appreciated.

[vodkafan]

You know what, maybe that's the solution to my problem. I've never done any headswaps, what tools would you recommend I get for the job? Any tips would be appreciated.

I usually drill and pin for added strength. You need a good mini drill and 1mm 0r 1.2mm drill bits. Wire from paper clips is what I use to pin heads and arms with a little superglue
Cutting the heads off the recipient figure is easy if he has a high stand up collar.  Just cut off level with the  top of the collar. On the donor figure from where the bearskin head is coming from be aware that it usually (but not always) destroys the donor figure as you have to cut the collar off as well in most cases and trim down.  Or you may be using replacement heads from somewhere which solves that problem. I think Skytrex does some great Bearskin heads from their Trent Miniatures range, I fitted some Round hats to Front Rank figures with great success. Check out Ebay for 3D-printed bearskin heads too.
Best to practice your first couple of headswaps on some unwanted old figures to get the hang of it. But it gets very addictive! You will enjoy it.
Of course all that is old school. If you know someone who can do STL files you can have a figure created by modifying a figure close to what you want and changing the headgear or other details to suit.  Then 3d print as many as you want. But I enjoy metal myself.   

[rumacara]

The mexican grenadier looks very similar to the spanish grenadiers from the napoleonic period so i would start there. Front Rank and the Perrys both have them.
About the others its a bit harder to find suitable figures. Maybe search on the polish armies of the napoleonic period.
Are those for the Mexican War of Independence from Spain?

[El Chintete]

I usually drill and pin for added strength. You need a good mini drill and 1mm 0r 1.2mm drill bits. Wire from paper clips is what I use to pin heads and arms with a little superglue
Cutting the heads off the recipient figure is easy if he has a high stand up collar.  Just cut off level with the  top of the collar. On the donor figure from where the bearskin head is coming from be aware that it usually (but not always) destroys the donor figure as you have to cut the collar off as well in most cases and trim down.  Or you may be using replacement heads from somewhere which solves that problem. I think Skytrex does some great Bearskin heads from their Trent Miniatures range, I fitted some Round hats to Front Rank figures with great success. Check out Ebay for 3D-printed bearskin heads too.
Best to practice your first couple of headswaps on some unwanted old figures to get the hang of it. But it gets very addictive! You will enjoy it.
Of course all that is old school. If you know someone who can do STL files you can have a figure created by modifying a figure close to what you want and changing the headgear or other details to suit.  Then 3d print as many as you want. But I enjoy metal myself.   

Thanks for the tips! I enjoy metal minis too, which is why I will try to do the headswaps.

The mexican grenadier looks very similar to the spanish grenadiers from the napoleonic period so i would start there. Front Rank and the Perrys both have them.
About the others its a bit harder to find suitable figures. Maybe search on the polish armies of the napoleonic period.
Are those for the Mexican War of Independence from Spain?

They are Imperial Grenadiers from the short lived First Mexican Empire (1821-1823) They were formed by Iturbide in early 1821 as part of the Army of Three Guarantees and were formally incorporated into the army after the independence proper at the end of 1821.

[carlos marighela]

Some options. May require a little work with putty and file.

https://www.offensiveminiatures.com/product-page/fnsp603-6-spanish-grenadiers

https://www.eaglefigures.co.uk/28mm-napoleonic-spanish/infantry/

https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product/spa-21-grenadiers-marching-1808-09/

https://www.parkfieldminiatures.co.uk/napoleonic-spanish-1805-1812

https://us.warlordgames.com/products/napoleonic-spanish-grenadiers-1805-1811-march-attack?_pos=26&_sid=dfe952aa3&_ss=r

[El Chintete]

Some options. May require a little work with putty and file.

https://www.offensiveminiatures.com/product-page/fnsp603-6-spanish-grenadiers

https://www.eaglefigures.co.uk/28mm-napoleonic-spanish/infantry/

https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product/spa-21-grenadiers-marching-1808-09/

https://www.parkfieldminiatures.co.uk/napoleonic-spanish-1805-1812

https://us.warlordgames.com/products/napoleonic-spanish-grenadiers-1805-1811-march-attack?_pos=26&_sid=dfe952aa3&_ss=r

Thanks Carlos! Appreciate the help, I'll look into them