12mm Epic Scale ECW: Parliamentary Foot 7

 

Earl of Essex's Foot, an extra large regiment with double strength musketeers.

15/18mm WSS: Khurasan - Bavarian Regiment Harthausen/Mercy

 

I've long wanted to have WSS armies and I have tried a few scales – 28mm plastics from Warlord Games and 10mm from Van Dyck and Pendraken. They are both nice but as I get older I'm finding the smallest sizes more difficult to paint. So I think 15/18mm Khurasan are the best compromise plus they were sculpted by the late, and great, Mike Broadbent.

Here is the first battalion, a Bavarian one because I like the colour scheme. Thirty six figures total representing about 500 men in 4 ranks.

https://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/marlburian.html

28mm FPW: General de division Jean Pellé

 

My French army will be one division with an attached cavalry brigade. Here is the commander, Jean Pellé, who historically commanded the second division of Ducrot's first corps. He proudly wears his sash as a grand officier of the Légion d'honneur. It's interesting to note that most of his military career was spent in Algeria and he rose through the ranks from corporal to brigade general. During his distinguished career he had 47 years of service, 28 campaigns, 6 wounds and 9 citations.

As you probably know the Perrys only make one French general officer figure so I had to think outside of the box. I've converted figures from the Carlist Wars range namely CAT2.

Heads have been removed and replaced with plastic left-overs from the sprues. The figure of Pelle (Don Sebastian) has had epaulettes added as well. Purists will forgive the sash which was awarded in 1871.

28mm FPW 1870: 3e Regiment de Tirailleurs Algerians

 

I bought a box of Perry plastic ACW Zouaves because they have not got round to doing these in metal and I hoped I could use them to field a Turcos regiment in my army. So here is the first battalion and I have the figures to do the third as well. When, and if, the Perrys get round to metals then I could do the 2nd battalion with them.

These figures work fine except for the backpack and I'm not such a purist to condemn them for light equipment – maybe they dropped their kit off at a nearby railway station.

Anyway here is my painting guide: “The three regiments of Tiraillieurs Algeriens wore a uniform of identical cut to that of the Zouaves, but differed in colour. The jacket and vest were sky blue with yellow distinctions. The waist sash was garance. The trousers were plain white linen in the summer and sky blue with yellow stripes in autumn and winter. The different regiments were identified by the colour of the false pocket or Tombo. Colours were 1st - garrance, 2nd - white, 3rd - yellow.

The officers wore the Zouave officers uniform with a sky blue coat, garance sash and trousers. The Kepi was garance with a sky blue band and gold edging. Buttons were gilt. “

12mm Epic Scale ECW: Parliamentary Foot 5 and 6

 

Sir Philip Skipton's Foot (Green flags) and the Yellow London Trained Band.

28mm Perry metals FPW 1870: Chasseur battalion

 

This was not an easy unit to paint but I have finally finished them.

This is a Chasseur battalion attached to the first brigade of every division. The first thing to note about them is the heavy kit they are carrying, which seemed to be the 'French way'. The Prussians, on the contrary, appear very lightly encumbered, be they jaegers or line infantry.

There is also a uniform dichotomy relating to trouser colour. Half the on-line sources show a paler blue trouser colour (perhaps the 1868 model) while the other half show the coat and trousers to be the same (perhaps the 1860 model). I offer you two compilation plates showing these differences. I have gone for a slightly lighter trouser colour but the difference is subtle. There is also this reference:”Chasseurs à pied:coiffure et tunique bleus foncé à passepoils (coutures) jonquilles,boutons blancs, pantalon gris bleu à passepoils jonquille.” So the trousers appear to be a paler different blue while the lace is 'jonquille'. Trouser model 1868 were in dark iron grey cloth (which is this lighter blue) with jonquil piping. I have also seen a reference to the older 1860 model of trousers (the same dark blue as the coat) which may well have still been in service in 1870. So both are correct!

Lovely figures from Perry brothers but weak chassepots.

12mm Epic Scale ECW: Parliamentary Foot 3 and 4

 

Lord Saye and Sale's Foot (blue flags) and Colonel Samuel Jones' Foot (white flags)