A Foray into Napoleonic Wargaming
71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry)
The 71st were sent to Portugal as part of Moore’s army in 1808. After the retreat at Corunna, the regiment took part in the Walcheren Campaign in 1809, before returning to the Peninsula in 1810. It fought at the battles of Fuentes de Onoro, Albuhera, Arroyo dos Molinos, Alamaraz, Vitoria, Sorauren, Nivelle and Nive.
The 71st also fought at Waterloo in 1815, and formed part of the army of occupation in Paris.
The majority of figures are by Xan, with the command group by AB Miniatures. The colours are from GMB Designs.
Nice to paint some Highlanders and not worry about tartan, although I should now try and finish the Gordon Highlanders.
Nice work! How did the green stuff hat bands work out? I have to say that the smaller the item of green stuff, the harder it becomes to work, so hats off for trying it on 18mm hat bands, if you’ll pardon the pun!
It was a pain to be honest, until I had figured out the trick. The mistake was trying to make a band and make it stick in place. The method that worked was to get a small ball of green stuff at approximately the right width, and place it halfway around the shake, before smearing it left and right with a toothpick. A knife was then used to clean the excess. Would definitely consider trying foil next time though! Part of the reason for greenstuff was to try and get more practice with it, as I haven’t really played around… Read more »
The toothpick method sounds useful, I shall give that a try. I’ve been using metal sculpting tools, but it’s hard to keep them moist enough to prevent it sticking. The toothpick might retain more moisture and be more effective on that front.
Generally, I find green stuff is good for replicating natural materials like rock or fur. It becomes a bit more challenging when you need regularity, although like you I am in the early stages of using it. Strangely, I’ve found myself using it recently to try and sculpt cabbages for the garden of a Romano-British farm!
I’d like to claim using a toothpick was a carefully considered choice, but it was a case of lacking any suitable sculpting tools and making do with what was to hand.
Great stuff, the bands worked out well. Would like to think I had the patience however I’d be lying.
Amazing work, @scribbs – I especially like the King’s and Regimental colors and also the more arid, rocky look on the bases. Very distinctive, and I would assume more characterisic of the battlefields in Spain.
Thanks Jim. Feels a bit like taking credit for other people’s hard work, as both the colours and base mix were bought as is – I just applied some glue, and touched up the flag edges to hide the white. But they really help add an excellent finishing touch.