British 8th Foot, War of 1812

My commissioned set of 8th Foot, War of 1812 is now complete. The company is made of a mix of Front Rank and Foundry figures, which blend quite nicely.

Landing at Kip's Bay

As a prelude to the write-up for my Battle of Harlem Heights scenario I wrote, I've staged a scene of the Landing at  Kip's Bay.

September 15, 1776, in the wake of the disastrous (for the Continental Army, anyway) battle of Long Island, saw Crown Forces land in strength at Kip's Bay, north of the city of New York, to cut off and capture the large metropolitan area. Under a heavy naval bombardment, the rebel militia forces faltered and broke, leaving the British troops to land almost unopposed.

The Yankees fled northward up the narrow island of Manhattan, pursued by the British Regulars, who would attempt again to trap and capture the army, putting an end to the Rebellion once and for all.

Connecticut Line Infantry

With all the new redcoats reinforcing the gaming table, the poor minutemen need a properly trained fighting force on thier side as well. To oppose the crown forces on tabletop, I've been preparing a group Old Glory continental infantry.

2nd Detachment of Marines (Perry Plastic Redcoats)

Now for a quick progress update on my ongoing AWI British Marines project.

British Marines Shore Party

I have now complted the first 8 British Marines from the American Revolution. These Perry Brothers plastic figures have been a lot of fun to paint so far, but it has definitely been a learning process.

Marine Recruiting Sergeant

To help me fill out the ranks of my newly raised British Marines, I've painted up a Sergeant to do some recruiting on the painting bench. (He also makes up the second test figure).

As the test for NCOs in this new force, his coat is a bit brighter than the ranks he'll lead, as they would have been made out of a finer quality wool. His sash has the regiment's facing color in it.

Up next I'll be finishing out my first group. Thanks for reading!

AWI British Marines Test Figure

Allow me to excitedly show my latest test-model. This figure represents a hopefully company strength group of British Corps of Marines from the American War of Independence, and the model is one of the relatively-new Perry Brothers plastic redcoats. I've experimented with a new basing scheme hopefully evocative of the Northeast woodlands.

In the coming weeks I'll be working to build up his regiment, and will post progress as it happens, with the distinct possibility of a step-by-step on the paint scheme and basing, so stay tuned!

8th Regiment of Foot, 1812 (WIP)

Having completed my test model, I have been working on my commissioned 1812 British regiment. 

The force is a part of a series of figures I have been painting for my friend for gaming the War of 1812 using Sharp practice ruleset. The models here represnet the 8th Regiment of Foot, which fought in America during the war. They wear the blue facings of a royal regiment, and fielded in the earlier stovepipe shakos. The models are still WIP, but nearing completion.

29th REG'T Drummer, 1776

Continuing to flesh out the Crown Forces of my AWI collection, I have been working on a series of musicians and a standard bearer. Musicians are an interesting challenge to paint at this scale,
as their uniforms are much more intricate and complex than an infantryman's. The coats are made inverse to the rest of the regiment, most of the time. In the case of the 29th REG'T, this makes them yellow with red facings. Also noteworthy is that they are absolutely covered in a web of regimetnal lace. Not just outlining the buttonholes, but essentially outlining every major seam on the garment, and having a ladder of chevrons up each arm.

An interesting historical note: as a tradition, drummers in the 29th during the Revolution were black. This made a bit of a fuss while they were stationed in Boston during the occupation, as it was the drummer's duty to dispense corporal punishment. The slave-owning locals apparently did not enjoy watching them scourge white soldiers in the town square...

The next addition to my AWI British command will be a fifer, and perhaps the King's Colors.

The Wreck of the Dred Hawk

My friend Zach was back from D.C. to visit, and what better chance to catch up than on the tabletop! We decided to play a scenario of Sharp Practice using my Napoleonic Era figures. Here are the highlights (at least the ones that photographed well):

The Royal Navy Schooner Dred Hawk has run aground on the French coast. A patrol of Voltigeurs has spotted the stranded seamen.

British Line infantry, War of 1812 (Test Figure)

Allow me to present the first of a small British army from the war of 1812. This force will be a group of 38 infantrymen in early war stovepipe shakos sculpted by the illustrious Wargames Foundry, and serve as opponent to the 1st US Infantry.

