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.