Sunday 29 October 2017

War of 1812 Project

The War of 1812 has been a goal for some time...Napoleonics in America, it is just such an intriguing mix. The goal was to do the equivalent of a division a side but when my fellow gamer Keith launched into the project too I decided that I did not need to go so large and, since he has a large British collection, I could focus on the US forces.

I decided that my American contingent for this collection is going to be Winfield Scott's Brigade from the Niagara Campaign. I have always had an appreciation for Scott after reading his biography a few years ago. He was one of those larger than life characters that 19th Century America turned out and he remained in the limelight for forty years until he fell out of favour in the early stages of the Civil War.

The brigade formed a part of Jacob Brown's Left Division on the Canadian Frontier in 1813 and comprised of four infantry regiments - 9th, 11th, 22nd and 25th - supported by Towson's battery. The brigade was differentiated from other US regular units by wearing a simple grey tunic instead of the usual blue due to a shortage of blue cloth at the time when the brigade was kitted out. The brigade established a sound combat record in the actions along the Niagara and made name for Scott.

My version of the brigade is being built from the Brigade Games range designed by Paul Hicks. These are beautifully designed figures with rich detail...if anything a little too much detail for my impatient painting style. The figures have inspired me to expand this little force at some stage, maybe finish Brown's division which would only mean another eight or so units.

The first unit finished for the War of 1812 project is Towson's battery.









I also based up the two commanders that I had painted about three months ago.





And then yesterday the first of two parcels from the Perrys with the first of the French in Egypt. I simply  couldn't resist assembling the mounted dromedary unit...not that they will see any paint until after the Scott's Brigade is finished.



19 comments:

  1. Great work and those Brigade Games figures have a certain dynamism to them.

    Not know much about 1812 US uniforms it is surprising to me how close the artillery uniforms appear to be to the British of that period, including the Belgic shako. If it weren't for the 'US' on the water bottle, they wouldn't look out of place at Waterloo.

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    1. Yes they are very close. The cut of the infantry uniform is close too. Scotts brigade has a unique cut, nearer to a fatigue jacket.

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    1. Thanks Nathan. I am about half way through the first infantry regiment now. It should be complete by Tuesday.

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  3. Nice looking figures Mark - and so are the camel mounted French, although I realise we will have to wait a while to see them "in colour"!

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    1. Thanks Keith. The first regiment of infantry will be completed Tuesday. The French won't be touched until I get back from Toulouse, but fhere is another box of figures due (probably Tuesday) and then the two CS Grant books on Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign.

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  4. Превосходно! Excellent work! Find inspiration in Your projects!
    Translated into Russian Your rules on campaign Carlist wars.

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    1. Thank you Digger. If you play the campaign game, let me know how you get on

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  5. Beautiful job, painting and basing, love the command stand...Waiting for camels now!

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    1. Thank you Phil. Unfortunately the camel troops will have to wait until at least the middle of November.

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  6. Wasting no time in diving into your 1812 project, Mark.
    I look the look of the French Dromedary troopers very much.

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    1. Well is the first painting in three weeks...cant let the grass grow under my feet...It was the first pictures of the dromedary troops on the Perry site that piqued my interest in this period, and it has all gone from there.

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  7. This isn’t fair...
    You know I am a butterfly and here you are waving not one but two of my favourite periods under my nose at the same time... flutter flutter...

    All the best. Aly

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    1. 1812 has interested me for a long time and the plan was to start this earlier this year, but other projects got in the way. If my memory serves me right you designed the figures for the Foundry War of 1812 range way back in the 80's.

      As for Egypt, what is not to like about it...odd coloured uniforms, those amazing French flags, camels, odd looking limbers, Ottomans and a few Brits to boot.

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    2. Yes Mark your memory does serve you right...
      I sold my original collection a number of years ago due to lack of space... I was living in a ‘cool’ trendy flat which wasn’t really designed for 2.5 people and a collection of toys...
      Of course as soon as it was gone I wanted a new one... I am very tempted by the stuff Mr Hicks has been doing...
      As for Egypt... yup!

      All the best. Aly

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    3. By the way ... Have you seen the new book by Yves Martin... The French Army of the Orient 1798-1801. Napoleons Beloved Egyptians...

      I would highly recommend it...

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    4. For me the Egyptians were something that were "interesting" but when Alan posted that picture of the dromedary troops on Facebook that was it I "had" to have them. Much the same happened with the Carlists where they were just interesting until Wargames Illustrated published a photo of the BAL lancers...I am a sucker for eye candy.

      I really hope that Alan is planning to do the Ottoman forces. Whlle the Paul's range for Brigade Games is fantastic they are dearer and our dollar, the Pacific peso, has fallen heavily against the US$ since our change of government - the cost is getting prohibitive.

      Odd you should mention space...I am running out of it a the moment.

      I had seen the Yves Martin book and will consider it. Problem is that I have the two Charles Grant books on the way and several other parcels coming too. In fact I have rather over spent my self imposed budget and her indoors is getting suspicious.

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  8. Lovely artillery and command, the camel mounted troops look great fun!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you Iain. The French in Egypt project is going to be an interesting one...for the first time since I did the Carlists I will be working with lots of colour instead of the drab Russians and Prussians!

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