"Where to get 1/72 US troops for 1812" Topic

Since I already have a good start on a British army for the period, I thought th War of 1812 would be an easy project to branch into, but the subject seems to be roundly ignored by the 1/72 plastic figure makers.

Has anyone else tried to build a 1/72 or 20mm collection for this war? What figures did you use?

- Ix

I'm also working on a 1/72 War of 1812 project. I didn't find much at all out there for US forces, so I have been cheating and painting Brits as Americans….

The only dedicated US figs I found in 1/72 are the plastic "American Militia in Winter Dress" by Strelets (you can see them on Plastic Soldier Review).

Despite having to ignore some details like lace and stuff on the uniforms when I'm painting , I think my ersatz US forces don't look too bad.

Converting Brirish troops is a good idea. I'll have to consider that. Do you use Waterloo troops or Peninsular?

- Ix

From what I understand, the US regular army started the war equipped with stovepipe-style shakos, then re-equipped in 1813 with shakos that had false fronts. I made some compromises and went with troops in the Belgic shakos (mainly associated with Waterloo) in the hope that they'll cover most of the war without too drastically mutilating historical accuracy.

I'm going to use troops in stovepipe shakos to represent some of the state militia units. Several used that style of shako, often with a coloured cloth wrapped around, which should be easy to add with a few flicks of paint.

Also, some state militia units used round hats instead of shakos. Strelets makes (or made, some sets seem to go out of production with little warning…) British regulars for the Egyptian campaign, who are in round hats, so i'm using those for militia. Those are a bit rough sculpts (Strelets often are), but with paint they look ok. About 1/3 of that set are wearing tall gaiters, which doesn't fit for US militia, but they are usable for British marines, which may be handy for coastal raid scenarios…

Some of the HäT Portugese would probably work as regulars too.

For militia, the HäT and RedBox Napoleonic Russian light infantry might be able to stand in for some, and about half of the HäT Napoleonic Swedish Infantry set looks promising. The HäT Brunswick Avant Garde might work too, if you carve off some of the ridiculous hat brim.

Hrm. Interesting problem.

- Ix

Yes, most of those would do the job, with a little conversion. The Portuguese set looks like a pretty good fit for the regulars – the US and Portuguese uniforms are both a bit simpler than the British at Waterloo… if they're painted the same as the others, the cazadores would probably blend right into the unit, too.

Another set to consider for regulars (and militia in stovepipe shakos)is Hat's Waterloo Netherlands Militia and Belgian Infantry. No command figures, though.

I've been finding the War of 1812 in 1/72 a fun project. Having grown up in Canada, it was covered in history class, but I'm definitely learning a lot more about the fine details! (Upper Canadian militia had green uniforms- who knew?)

Definitely going to suggest Portuguese, 1815 Belgians, Swedes and some Spanish as good fill-ins for Americans.

Clipping the greatcoat roll off the back-packs is an easy conversion, too.

A conversion chart or list would help a lot with this project. I bet there are more than 3 of us in the world.

I've done a few conversion projects in the past, and if I don't make a list like that, I eventually regret it, when I discover I just need three more figures or tanks or ships or something and I can't remember how I made the first set.

- Ix

Frying Pan and Blanket made (make?) a 20mm metal range. I have only seen a few 1/72 games for this war, and they seemed to be British 1815 Napoleonics and a few metal figures.

IMEX Mexican Cavalry At The Alamo will give you light cavalry in Tarleton helmets. There is not a lot of detail on these figures so you get a lot of latitude on how to paint them up.

IMEX Lewis and Clark may have a couple of figures of interest although as there aren't many figures in the box these may be more speciality figures.

The IMEX Mexican Infantry and IMEX Mexican Artillery set may also be adaptable. Also look at the IMEX Alamo Defenders.

Italeri Indian Warriors might be suitable for native americans.

All pictured on PSR plasticsoldierreview.com

Strelets makes Indians as well.

Strelets Tecumseh Set M107
link

There are probably other 1/72 plastic Native Americans that could work too:

link
link
link

Also worth remembering hat 1/72 ain't all that large a scale so plenty of detail will just not been seen from gaming distance. So no need to stress about even semi visible details methinks…

Also depending on your painting skills the amount of (correct) detail doesn't really matter. And besides, a goof painter can make a crappy miniature look good, and a bad painter botches the most excellent mini.

I too have started a war of 1812 and all the above comments are true. HOWEVER, remember that MILITIA where a HUUUUGE problem for the Americans. DO NOT just make a "Napoleonics armies set in america" thing. This war was a MESS and totally F#d up.

Imex Alamo Defenders in civilian dress for a range of militia on both sides. The New Orleans Grays could work for Caldwell's Rangers if you trim the cap. Imex Mexican/American War US Infantry might be worth a look too. If you're handy with putty you could build up the fur cap of the Canadian Voltigeurs.

I too have started a war of 1812 and all the above comments are true. HOWEVER, remember that MILITIA where a HUUUUGE problem for the Americans.

Isn't that part of the fun of the period?

It looks to me like getting painted militia units on the table in this scale seems to be the biggest challenge. So many uniforms, so much conversion work to do.

- Ix

One problem are the knapsacks. Most US knapsacks are canvas envelopes, similar to British early war knapsacks. No rolled blanket on top.

I know that this has not been active for a while but I thought that it was worth mentioning the SHQ range of US figures. They are the same size as Airfix/Hat and cover early and late US infantry (stovepipe and tombstone), riflemen and militia. There are a variety of poses and command groups. There are no artillery (you can use British Peninsular figures from SHQ) or cavalry.

