Sardinian Skirmishers - Strelets Bersaglieri

Continuing the process of building up the skirmish forces across the armies, this offering features Sardinian light infantry (Bersaglieri) in skirmish order. The figures are by Strelets and are painted pretty much straight from the box.  These troops will come in very handy when I come to refight the battle of Tchernaya, which will see French, Sardinian and Turkish troops attempt to hold off a massive Russian attack - but that battle is some way off at the moment.

Sardinian Horse Artillery

Finding reliable information on the dress of the Sardinian artillery during the Crimean War has proved to be a challenge; however, a uniform in the French style with black facings, piped in yellow is fairly consistently recorded, as is the dark blue tunic, breeches and shako (trimmed in yellow). The horse artillery had a drooping black plume, again similar to the French line artillery, although the length and style varies between sources. Leather straps are reportedly yellow or buff in colour.

I have based my version of these colourful troops on the Minifigs S Range French artillery and they will provide valuable support to my growing Sardinian contingent.

More Sardinians to follow.

British Skirmishers- Rifle Brigade by Strelets

Of all the Crimean figures produced by Strelets, I think this set is my favourite. It has loads of good poses, crisp detail and has great figures, especially when compared to the British line infantry set from the same company. Fortunately the uniforms of the Rifle Brigade and line troops were very similar and so the set becomes quite versatile. Sadly no officer or NCO figures feature in the set, which is a shame.

On this occasion I have painted them straight out of the box as a unit from the Rifle brigade in light order equipment as skirmishers. The officer comes from the Hat British Light Infantry set, with a new head:

Russian Artillery - ESCI

I thought I would have a go at the other half of the ESCI Russian Crimean War set, which includes a couple of guns and crews. I have never been inspired to paint these before, however, I decided to do a head swap for the gunners and extend the coat of the officer. The results are OK and this set provides a useful and cheap source of Russian artillery:

British Officers Campaign Dress

Three new castings from Old John in the form of British officers, based upon Minifigs S Range originals. The first figure from the left wears the Albert shako and a non regulation sheepskin coat. He depicts a member of the Rifle Brigade. The second officer, from a line infsntry Regiment, wears a sleeveless sheepskin jacket over his red tunic and has the popular undress cap on his head.  The third figure, also line infantry, is more or less in regulation dress, with the pork pie hat and blanket roll over his shoulder.

Russian Infantry Columns - ESCI

I have had a heap of unpainted ESCI plastic Russian infantry, that are from the Crimean War artillery set, sitting in a box for many years and I have never had the urge to paint them. The other day I bought a load more; enough to form four Battalions in the same pose. During a marathon painting sssion over the weekend I managed to paint and base nearly 100 figures. I converted some drummers and standard bearers and gave the officer figures greatcoats, rather than the incorrect frock coat.

Here they advancing in column:

 Here Russian infantry advance screened by my recently finished Strelets skirmishers

Sardinian Infantry

Two new offerings from Old John, in the form of a Sardinian Bersaglieri and a line infantry soldier. Both are conversions which use the venerable Minifigs S Range American Civil War Marine as the original figure: