Some revamped AWI and new figures

[clibinarium]

Hi all,

Recently completed some more AWI figures, converted some, and revisited some older packs. Hope you like.


American cavalry in caps. A conversion of the pack in French neo-classical helmets.





17th Light Dragoons. This is a revisitation of a type already covered. The originals were the first cavalry in the range and I was still fairly new to sculpting. I was never totally happy with them. There was no command, and a one figure's sabre never really cast that well. Been bugging me for a while now. These are originally the 16th Dragoons figures, now converted. I was happy I managed to get the skull and crossbones on the front plates this time.





Queens rangers hussars. Never bothered with these before as they were only about 30-strong in real life... but they were something I always wanted to add, so converted these from the original Tarelton Dragoons.




Ok its late here, way past bedtime. If yous are good I'll post some pics of new sculpts tomorrow.

[whubble]

I feel the need to order these, but I'll wait till after Xmas and think on it some more. Thank you for your superb work.

[Steve J]

Oh my are those lovely or what!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Amazing Clib

[Westmarcher]

Good stuff - particularly the American cavalry with caps (e.g., good for 4th Continental Dragoons).   

Fingers crossed you'll be posting photos of more American cavalry with peaked caps for 1st and/or 2nd Continental Dragoons (which, just to be awkward, had slightly different caps for each)?   

[paulr]

         

You are making it harder and harder to resist an order to expand my existing AWI forces

[clibinarium]

Good stuff - particularly the American cavalry with caps (e.g., good for 4th Continental Dragoons).   

Fingers crossed you'll be posting photos of more American cavalry with peaked caps for 1st and/or 2nd Continental Dragoons (which, just to be awkward, had slightly different caps for each)?   

Well that's an interesting question. With individual regiments being unique in headgear it creates the problem of sculpting figures people will only need one unit of, otherwise known as economic unviability. The figures above are intended for the 1st. The British in Tareltons may have to do for the 2nd. The 3rd I think can be made from the existing neo-classical helms of the 4th with a different paint job. I might take the above figures after casting and convert them to the 3rd's helmets, but I am not sure its worth the trouble. We'll see.

[Westmarcher]

Well that's an interesting question. With individual regiments being unique in headgear it creates the problem of sculpting figures people will only need one unit of, otherwise known as economic unviability. The figures above are intended for the 1st. The British in Tareltons may have to do for the 2nd. The 3rd I think can be made from the existing neo-classical helms of the 4th with a different paint job. I might take the above figures after casting and convert them to the 3rd's helmets, but I am not sure its worth the trouble. We'll see.

My apologies - I should have checked my AWI uniform source book instead of relying on memory. Also, I don't have an in-depth knowledge in the subject. What I do know is that there were 4 Continental Dragoon regiments and many other State and Militia mounted units. There is a slight conflict in information about head gear styles so what do others say?

1st Regt. - My own limited resource illustrates a peaked leather helmet. Don Troiani seems to agree (I quote him because he appears to have a good reputation for historical accuracy). However, if having a look to see what other figure manufacturers reckon, the ones depicted on the Perry Miniatures website for this regiment don't agree and accord with your new 'conversions'(i.e., without a peak). 

Troiani 1st Continental
Perry Miniatures 1st Dragoons

2nd Regt. - this is the regiment that wore the brass dragoon helmets but these weren't actually ordered until 1778 so are a 'late war' style. I don't know for sure what they wore before that but it was probably the peaked cap if my source is correct. Troiani's painting shows them in the brass helmet.

Troiani 2nd Continental

3rd Regt. - according to my source, Troiani and the 3rd Continental re-enactors, this regiment wore peaked leather caps/helmets.

Troiani 3rd Continental

Third Continental (click on photographs)

4th Regt. - Troiani has them in green wearing Tarletons. My source has them wearing caps like the ones you have depicted (no peak) ... but also red coats(!). Later ordered to dye the coats, Moylan, its commander, then issued hunting shirts to wear over the coats instead. New green uniforms were eventually issued and if the unit indeed wore caps at some point, I'm speculating that perhaps Tarletons were subsequently adopted also(?) - in which case, the existing range should be able to meet this need.

Troiani 4th Continental

It appears that there was at least 5 styles of headgear in the Continental Dragoon regiments alone, four of which were peaked if we include the Tarleton and the brass helmet (which was very rare being mainly worn by the 2nd only). Bearing in mind that there were also loads of State and Militia units (some of which were well uniformed), from what I have seen the peaked cap and 'flat faced' cap also appears to be the most ubiquitous style of cavalry headgear (and not the brass helmet) so that's why it's "good stuff" that you are extending the range in this way.

As for the peaked leather cap/helmet, I'm only pushing a personal preference; not only because I like it but also thinking that it may be possible to convert the British light dragoons by shaving the crest down, if I ever wished to replicate the 'flat faced' (i.e., no peak) cap. 

Finally, some further examples of the peaked leather cap/helmet style:-

Foundry's Dragoons in Helmets

Tarleton's Quarter blog 

[clibinarium]

I was writing with this image in mind, but I mixed up the 4th with the 2nd, because they appear to be back to front in the image.

Well that's an interesting question. With individual regiments being unique in headgear it creates the problem of sculpting figures people will only need one unit of, otherwise known as economic unviability. The figures above are intended for the 1st. The British in Tareltons may have to do for the 2nd. The 3rd I think can be made from the existing neo-classical helms of the 4th with a different paint job. I might take the above figures after casting and convert them to the 3rd's helmets, but I am not sure its worth the trouble. We'll see.

So while the numbers are not correct, for the sake of simplicity I've appended my text so they can be referrenced correctly.

What it should say is.. (but note it does not work with the image above)
"The figures above are intended for the 1st. The British in Tareltons may have to do for the 4th (in Tarletons). The 3rd I think can be made from the existing neo-classical helms of the 2nd with a different paint job. I might take the above figures after casting and convert them to the 3rd's helmets, but I am not sure its worth the trouble. "

This does not account for uniform and equipment changes in these regiments over the course of the war and does not cover the various non Continental troops and legions that were raised for short periods. Its just not possible to do that (well I guess it is, but I'm not inclined to; too much work).

[Westmarcher]

I was writing with this image in mind, but I mixed up the 4th with the 2nd, because they appear to be back to front in the image.


So while the numbers are not correct, for the sake of simplicity I've appended my text so they can be referrenced correctly.

Agreed. The captions are the wrong way around for the first and third figures.

(well I guess it is, but I'm not inclined to; too much work).

Fair enough.

[clibinarium]

Ok some more cavalrymen, this time without horses, these are the 16th light Dragoons on foot, so they are wearing leather leggings rather than boots. The tall guy firing his weapon has been decreased in height since this photo was taken.

[Westmarcher]

Some more good options. 

[Westmarcher]

Agreed. The captions are the wrong way around for the first and third figures.

Actually, on reflection, I think the captions are in the correct position - it's the figures that are in the wrong place (unless they are all left-handed)! 

(These are Perry figures and I still suspect the twins have got it wrong with the 1st Continental)

[DecemDave]

The good stuff just keeps on coming!    

[Steve J]

Great to have the dismounted otpion too for these. When released I can feel an order coming on!