A Pleasant Surprise

I came home the other day to a very pleasant surprise. When I opened my front door, a large red envelope fell at my feet, from a friend from my naval reenactments. Inside were several boxes of of esci Napoleonic wars British soldier figures, from Royal Artillery to Hussars.

It was a very thoughtful surprise, and I look forward to trying my hand at these fine sculpts.

1st US Infantry Division, 1812 part II

Today I'd like to show the whole of the American army from 1812 that I've painted so far, including some figures I haven't photographed yet. The officer leads his men from horseback while the NCOs keep the troops in line.

Since I've been working on my friend David's American army  in small batches, I have not even seen all of them together myself yet. He has kindly assembled the men and taken some shots for me. I am liking how the bases rank up for a good unified look. When I get to the riflemen, they'll have a variation on this basing technique with a little more undergrowth and rocks to give an impression of skirmishing over rough ground.

It is a lot of fun to see the whole regiment arrayed out like this, and I can't wait to face it on the tabletop!

1st US Infantry Division, 1812

Continuing on with the American force from the War of 1812 for my reenacting friend David, for use with the Sharp Practice ruleset. These are Old Glory 25mm US Infantry in the 1812 coatees, which look quite a bit like blue versions of the British uniform of the time.

Bases are magnetic 20mm squares, allowing for dynamic adaptability between rulesets. I am currently experimenting with refrigerator magnets as movement trays vs. sheet metal. Basing is somewhat simple, using only sand (painted of course), ground foam, and some small bits of static grass.

Next in line for the US in 1812 are the 1st ID command figures, mainly ensigns and musicians. After that I'll try my hand at some American Riflemen.

British Napoleonic Infantry Close Up

I've been playing with camera settings tonight, and the above is the result of a lot of fiddling. Camera set to TV mode (time variant), shot with diffused light coming from the sides, white balance corrected in Photoshop, to counter the effects of indoor lighting. The model is an existing part of my British Penisula War collection.

Officer, 1st US Infantry Division, 1812

Largely for use in Sharp Practice, I have also been working on a battalion of US 1st Infantry Division from the Anglo-American War of 1812.

The first unit has been Americans in early war uniforms, which were more heavily ornamented with lace and other such detail. In fact, they are remarkably similar to the British redcoats of the same era which they will likely face on the table soon (after all, this war is related in no small way the larger Napoleonic conflicts of the time).

Here we have a junior officer, to play the part of a lesser Big Man. He wears the early war coatee and an early stove-pipe shako. The base is magnetized for storage and for movement trays in-game. The figure (and his entire company) is sculpted by Old Glory, which has a rich collection from this conflict.

I hope to post more images of these men as I continue on the project.

Currahee!

In order to create a balanced opposing set of Flames of War, I needed to add an infantry element to my allied force. After more waffling than a house of pancakes, I finally settled on painting up an American Parachute Rifle Platoon to run as allies to my Britished Armoured Squadron.

Looking at references for the color of the M42 Jump Uniform, there is a lot of disparity between the shades of khaki-green-brown between the examples. I found one image of a spread of at least seven variation of the same color from original uniforms. This became the photo on my artistic license.
In no small way influenced by Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan in the decision, I opted to paint them based on their appearance in the polular series and movie, rather than from a strictly realistic stance. This means mainly adapting the colors from the films, which were slgihtly altered, but the overall color is still within the spectrum I'd observed. This gives them a desaturated, somewhat sepia-toned apperence.

Seen here is my first test figure. This project follows the painting advice of cracdeschevaliers in regards to painting process, skin tone, and gunstocks (the last of which I have been painting too dark on models of this scale!). I also chose to lighten the webbing equipment beyond the average of actual examples so that they don't get lost on the small scale sculpt.

Overall I am pleased with my first attempt, and hope that I can continue on with the same fervor for the rest of the platoon. This will also mark a first attempt at more dashing scenic basing. With the models being painted separately from their bases, this allows for more scenery to be added later. I intend to create a tutorial based on my attempt.

Does anyone know of any guides that show this sort of work? I've seen some great examples where they've basically built a village/town that is divided among a platoon's bases, but can't find them now that I'm looking for it explicitly.

