Fenians and Schleswigs, painted partisans

Most of the week has been spent on home and garden projects, but I have painted a number of armed partisans, using the recently acquired solid Timpo ACW figures.

First up is a battalion of Fenians, plotting to invade British North America. The general view is that some had been issued green roundabout jackets trimmed in yellow or gold. Others still wore their old Union and Confederate uniforms, while the remainder wore typical civilian garb.

I must admit, these were a pleasure to convert and paint. Fourteen were actually completed, with two others being drafted. The slouch hats were easy to cut down or alter with milliput and some heads were swapped. Will have to go back to these when the varnish is fully dry as I have found a report that a green band was worn on the blue kepi, and down the side seams of the pale blue trousers.

Second up are German-speaking volunteers for my 1st Schleswig-Holstein War collection. I had previously raised five volunteers but have now painted up a further nine. And again, mainly using the Timpo solid ACW figures.

And finally. A visit to the collectables shop furnished some nice little extras for £4. A very well painted Britains Middlesex Volunteer officer c.1910 will be added to my Empire Staff. Some plastic Napoleonic figures will be converted into something unusual. And another Britains hunting hound.

MGB

POSTSCRIPT

Change of Plan

Looking at the two completed partisan battalions above, have decided to revise my plans for raising generic units. I will now have only one battalion of twelve painted up mainly in Fenian green, and another in red to represent the Garibaldi legion. The other four battalions will be in civilian colours. This is by far the most practical method to utilise the full potential of 'generic' 19th century units. Now this system does go somewhat against my tendency for 18th Century or 'linear' formality in collecting toy soldiers. 

REPLIES TO FRIENDS

Cheers Donnie. In my childhood I had an assortment of Timpo multi-part figures, but was never a great fan of their design. I now feel their earlier solid ranges were quite good, and they paint up well (as Brad pointed out in the last post). I do agree, about lending themselves well to conversion. I remember having some Airfix French Guards, but the Timpo versions are new to me. Thinking of converting them to Saxon Guards for the 1830s, a very colourful uniform!

Hi Quinn, I have always mounted my figures since the early 1980s on stiff card, particularly mounting card. I never use cheap card as this is prone to warp or curl. Now good card will still warp in a damp environment, but I have figures based in the 1980s that are still fine, and I have started painting and varnishing the underside for appearance and added protection. The MDF are slightly thicker, but do look good...... but they also cost more. 

I should also mention, most of my larger artillery bases are old picture boards, which IS made of MDF, or something similar.

Thanks Brad. I have enjoyed converting and painting this first batch, and have started on another twenty. But they do take a lot longer to complete because of the constant changing of brushes and paint. Still, they will certainly open up lots of scenarios, and supplement several small collections. (I am beginning to think Garibaldi's followers only acquired a measure of uniformity quite late on in the wars of unification, and battalions still had very distinct uniforms.)

Hi Q. I find the stiff card used as backing on pads of writing paper has proved very useful for my scratch-built buildings, but mounting card is my favourite for toy soldiers, particularly if I am texturing the bases using polyfilla. 

Thanks MJT. I am hoping to complete another batch of thirteen today, after my home duties. They really do take some time to paint because of the accoutrements. This will allow me to muster two German-speaking battalions for the Schleswig wars, so I hope to have enough to fight a wargame.