Airfix Grenadiers

 I have been thinking of ways of using the vast pile of Airfix British Grenadiers that sit in my collection.  I  decided to paint some as the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. I am not sure whether they would have worn the bearskin (racoon skin for ORs) in the field, but my troops, hot off the ship are heading straight into the woods.

Anyway, this lot adds another useful unit to my Airfix AWI collection:

Next will be some more Warrior and Les Higgins figures.

25mm Allied Odds & Ends

 I have spent a few days clearing some projects that have been sitting on the dge of the paint table, constantly put back as the butterfly lands on something more interesting.

To start with, a couple of Warrior Miniatures units. The first is a French unit, converted by painting into a Nassau battalion for my 1815 allied army. I just got a bit tired of painting blue battalions:

I also repainted and remounted some British Life Guards:

And finally, some really old figures that have been lurking in the long term (about 30 years) project box; some Minifigs S Range Prussian Guard. They will join my Ros Prussians as Ros did not model any guard figures.  That said, I suspect that these troops, dressed as they are, would probably never leave Potsdam! The officer figure is odd as he has the wrong style of plume according to my research.  I did consider putting on a Brunswick head with the droopy plume but decided against that:

American Militia

 A friend said he had some spare American and French AWI figures, which turned out to be several boxes of Hat, Revell and Accurate 1/72 scale plastic figures. There are enough for a complete army, as well as a good number of SYW Austrians and Prussians (I can feel another diversion coming on)!

I decided to paint some of the figures that came in boxes of 'Militia', giving me sufficient for four regiments.  There are loads more in the boxes, which I raided to provide some officers and figures converted to make standard bearers. Here are the results, one regiment in buckskin dress and the three others in less than formal military attire:

My British are now pretty much outnumbered, or will be when I finish off the two or three regiments of American regulars.  Some of the SYW Prussians might end up serving in Hessian regiments. And, I thought I had finished my AWI binge.

Britains Deetail Apaches 1/32

 These figures have been hanging around the edge of the painting table waiting for the few final touches and a few days ago I finished them off. 

In their original colours the figures are nice but finished in gaudy colours and those horrible lime green bases:

The figures themselves are quite accurate, with good detail and quite nice poses.  However, I thought they would benefit from a make over. I looked on line for some typical Apache dress and colours and tried to match it and make them look more realistic:

It was fun painting the brighter than normal colour schemes and I am quite pleased with the result. I believe Britains Deetail figures were made as paired sets to provide an 'enemy' and, although not sure, I think the Apache foe was the Mexican set. I have some of those and will paint them to match.  I also have mounted Apaches and Mexicans.  There is scope for sme skirmish games methinks.

Sneakin' About! Airfix AWI

The mojo is still there, so I painted another US battalion using some of the advancing/creeping infantry. This will be the last lot for now as I need to work through some more Warrior French, although I am easily distracted! That said, I have half a dozen British Light Bobs on the painting table.

I do enjoy painting the old Airfix figures, which provide light relief one in a while:

Glorious Airfix

 One of the most enduring Airfix sets has got to be Washington's Army.  At one time (I believe) these figures were the only 20mm tricorne wearing troops available. They have served in the Prussian army, fought the Jacobites and British Grenadiers. They have been painted as french and Austrians. They are not very accurate and there are some odd poses, but they are charming and still of use for wargaming.

Over the weekend a dug a load out and painted one lot as British and another as Americans. Not very well painted, but they look OK at arms length and will join my other Airfix units:

What fun. I have been bitten by the bug and more figures will follow - maybe even a French regiment or two!

French Imperial Guard Cavalry - Warrior Miniatures

 As a bank holiday project I decided to reorganise and base the Guard cavalry.  I had an unpainted lancer regiment, so I painted these and added them to the organisation.  They were the 2nd Guard Lancer regiment, the Dutch lancers in red.

In all there are five regiments, The Chasseurs a Cheval, The Grenadiers a Cheval, The 1st and 2nd Lancer regiments and the Empress Dragoons.

The cavalry are providing an escort for the great man himself, with his staff.  the Chasseurs are the close escort.

Apart from the Red Lancers, all of the figures are the stunning work of Jeffers.

I also finished off the line artillery, adding one of my batteries.  I believe there are 3 or 4 more in a box somewhere.

The French army is almost finished, although I am painting six battalions of Guard grenadiers and the are four more line battalions which may turn out to be the Young Guard.