"Converting Adlers for Rev & Pre1800 battles" Topic

Wondering if there is anyone out there who has had some previous success with converting Adler 6mms for revolutionary and early Empire periods.

In lieu of infantry in tarletons I am looking at converting the french foot dragoon figures by filing off the top of the dragoon helmet and forming a comb using a thick glue.

For pre-1799 Austrians I am a bit more perplexed about how best to convert the headgear into the shallow (pillbox like) shakos worn by fusiliers-musketeers. Was going to use Austrian 7YW grenadiers but I am concerned that filing down the fur cap will end in disaster.

Anyone with experience in this area?

Thanks in advance!
Beeker

Frankly, in 6mm I'd buy the closest figure I could find and let it go at that. I can't imagine filing down 6mm headgear would be worth it.

Still, if you go that route, I'd like to know how it turns out.

Indeed! I thought about doing that for the Austrians but nothing matches the Alders in scale. Also, I am afraid conversions will have to be the route as Leon isnt keen on expanding the revolutionary period due to poor sales.

Hmmm.

Anyone in a stovepipe shako that might be close? Then you could just snip off the top and let it go at that. How about normal Austrian infantry in double peaked shako?

I think I am pretty much stuck with working with the 7YW range in order to have the appropriate tails and shoulder bags instead of pack….

… just dont want to buy a ton of 7yw figures and then cock the whole thing up!

Adler very kindly painted quite a few of my armies for 1800 to 1806. In the process, they surprised me by converting horse artillery teams and crews into the mirliton version. Very, very nice.

However, I have to confess that I gave on trying to do what you are up to with the Austrians (hence the move to 1800) – bon courage !!!

JP

British in Waterloo or Portoguese in barettina (both modelled on the austrian kasket) could be possible.

Success! Took the leap – bought tons of figs and the conversions were succesfull!

Extra Crispy – you're right, at 6mm its almost not worth making the conversion but even at this small scale the Adler figures I used for the conversion came out so good they had model soldier quality. Kudos to Leon!

For those interested in converting figures to create French inf in tarleton and Austrian fusiliers and light dragoons in 1790-1800 kaskett head-gear all that is required is a good pair of finger-nail or manicure clippers, a touch of putty (greenstuff, milliput or even dabs of craft glue) and a modeling file.

French tarleton – I understand from Leon that Adler will soon release a figure in March pose.

For those who want a march-attack or advance pose purchase the foot-dragoon fig and clip away the front comb and the horse-hair tail at the base of the helmet. This should leave half the helmet at the front exposed. Using putty simply add a small addition to the remaining comb to complete the tarleton roll.

For Austrian inf and cav in kaskett head-gear….

I experimented with several figures, attempting to cut and add to the head-gear on 7YW Prussian fusilier and grenadier figures. They did not turn out too well so I tried filing away the semi-tricorn hat of the 7YRW Austrian musketeer and then used putty to build up the kaskett. Again, not much success.

On a hunch I had earlier, I took a prussian 7YRW musketeer figure – the hat being more of a bicorn than the larger Austrian hat – and, using clippers snipped away both the left and right wings of the hat.

To my amazement the cut was so clean it left a perfect front for the kaskett – I even saved the pompom or tuft from the bicorne that was also present on the left side of the kaskett hat! With the clippers I pinched away the top of the bicorne fold at the back. After a few file strokes the back was cylindical and entirely proportional to the Kaskett worn for the revolutionary period. I found it superior to using the British AWI light infantry figs in leather caps (the cap is a touch too rounded and shallow).

The whole process took just a few seconds. This may be the way to go in other scales if you find that the manufacturer does not currently produce the kaskett helmet for the revolutionary period….

Happy conversions!

Cheers!
Beeker

Dear Beeker,
Adler's new AWI range contains a British Light infantry figure marching or firing, wearing the kind of headgear you describe. I had asked the same question of the fellow who makes the Adlers, I forget his name, and he as much as suggested the AWI British lights might possibly work for the Piedmontese. So I bought some, but haven't painted them yet. They look pretty good for the Piedmontese.

good luck!

Tolstoy1812

Yes the AWI Brit Lts are ideal for the Piedmont Legere – I believe there was one body of Lights designated as a "Legion" that wore the same helmet as the British.

The line troops will remain wearing a prussian/austrian 7YW cut uniform and for this both Alder Prussian and Austrian musketeers with bicornes (soft Tricorne for the Austrians) will be ideal.

Good luck with your army – I will be gearing up for more painting over Xmas…

BTW Leon, if you are reading TMP posts: "What ahout the infantry in Tarleton? I'm still waiting!" :)