I have only seen the early command group and the riflemen and they are well sculpted with no flash.

1/72 Conversions for US Forces for the War of 1812

This is a summary as requested by Yellow Admiral and reflects my views and a lot of those mentioned in the posts above. I have not tried all of these but have used Airfix (British) Hat (British, Austrian Landwehr and French Dragoons), Strelets (British Line in Egypt) and SHQ.

US Regulars

1812 (Stovepipe type shako)
Hat Netherlands Militia (seen but not used)
Hat British Peninsular Line (seen but not used)
Hat British Command (used)
Emhar British (not seen)
Hat British Light Infantry (used)

The blanket on top of the back pack should be removed and replaced with a putty flap or ignored.
The Hat Netherlands Militia are probably the preferred choice as they do not have lace across the chest. The lace should be trimmed from the other ranges or painted over.
The shako cords needs to be modified at the front and another added at the back.
Shoulder wings need to be trimmed off.
The Hat British Peninsular box is particularly useful as there are spare heads with Belgic and stovepipe shakos.
The Hat British Command can be used for 1812 and 1813 with different heads.

1813 onwards (Tombstone (Belgic) type shako)
Hat Belgian Infantry (seen but not used)
Strelets, Revell, Esci, Airfix British (used Airfix)
Hat British Command (used)
Hat British Peninsular Line (used spare shakos)

Changes required
The blanket on top of the back pack should be removed and replaced with a putty flap or ignored.
The Hat Belgian infantry are probably the preferred choice as they do not have lace across the chest. The lace should be trimmed from the other ranges or painted over.
The shako cords needs to be modified at the front and another added (or painted) at the back.
Shoulder wings need to be trimmed off.

US Militia

Dressed in Hunting shirts
Strelets Frontier Militia
IMEX Alamo

Maryland Militia (Stovepipe shako)
As 1812 regulars
Changes required
Turban around base of shako from putty
Changes to pack as for 1813 regulars.

Militia equipped from Federal supplies (Round hat)

Strelets British Line in Egypt
Trim gaiters to trousers. Changes to pack as for 1813 regulars

Hat Austrian Landwehr
Trim hat and add brim on left from putty
Build up breeches to trousers with putty.

Figures listed under 1813 Regulars
As 1813 regulars but the Belgic shako needs to be trimmed to a round (top) hat. This can be done by cutting off the top of the shako to form a cylinder (leaving the plume) the adding a brim all around the base with putty.

Hat Swedish may also work.

US Rifles
IMEX or Strelets Militia with heads replaced with stovepipe shakos. As far as I understand it, the tombstone (Belgic) shako was not adopted.

US Light Dragoons
Hat French Dragoons.
Changes required
Other suppliers can be used but the Hat figures have the least detail so are the easiest to convert. Trim off the carbine, lapel detail on tunic front and coat tails. Build up peak on helmet with putty. Build up shabraque on horse with putty.

New York Militia
Hat or Strelets British Early Light Dragoons
Trim off carbines

Artillery
Call to Arms or Revell British Artillery
Changes required
As for 1813 Regulars with heads replaced with stovepipe shakos. As far as I understand it, the tombstone (Belgic) shako was not adopted.
French style carriages were used with iron barrels.

Comments
I should add that I don't change the packs as I think it makes the figure look unbalanced.

Although I think the Hat Dutch/Belgian group is the best starting point, I used Airfix British as I had a lot. The Hat figures come in a box with 24 figures with Belgic shakos and 24 stovepipe which is handy but there are no command figures

The early US shako was usually more cylindrical than the stovepipe which is slightly conical and the later (tombstone) had a slight taper) Again, a matter of taste.

Officers in militia units often wore regular type uniforms.

Some of the plastic figures listed (e.g. Hat Austrian Landwehr and Strelets British Line in Egypt) are out of production so may be difficult to find. If you can't wait and have the money, SHQ are available. (No, I don't have a link with them other than as an occasional buyer).

SHQ/Kennington have the following ranges in 20mm and the ones I have seen are good figures which go well in terms of size with the plastic ranges. They can also be used to supplement the figures above e.g. command groups.

PDF link

1812 Regulars – various poses including a command group
1813 Regulars as above
US Rifles (stovepipe shako and hunting shirt so could be used as militia) various poses and officer. There are 4 officers in the command pack
Militia in round hats (poses as 1812 and 1813 Regulars)

British Peninsular Artillery in stovepipes which can be used as US gunners.

I didn't include Native Americans in the above post so here are some brief thoughts.

The Strelets Tecumseh set is excellent. I was fortunate enough to get most of a box. I can't comment on the others mentioned above.

Irregular and Newline both make Mohicans in 20mm. I don't have any so can't make size comparisons. From what I've seen, Irregular tend to be small. Newline can vary. In addition, Irregular make some figures in hunting jackets and caps which would be suitable for militia. Frying Pan and Blanket are also mentioned but don't appear to be available any more.

Here's a link to Irregular. They are under the 20mm French and Indian War title. The Newline site isn't working at the moment.

irregularminiatures.co.uk

I've read on another forum that Frying Pan and Blanket AWI are now available from Thistle and Rose Miniatures. They don't have a website but are on Facebook. I don't use Facebook so can't add any more information. I don't know if the 1812 range is available.

Here's a link to the Newline figures. They are for the FIW so may not have enough clothing for 1812.

link

It may be possible to swap heads with the other Newline FIW ranges e.g Rogers Rangers. The Coureur de Bois could be used as Quebec militia.