Saturday, July 24, 2021

4th New York Regiment At Saratoga

 

The 4th New York Regiment
Fife and Drum Miniatures


This week I finished the painting and basing of a 30-figure Continental Army regiment, the 4th New York, for my Saratoga Project. As with the regiments in this project, the unit has five bases, each measuring 60mm frontage by 80mm depth. The bases were purchased from Litko.

I designed this regiment to be in a firing line with a mix of figures that are firing muskets, reloading and standing at the ready. The combined effect of all of these different poses is stunning, in my humble opinion. This may well be one of the best painted units that I have done for this project. I am still waiting for the flags to arrive from GMB Designs, but other than that, the 4th New York Regiment is complete and ready for tabletop action.

Here are some close up shots of the new unit. I was not able to fit all five stands into the photos so I took pictures of 3 and 4 bases at a time.

In this unit, I used the officer in hunting shirt along with a few other hunting shirt poses,  
a couple of the militia figures, and some of the regular Continental uniforms



The side view of the command stand and one other stand.
Note the variety of poses that lends a sense of "action" to the regiment.

Same stands as the previous picture, but from the other side.



Well, one way to fit all five stands into one photo is to have them back to back.


I did not do any head conversions in the 4th New York because I am in a rush to get three more regiments painted in the three weeks leading up to this year's Seven Years War Association Convention on August 5th through 7th, 2021. I wanted to have some figures wearing round hats (brimmed hats) so I selected four such figures from the CA-001 American Militia pack: standing firing, kneeling firing, cocking musket, and advancing at port arms. I also used a mix of figures wearing regulation coats and hunting shirts to provide even more visual variety.

I based the figures into two ranks with the firing poses in the front rank and all other poses (ramming with ram rod, reloading, at the ready, standing, etc.) in the rear second rank. The deeper bases protect the muskets and bayonets from wear and tear on the gaming table, but also have the added benefit of having room to make some dioramas on the stands. One of the officers shielding his eyes with one hand is placed a bit forward from the rest of the firing line. Another casualty figure in hunting shirt, getting knocked off of his feet from a musket ball, also stands a little bit forward from the rest of the line. The firing poses are a mix of Continentals wearing tricorn hats, men in hunting shirts wearing tricorn hats, and militia figures wearing round hats. I simply paint the militia in the regimental uniform of the Continentals (albeit, the militia figures do not have lapels)..

I am a big proponents of firing lines because of the dynamic look of action that they provide. I also like the standard marching poses, but I don't want every regiment in the army to be marching.

The next unit on my painting table is a Massachusetts regiment wearing blue coats with white facings (lapels, cuffs and collars). They will be in marching poses.

12 comments:

  1. Each base is a wonderfully set scene! Lovely work all around.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  2. A wonderful visual treat of a unit Jim, great work!

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  3. Very nice work and I also like the firing pose for the very same reasons you mentioned.

    Christopher

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    Replies
    1. Great minds think alike! 🤗

      (See next comment)

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  4. I am glad you like them, Mr. AlteFritz. They are nicely painted, but they look like rabble, militia, to me because of the varied poses. Von Steuben wouldn't have liked to see a trained regiment like this.
    Cheers
    Glenn

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    1. Rabble looking; that’s the whole point, good sir. They are not the professional British, Hessian or Prussians. 30 guys in the same pose doesn’t look like AWI to me.

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  5. Great paint job Jim - I think they could be improved greatly by putting them much closer together and on smaller bases - I discovered when basing up a Viking shield wall that cramping up everything creates more of a desperation feel and because your range of figures are so beautifully proportioned this would really work for them - like a Troiani painting - Ian

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  6. superb Jim, they really look the business, liking the mix of figures, but nobody is fleeing yet.....yet.

    cheers
    Matt

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  7. Another fine looking unit.
    Regards, James

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  8. Deacon Thomas StadnikOctober 26, 2023 at 4:01 PM

    Very impressive work. Am I correct in detecting two uniform colors, the originally ordered brown with red facings, mingled with the off-white/undyed linen with red facings that was imposed by supply chain realities upon the 4th? I am not referring to the militia. If I am correct, I want to commend you on your research and adherence to the history. I just recently began studying the NY line, and am intrigued by the history of the 4th and their pronounced uniform supply issues.

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