Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Peninsular Project Gets Underway

Just a quick update to let you know that the first two companies of British infantry were primed in grey this evening and with a long 4-day weekend for me, due to the July 4th Holiday, I should be able to find time to get at least one company of 12 figures completed.

I have two GMB Designs flags in my inventory: the 83rd Regt of Foot and the 88th (Connaught Rangers) Regt of Foot. I am trying to decide which one to paint, although I think that their facing colors are the same: yellow. So I won't have to make a final decision until I actually attach the flags in a few weeks.

The Connaught Rangers are very famous and well known, but I know nothing about the 83rd Regiment. It doesn't even seem to have a unique "county" designation like most other regiments. Who are the 83rd, where was their depot, where did they recruit from?

On a related matter, I am looking for dismounted British officer figures that I can use as personalities for photo shoots and scenes in the tales of the Peninsular War. This will likely be told in the same format as Major General Pettygree's serial stories. If I'm lucky, I might even get Pettygree himself to set up the stories and tell the tales. We shall have to see how that goes.

So if you have any ideas on where to find unarmed dismounted officers and orderlies figures in the 28mm or 30mm size, then please pass that information on to me.

After talking with Bill P. about this, we will initially have a regiment of 106 red coat soldiers stationed somewhere in Spain, circa 1805 to 1809. We will use Bill's campaign attrition system for battle casualties (some die outright, some are lightly wounded and out of action for a short time, others have more serious wounds, and others are sent back to Olde Blighty to recover).

There will also be a couple of companies of Rifles and two RHA 6-pounders to complete the initial garrison in Spain. Bill is even talking about painting up a unit of British Light Dragoons. That would be really cool! These British forces will be built up at a leisurely pace so as to avoid burnout. Eventually the day will come when we have enough British to actually stage a small skirmish game. Over the next several years then, we will gradually build up our forces and add a regiment (100 figures) of Spanish allies, some guerillas, and God knows what else. (I have some Vistula Lancers that I've been itching to paint and add to my French army in the Peninsula, and maybe add a battalion of the Paris Guard in red uniforms).

7 comments:

  1. For informatio on the 83rd you could do worse than start here:

    http://royalirishrangers.co.uk

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  2. Like the 88th, an Irish regiment but raised in Dublin. Yellow facings.

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  3. Warlord Games has some great British officers that should work for you.

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  4. PENINSULAR CAVALRY IDEAS:
    Since I enjoy cavalry more than anything, my thought is to raise two to four squadrons. My first thought is the 15th Light Dragoons in hussar garments whether in a tarleton or tall fur hat. The latter was adopted in 1807.
    ---
    Bicorne, Elite, Foundry, and Front Rank make nice castings. The only decision I've made is the castings can't have the pelisse flying off the shoulder. Reason? This way I won't have to paint it AND the interior jacket. One is enough for hussar uniformed troops. Easier on me that way and faster to completion.
    ---
    This way there would be an equivalent opponent for Jim's French light cavalry already riding around with nothing to do - right now anyway.
    ---
    Tally Ho,
    Bill

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  5. A Napoleonic era Pettygree and stories sound good to me.
    ---
    The Pettygrees have a long lineage in my collection. The first is William Constantine Pettygree, a Royalist in the English Civil War. By the time of the Seven Years' War the Pettygree family was out of favor due to support for Bonnie Prince Charlie. Only Lady Diana Pettygree has appeared in our SYW games and blog stories - living in Gallia and travelling within Germania. As Jim mentions William Augustus Pettygree is now appearing on the NW Frontier here:
    http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/
    ---
    Tally Ho,
    Bill

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  6. Not sure on the unarmed officers figures but I am sure you will have already seen the Perry Carlist range and they have some lovely civilian figures which I have used for my Penninsula set up. Grand Manner also do a decent smallish Spanish windmill which is v useful and some fantastic other buildings if you wish to go a bit mad including a superb convent. You might also like to check out the Alban range of figures which might have some you can use.

    Regards,
    Guy

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  7. Ooooh, I do like the idea of a Pettygree in Spain. Though, naturally, I will be rooting for the dastardly French!

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