"Depicting AWI Militia Units with Miniatures" Topic

For Patriot militia is the conventional wisdom to only use firing/loading miniatures? It seems like Militia figures in march attack is rarely in fashion.

Any opinions on approaches to depicting/modelling militia units?

I tend to use more irregular looking types for AWI Militia, firing,loading, also running is good! Marching at shoulder or trail arms would be good too, just so you can tell units apart easier. March attack would not be my first choice for militia poses.

Hi Thomas O

I think when I said march-attack, I probably included "marching at shoulder" rather than just the technical position.

But thanks for the approach to modelling militia units. What scale do you game AWI in?

Just look at Perry's range. They have suitable figures, both for Northern and Southern Militia.

You could use either, it would just depend on how they were being used in the battle.

Lexington/Concord – a lot of sniping

Guilford Courthouse – in a line of battle

Lots of examples for each.

You're going to need ALOT of figs if you intend to change poses depending on scenario.

I frequently use my Continental figures to represent militia and militia figures to represent Continentals in civilian clothing or hunting shirts. I will use the same poses and manufacturers for both.

The primary way to see whether I intend a figure to represent a militia man or a Continental is whether the figure has a bayonet. Most of my Continentals have them. Very few of my militia figures have them. Yes I do add or remove bayonets from figures, and even fashion bayonet scabbards for some.

Lots of militia figures available out there, in non-regulation poses.

Does anyone make their milita alignment on bases "ragged" or have odd or differing number of men on the bases?

Does anyone make their milita units' frontages wider than other units?

Mine are based 4 to a stand, like my line units. But they are usually in different poses--some at trail, some waving hats with weapon grounded, firing, loading, etc. They usually have the same frontage as any other unit.

Does anyone make their milita units' frontages wider than other units?

The size of units, especially militia units, varied so widely I would be surprised if there was something like a uniform frontage, even within individual battles. For example at Guilford Courthouse the Virginia militia in the second line consisted of seven regiments of between 150 and 250 men each organized into two brigades. The North Carolina militia in the first line having a front about the same consisted of three brigades, each of which contained varying numbers of regiments and detachments.

My militia figures occupy the same space per man as Continentals. Formation and unit size are reflected by the number of figures. I am creating forces that can be used for a wide variety of actions, so flexibility is desired.

OK, so just mount them like everyone else.

Thanks guys.