Dutch Artillery Crews, 1793, Painted and Ready

Have now completed two Dutch artillery crews for my British/Dutch/Emigre army for the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars. Still don't know what make they are but the repaint job has certainly tidied them up. I drilled metal rods into two figures to secure miliput plumes, but decided to leave the epaulettes as I now believe the foot artillery also adopted such.  Still to decide whether to permanently base these figures to two 12pdrs cannon on wheeled carriages, or keep them as they are for occasional service with fortress guns. MGB

Dutch Artillery for the 1790s

On another forum a reference was made to a Dutch artillery piece up on an auction. What I found interesting was the carriage paintwork. But is this genuine, and appropriate for the 1793-5 campaign? With growing ties to Prussia, I am assuming the Dutch used Prussian artillery pieces, moving over to Gribeauval with the Batavian Republic.

I also have several French gunners, that were given to me by a friend, which a fair number of us have been unable to ascribe to a manufacturer. As they are somewhat tall, and distinctively thin, I did not wish to integrate them into my Dixon/Foundry French army but, rather, have decided to convert them into Dutch.

The Dutch foot artillery 'may' have had shoulder straps, while the horse artillery had epaulettes. Cecil C.P. Lawson mentions a unit which was formed in 1793 by Captain Nacquard  and comprised Dutch and French emigres. Not only did it give excellent service, later transferring to the British Army, but he reports that they had red epaulettes with white edge and fringe.

                                     

Mark Allen also directed me to a period drawing which shows what was probably their campaign dress, with distinctive hats and half-gaiters. The other paintings came from that excellent resource http://www.aldegarde.nl/napoleonicwars-5.html

MGB

ps. Would welcome comments on this subject, particularly on Dutch gun carriage paintwork.

REBEL TROOPS ARE MUSTERING, 1775-83

Here is a photo of some recently completed Rebel Americans. The brown coated belong to the 1st Pennsylvania Battn. 1776, the white coated are the 4th New York Regt. 1778. while the cavalry are an independent troop of South Carolina Militia Light Horse 1780. With my 24 Continental light infantry ready and complete, and a steady stream of militiamen forming up, I now have a small army.
MGB

35th Regiment of Foot c1775

Work continues on my Hezzlewood castings for the AWI. Here is my first British battalion representing the 35th Foot, noted for their orange (or deep yellow) facings. Next is the 56th, which served at Gibraltar.  MGB

Devonshire Volunteers c1794

My British 1790s army recently gained a new addition when I finally completed the Sidmouth Volunteers. With their bearskin-crested top hats, and blue faced with yellow jackets they are quite colourful, and will add to any scenarios involving French landings. MGB

Farm Livestock restored

Inspired by the Kingdom of Wittenberg blog, I purchased a packet of very old toy farm animals in an antiques shop. At £12 they weren't cheap, but I don't regret it. With less than half their original paint, some of the pigs were missing tails, the rabbit/hare had only one ear, the cattle had several casting holes. And mould lines were also very visible. But it was simple and fun to replace and restore these miniatures, using miliput and wire, including some horns for the cattle.
I'm taking these models a step further having decided to paint the pigs as ASS BLACK LIMOUSIN, while the cattle will be BLOND D'AQUITAINE, both these breeds were around in the 18th century.  I have also started work on my blacksmith models from Crann Tara to go with my completed Shop. MGB

FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY RIOTERS & FLAG

I had several painted sans culottes in my spares box, and was keen to use them. Previous attempts to capture the 'mob', or violent rioters, had never quite looked right. I think it was the basing of my figures which had let them down. This larger round base seems to work a lot better. As for the flag, I have read an account of some 'political types' having presented a banner to the French Assembly with a brief description that it was a tricolour with the heads of black, white, and mixed-race persons. When I came across the modern reconstruction, I decided to reproduce it in miniature, with the red section to the pole, in keeping with most pre-1794 flags. I can see my collection including a few more of these round-based mobs as they add something peculiar to my French Revolutionary army. Have also completed a white-coated command base from some spares. MGB