"AWI British for the beginner" Topic
12 Posts
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MajorTom | 13 Apr 2015 8:01 a.m. PST |
I am just starting out with my 28mm AWI figures, I have been having a great time working on my American forces and it has been quite easy to decide what figures of them I need, I am well versed on the American uniforms (or lack there of). so this part of my task has been convenient, however I am having trouble deciding what figures would be best for my British army. I wish to represent my army's as pre-1780 and have been looking at both the Perry box set and the Wargames Factory set. I was wondering if anyone could give me some good direction. At first I looked at the Perry set, but then realized they were in the short coat, a feature I originally understood was for light infantry. Then I looked to the Wargames Factory box and didn't quite understand the label of contents. I was somewhat confused if the British set is like the American set, with a combination of both Light and Regular infantry. If the Wargames Factory box comes with light infantry, does it come with enough parts to create Queens Rangers? thanks for any help in this subject, -Tom |
clibinarium | 13 Apr 2015 8:29 a.m. PST |
My understanding is that the short coat was adopted by all types pretty quickly, which is why the Perries do their infantry all in short coats. The full 1768 uniform is probably not seen very much after the Boston campaign (though possibly it would be where new troops arrive off the boat from England/Ireland). |
ColCampbell | 13 Apr 2015 9:19 a.m. PST |
You might also want to take a look at the Fife and Drum Miniatures line of Jim Purky's (Der Alte Fritz). fifedrumminis.blogspot.com They are sculpted by Richard Ansell and are true 1:56 scale. They look very good and paint very well. I don't have any of his British figures but I do have some of his Americans that I use as F&IW militia. link Jim |
Bill N | 13 Apr 2015 10:19 a.m. PST |
The Wargames Factory set is supposedly based on the official 1768 warrant uniform, so it reflects how London thought its troops should look at the beginning of the war and how some units looked when they arrived in North America later in the war. It contains grenadiers and light infantry figures in addition to center companies. Once the war started British forces in North America started adapting their uniforms so they would be more appropriate for local conditions. The Perry plastic set is based on a couple of these local adaptions. The Perry plastic British set only contains center company troops, so you would need to rely on metals for the elite companies. There is also a difference in the poses. Perry plastic are advancing where I believe most WF are in firing line poses. As to whether there are enough figures in either set to create a specific unit, that will depend on how your units are organized. For specialty units including Queen's Rangers I think you would need to move beyond the plastic sets. There are several good lines of metals out there. |
Supercilius Maximus | 13 Apr 2015 10:29 a.m. PST |
If you want Perry-sculpted AWI British in the 1768 Warrant uniform, the Foundry range covers that very comprehensively (including artillery). In reality, it is most unlikely to have survived the 1775 campaigns in Massachusetts and Canada. Whilst units arriving in N America subsequently would have been wearing it, they tended to have a few months "in theatre" before they took to the field, and consequently their uniforms were adapted by then. The one definite exception was the three regiments – 3rd, 19th and 30th Foot – that were sent straight to the South in 1781, and were pitched into action almost straight off the boat. They were noted as suffered from the local climate for still being in their "European" clothing. |
Virginia Tory | 13 Apr 2015 11:34 a.m. PST |
What SM said. The majority of the field army (not counting Burgoyne's forces unique modifications) would be in round hats and shortened jackets, with a few exceptions. |
Major Bloodnok | 13 Apr 2015 2:02 p.m. PST |
Due to the fact that some units kept changing theaters often, one regiment didn't get its 1776 issue clothing until 1780. Another unit was forced to carry its rations wrapped in their blankets because their haversacks were worn out. |
Supercilius Maximus | 13 Apr 2015 2:06 p.m. PST |
Good point, Major, to which you can add Simcoe's accounts of his men, and the 71st, going barefoot and ragged. Even most AWI gamers don't realise that the British often had the "Valley Forge" look about them, as well. |
vtsaogames | 14 Apr 2015 7:48 a.m. PST |
I put together a British force back in the day. I didn't even notice until a friend pointed out that none of the other ranks were in tri-corns. I purchased and painted another unit just to have one outfit in that head gear. |
MajorTom | 15 Apr 2015 7:54 a.m. PST |
so, it sounds like, and correct me if I am wrong, but it sounds like the Perry forces are probably my best choice. a box or two of the Wargames Factory would be good for the flank company's and a little variety. As for my Queens Rangers I will probably be stuck with metals. thanks everyone for the help,it is very much appreciated -Tom |
Supercilius Maximus | 16 Apr 2015 4:40 a.m. PST |
MT – Simcoe's journal talks about the Queen's Rangers getting rid of their "miserable contract hats" and replacing them with the leather caps when they are in the South, around mid-/late-1781 (personally, I would have thought the hats were more comfortable and durable in that climate, and better for aiming, but there you are). So, if you want pre-1781 Queen's Rangers, just use the Perry plastic British with tricornes; use the metal "light infantry in roundabout" figures for the light company, late war Scots in overalls for the highland company; and for the grenadiers, a vertical cylinder of Milliput or Greenstuff for the fur caps, and just paint on the shoulder wings. |
Weland | 17 Apr 2015 5:14 p.m. PST |
Don't foget that light and grenadier companies from the different regiments were converged into large battalions. You would need a few WGF boxes to give you the number of figures needed for the converged battalions. I believe I saw 6 bearskins (many argue they didn't wear on campaign, but they look good!) on the sprues. Not sure how many have the wings, but you could paint those on. I used metals for flank companies. The majority of center companies are from the Perry plastic British and I will use some arms from the plastic continentals for additional regiments in different configurations. Maybe I will get a box of WGF British to have a center company firing. |
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