Expeditionary Force 54mm/60mm Napoleonics

 

Expeditionary Forces 60mm British 95th Rifles. Work in progress.

I am back from Historicon (actually today marks a week since my last game) and I am already starting to think about the project for Historicon 2026. No PELAs won for me this year so I guess that I will need to "up my game" in the next round. Let's just say that I am really motivated now.

Prior to Historicon I purchased several boxes of Expeditionary Force ("EF") 54mm plastic Napoleonic figures and started on the 95th Rifles. The picture above is only a work in progress photo. I have not found a rifleman green color that satisfies me so I am still playing around with the color of their uniforms.

Each EF box of figures contains nine figures and you have to assemble them before priming. The arms, heads, back packs and haversacks all plug into the plastic torso so this isn't too difficult a task. The pictures below illustrate how to assemble the figures.

These are center company figures, which unfortunately come with Belgic Shako heads rather than the stove pipe shakoes that I preferred. Sigh...

I purchased one box each of center company, light company and center company command. The latter box has a couple of figures that can also be used for 95th Rifles officers. 

Center company with command figures added. Total of 13 figures here.

One of two mounted officers in the command box. I chose to add the cape and have
one hand holding a telescope- I intend to use him as one of Wellington's scouts in blue uniform.

Figures from the light company box

Center company plus command figures.

I haven't decided on the size of figures to use; I already have a nice collection of 28mm metal figures; I have ordered some of the Perry 40mm figures as well as a couple of 40mm Spanish buildings from Battle Honors; and I have these and some Armies In Plastic 54/60mm figures to paint.

28mm Advantages

I already have all of the figures that I will need for a grand skirmish game and I also have a large selection of 28mm buildings and terrain pieces that Herb Gundt made for me many years ago.

40mm Advantages

They are kind of a cross between 54mm and 28mm figures. They are bigger and easier to see than the 28mm figures and so they stand out on the table more. I can also use some of my existing terrain with 40mm figures.

54mm Advantages

Big plastic figures are relatively inexpensive and they are easy to paint and easy to see on the table top. Although they take up a lot of space on the table, my plan to limit the table size to 6ft by 15ft means that I cannot binge paint huge British and French 54mm armies. Also, the skirmish game doesn't take up as much space in my car for transportation to Historicon

So I am going to wait until all of my samples arrive in the mail, paint some samples, and then choose the scale for my game. No really, that's the plan.

The Cow River bridge

A picture of my 28mm table top set up.

Another view of the 28mm terrain.

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