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

18th Century Blacksmith's Shop (28mm)

Have just completed this smithy for my Crann Tara 28mm blacksmith and son. The model is made out of various cardboards but is very robust, and is based on a building in St.Augustine, Florida. Still some minor details to add before its ready to open, such as a shop sign, anvil etc. Have decided to slightly raise the building like many other colonial constructions. Doubt whether the materials cost more than £2 in total. I'm planning to use it in a game during the next two weeks. MGB

Raising some Hezzlewood AWI figures (28mm)

Have recently painted and based some American War of Independence figures to serve in a small level game with friends. Although this blog is devoted to the FRW, I have always admired the design skills of the late Steve Hezzlewood and will occasionally include some photos from my new AWI collection. These first show some Hinchliffe X-RANGE American militiamen advancing, and some Continental light infantry companies. MGB