"First of my Tigers " Topic

The stripes have almost given me double vision but first six are done. Dixon miniatures as always

only 18 to go!
Thanks for looking cheers Russ

Great work!

Great job.

Excellent work on the stripes, I couldn't do that!

Those are fantastic!

Awesome job!

Braken: If you cut the width of your wide blue stripe on the pants by about one third, it would be much closer to the bed ticking pants that the Tigers actually wore. It might help your eyes also. They do look very good. TIG

Thanks for all the kind words guys! so far so good and I've got the worse figure out of the way already. I'm not keen on painting drummers, well the drum part that is.

tigrifsgt, thanks for the tip on the stripes. I did start with the wider stripes being a bit thinner but it looked horrible, all squashed up and untidy!(my skills just aren't up to it, I'm afraid) Doing the slightly wider stripes also cuts down on the amount I have to paint! that's not me being lazy but more for my own sanity.

I must admit I'm looking forward to getting them finished and based, and then no more stripes!

thanks again guys
cheers for now Russ

I am blown away by those striped trousers. Incredible work. So crisp.

Excellent Paint Job! Love the correctly painted striped trousers!

excellent job …dixons have never been my cup of tea, but I can surely appreciate good work when I see it!!

Wow. The stripes on the trousers are just…Wow.

Very nice work!

One more thing, before I forget. NCO stripes should be infantry blue at the cuff. You cannot believe how good this looks. 1st Sgt. out in front, just like me. Even though a lot of our guys went for the straw hat, I always liked the fez better. I also got my face sun burned more often. TIG

Thanks everyone, they are time consuming but the feedback here just goes to prove that its all worthwhile, and tigrifsgt thank you also for the info that you have offered so freely! I've already green stuffed the stripes on one figure in the usual spot further up the shelve but I like the sound of the stripes near the cuff, so I will give it ago. As for enjoying the sun on your face I dont blame you!

So thanks guys for all the comments and feedback its all very welcome
Cheers for now Russ

You have to post some pics when they are all done.

Great work, especially on the pants and faces! Really outstanding! Dixons have a ton of charm and character! Cory

Thanks guys the comments are more than welcome, it shouldn't be to long before I'm posting photos of them in all their glory. I do have a couple of questions regarding the uniforms. I'm painting the officer in a blue frockcoat, red trousers but what colour the collar and cuffs, and did the cuffs have red trim. I've searched but cant find any decent pictures! also the book I have shows the tassel red on the fezs but blue gets mentioned more than not. Any help or info would be warmly welcomed, or even being pointed in the direction of a good web site in regards of the uniform side.

with thanks Russ

Officers would be all in blue, including the pants. Most La. units at the start of the war had their officers dressed just like a union line officer would look. Our officer was always in navy blue wool with no color difference on the collar or cuffs. The tassel on the fez would be navy blue. If he had any red on him at all, it was his sash. His was tied and hung down one side, the rest of us just wrapped them completely around our waist with nothing hanging. Also, don't forget the buttons on the gaiters. TIG

Tigers also carried the 1841 Mississippi musket. It was a two bander with no bayonet lug. Those who had bayonets carried a sword type. The rifle was of american walnut with a browned barrel. Many of them also carried big knives and a side arm. See the picture on the cover of the Osprey book, American Civil War Zouaves. Triani in his painting got most of it wrong. The trefoil on the front of the jacket is an important feature, but very hard to paint on figures that small.

Thanks tigrifsgt, its the Dons book I have! So the red tassel is wrong and the trefoil is missing. Thanks for the info, I'm a bit surprised by the officer looking like a union officer! Seems a bit on the risky side. Was the kepi just plain blue? I'm guessing it still had the gold braid to denote rank. I'm not sure I can do them full justice but I will try.
Thanks again for info Russ

It was at the start of the war before Gen. Jackson issued the order about men in his army not to wear union blue. The Washington Artillery officers wore the same uniform. The kepi was just plain blue. You can imagine the confusion at the 1st Manassas. The N.Y. state militia was in all grey. You know what Russ, you have some great looking figures there, and I am very picky about my Tigers. Leave them the way they are, they are a great depiction of my boys. Anyone who knows anything will know who they are, and that's all that matters.

Thanks tigrifsgt, for the info and the help! and thank you for the comment regarding my work. I hope they meet your approval once they are based and finished. Hopefully it shouldn't be much longer the last 6 have made it on to the paint table and the flags are drawn out ready to be painted! so thanks again cheers
Russ