Continental Army, Part II

This is my second installment of Continental Regulars of the American Revolution. The figure pictured here is the test model for a group of Old Glory Continentals on the march. I have gone for a different version of the American uniform, this time clad in the earlier brown coat that was prevalent before supply of French coats made blue the standard. I like the brown also for tying a little more into the homespun look of my minutemen.

This figure was also an exciting departure in painting technique, as I used it to experiment with a lighter use of color. Instead of beginning with the darkest colors, and building lighter toward the highlights, in this case I primed the model a medium grey, and began with a thinned down light brown, and added darker and thicker paint into the low areas, building up the shadows with the thickest paint, which allows thelightness of the priming to come through in the highlights. The process takes me a little longer, perhaps because I'm not used to it yet, but I am excited at the results.

Von Knyphausen Hessians, Part II

Another opposing force for my Minutemen and Continental Army, I have completed the set of 8 Foundry Hessian Grenadiers.  They are painted in the colors of Regiment Von Knyphausen

I had originally painted up the test figure for this group a while ago, and have finally found my way back to the set's completion. Consistent with my experience with Foundry so far, the figures were well sculpted, had very few molding issues, and were fun to paint.

Pictures may not show this too clearly, but despite being all in strict regimental form, each face is distinct, and has quite a bit of character, while still not breaking the professional soldier look of the regiment.

I found some divergences in detail between the different references for this regimental color scheme. Some books give the regiment pewter buttons on their coats and black gaiters, while others have white gaiters and brass buttons, as well as yellow waistcoats. I am sticking with my original colors, which come from a period drawing, and because the black gaiters give more of a contrast to the models.

Painting mustaches is fun!

Minutemen Part IV

After a hiatus from the painting scene in order to move, I have returned to complete my squad of Nervous Southern Militia figures by the Perry Brothers. On their own, the men of this set have some very dynamic poses, and would look equally good fleeing the battlefield or skirmishing in the uncut wilderness. When arranged together, they make a visually interesting tableau of a unit just beginning to break.

Looking in more detail at individual models, we can see the interesting variety of accouterment sculpted on this set. Each militiaman brings his own weapons and gear when he's called up, and this shows on the figures. There are several styles of canteen, haversack and cartridge box throughout the set. 

Another fun bit to paint is the fact that some of these men are fighting barefoot. I painted this one in a blue work smock, and a dark brown wide brimmed hat, as though he is fresh from his farm. On his back he wears a military canteen and haversack, but carries his ammunition in a civilian hunting bag, which seemed appropriate in leather.

One of my favorite militia poses is the dynamic entry. One of the better dressed of the militia, he runs across country with a french Charleville musket in his left hand. Lightly Accoutered in only a hunting bag and powder horn, he makes for a great individual figure, who would work great running toward or away from the enemy.

He is another example of how actually reenacting this period has changed my painting style. Previously I would have done a figure like this in earth tones, but would have chosen from among my WWII colors and probably done a two tone outfit. Since being a part of recreating the Revolution, however, I've noted through research and through first hand second hand experience exactly what kinds of colors and dyes would be more appropriate in different levels of colonial society, and decided that as he was more fully clothed, he was [probably a bit better off than his barefoot counterparts. He has a roughly cinnamon colored outfit with matching breeches and weskit.

Next down the line, we have another good outdoorsman. Also barefoot, I painted him up in simple shirtsleeves, but with buckskin breeches. Heavily laden with cross belts, I made them dark to contrast with the light colored outfit.

The Pose again could be a fleeing or advancing run. The important part is that he looks appropriately desperate.

Perhaps my favorite member of this team was the most militarily accoutered, and seems to be trying to convince the rest of his men to stay and fight. This was a fun challenge to paint. I did him as though he was wearing a uniform, sans coat. He sports wool breeches and weskit, a proper cartridge box, haversack and wooden canteen, and even half gaiters. It was a combination of the gaiters and military style cocked hat that made me decide to paint him this way. The hope with this figure is that the subtle color difference between shirt and small clothes is enough to differentiate the material they are constructed from. The more yellowed breeches and weskit are intended to read as wool agains the stark white linen shirt.

A brief note on photography: these models were shot outside in indirect natural morning light. You may  notice a departure from my usual white background. This time they are photographed on my colonial table.