Hot Reception

Gun and crew by Hinchliffe (SYW range)

Christmas is an anxious time if you're Hessian - but this year we're ready for you Mr Washington!

Santa's Little Helper

Delivering gifts, or making off with Government property?

Injun Country

More ingenius conversions by a young Mr Mason (again these must be 30+ years old). I have a war party of 18 of these, all are different, and all conversions of two basic poses (see an earlier post for the raw material).

Ouch!

That's gotta hurt...

Traitorous rebels get their just deserts!

A couple of Doug Mason creations from 30 years ago - classic Mason animation.

The Navy's Here!

I'd been meaning to add some naval gunners to my AWI collection since the 1980s and finally got round to it last year - the guns are Hinchliffe, gabions by Ironclad, and the Jack Tars are converted from mostly Hinchliffe bits (but win absolutely nothing if you can spot the interlopers from East Yorks).

Brant's Rangers

Various Hinchliffe conversions make up my version of this mixed loyalist and native unit.

Merry Ditfurth

What could say 'Christmas' more than a battalion of Hessians...?

The von Ditfurth fusilier regiment c. 1776 - standard Hinchliffe castings, originally raised by John Ray back in the early 1980s and repaired, re-flagged and re-based by me earlier this year.

More Mason Magic

Armand Louis de Gontaut, Duc de Lauzun by the outrageously talented Doug Mason. Lauzun and his trumpeter are radical conversions (the original figure is cut down to a bare torso, and the uniform and details built back up from wire and soldier) of Gilder figures.

I recommend clicking on the photos to really appreciate the level of detail - the flowing pelisse, flapping sabertache, etc. create a real sense of movement and animation. The painting is pretty sharp too - no one does 'bling' better than DM.

Now all i need to do is create the Legion hussars - don't hold your breath....

Happy 4th July

Hearing that Benedict Arnold has opened a bar tab, the 2nd NH make a break for their local Wetherspoons.

The 17th Foot (originally in Frank Hinchliffe's collection) advance to enforce the licensing laws.

What's that coming over the hill....

Dan Morgan and friends contemplate a career change as they spy a horde of shiny redcoat veterans on the march.

is it a monster Gilder AWI update? Could be.....

Fantastic Soldered Soldiers

The above are a sample of the British Legion dragoons Doug Mason created for me last year. Despite there being only 2 castings in the Hinchliffe range (an officer and trooper) Doug has created a unit of 24 figures where each is different. Of all the conversions i think the trooper with pistol and dangling sword is my favourite, and something of a Mason trademark.

All in all another great example of what is possible with fairly basic raw material, if you have the imagination (and a soldering iron).

Jager von Mason

AWI Hessian Jager by Doug Mason. If you're familiar with the Hinchliffe range then you'll know that the Jager (AW31) is only available in a single pose (the rather static 'cocking rifle' pose as seen above in the lower picture, third figure from the right), so all of the variation you see above is the result of Doug's imagination and soldering iron. Great stuff!

My Hero 2

The future MP for Liverpool by Doug Mason.

Every chap of good taste wants his own miniature Banastre Tarleton, and i am no exception. Luckily  the legend of paint brush and soldering iron that is Doug Mason kindly agreed to create one for me. The basic figure is the Suren British Legion officer (armed with trademark pin sabre) mounted on a Hinchliffe horse (my favourite of the 'dramatic' Gilder horses) that he controls via wire reins (another Mason trademark).

Every sensible scouser turns up to a fight mob-handed, and our future MP for Liverpool is no exception - the British Legion cavalry are hot on his heels. These, and other DM creations, will feature as soon as i've based them up.

Eligible bachelor seeks cavalry brigade

Casimir Pulaski in search of a command. 

My miniature version of one of the more tragic figures of the AWI* is a Hinchliffe Prussian Hussar (OPC50) with a Suren head (appropriately enough from George Washington, with added tache). The figure is based on the Batowski painting (which is unlikely to be particularly accurate, but it's one of the iconic images of Pulaski, so what the hell....).

My rebel cavalry force is in urgent need of reinforcement, the reasons for which will become evident shortly.

*Forced to flee his homeland, shunned by many rebel officers, and mortally wounded during a futile charge - this man clearly broke a few mirrors in his time.

Pioneers

 Right lads, they want a kitchen extension, conservatory, and oak floors throughout....

In more ways than one - the Black Company of Pioneers was one of the first all black units of ex-slaves raised during the AWI. Most loyalist units were mixed, and these chaps too were eventually integrated into the Guides and Pioneers.

Thirsty work.

These loyal servants of the King are conversions of Connoisseur Egyptian artillerymen, tools by Minden.

Everybody's Got One

Leading the charge or the rout? The foot are all basically Hinchliffe, with a head swapped Suren rider on a Connoisseur horse.

Surely every AWI wargamer has had a version of the 2nd New Hampshire regiment circa 1777 in their collection at one time or another? Personally i blame Charles Lefferts - who can resist the allure of sky blue coats and buff small clothes? Whilst the more recent Troiani depiction of the unit is likely to be more accurate i prefer the more colourful Lefferts/Mollo version - so in this case i'll definitely be 'painting the legend'.

Inspired by the ex-Gaskin piece Mike Siggins showed us some time ago i'm going for an all action unit.

A couple of officer conversions (Foremost French with new heads). 

Now all i need to do is finish the 30 odd rank and file.......

Injuns

Hinchliffe AWI natives (codes AW11 and 12). I really laboured over these chaps - i've never been any good at large areas of bare flesh (insert your own punchline), nor warpaint. It also has to be said they are not the best of Gilder's work.

The Indian Department officer began life as the American standard bearer - he thanked me profusely for his free transfer to the good guys.

For my money Steve Hezzlewood's FIW natives for Pax Britannica/RSM remain the best available in 25mm - more of which anon.

18th Continental Regiment

The anticipated vintage content has yet to appear so i'm afraid we'll have to be content with some more of my old tat. Here we have part of the 18th Continental Regiment of 1776. As a tribute to the frugal times of the 1970s i intended to create an entire thirty figure unit from (conversions of) a single figure, but as you can see i fell at the first hurdle (hint - there's a horse in there). The basic figure is Hinchliffe code AW40 Minuteman advancing.

Of the various conversions i was most pleased with the drummer (huge right hand though, potential pugilist).

The OC started life as PF7 Blucher.

Suren AWI Conversions

More of John's Suren conversions - a couple of toffs, and the Kings American Dragoons. Horses are mostly Ebob with a few Foremost. Again painting is mainly oil washes on an acrylic base, and i particularly like the scarlet - it's so vibrant it almost glows.