A Uniform Rabbit Hole. . .

The cover of the recently arrived new title from Osprey.

  

At last, a copy of the new Osprey title, German Troops in the  American Revolution (2), arrived early during the week that was.  The long awaited book provides a reasonably detailed take on the subject without covering much new ground, but I am glad to add it to the bookshelf.  Of special note, the brief description of the flags possibly carried by the Anhalt-Zerbst contingent is (new) food for thought.  Sadly, as the the author points out, the one remaining example was lost during the 1939-45 war. 

But what about the uniform plates themselves?  These are always inspiring in books of this type and bring to mind visions of units yet to paint and add to the collection.  Dangerous butterflies, right?  Which kind of brings me to my next point.

A few years back, I purchased 60 or so "Hessian" Fife & Drum infantry and added the shipment to the lead pile after it was left in mailbox by our mail lady. When I eventually get to those figures, the plan has always been to paint contingents of Anhalt-Zerbst, Anspach-Bayreuth, and Waldeck infantry that will operate as a composite or provisional regiment in my, these days, far too rare semi-fictitious games.  They will probably march under the standards of Anspach-Bayreuth (white with the large red eagle), faded examples of which still exist, I believe, in some museum collection here in the US (West Point?).

 

The Mollo illustration in question.

I've toyed with the idea, on a related note, of perhaps painting Austrian grenadier figures to represent the grenadiers of the 2nd Brandenburg-Anspach regiment as shown in Mollo's Uniforms of the American Revolution.  That uniform is more Prussian in cut and style excepting the headdress.  One could try head conversions, I suppose, but I've never been entirely pleased with my own Frankensteinian efforts and see the activity as (potentially) ruining a bunch of otherwise really nice Minden figures. Why tempt fate?  More talented modellers than I might make a better job of it though.

 

But here is where things get a little more complicated.  In the Osprey title, the bearskin-wearing grenadier is portrayed as a member of the 3rd English Waldeck Regiment, conflicting with Mollo, who attributes the figure to the Brandenburg-Anspach contingent as you'll note above when comparing both pictures.  The latter has what look like Swedish cuffs of a different facing color (black) peeking out from beneath his gloves.   

 

By the same token, it looks as if the Waldecker grenadier figure as shown in German Troops in the  American Revolution (2) also wore coats featuring the somewhat more generous Swedish-style cuffs.  Which gets me thinking (always a dangerous road to travel).  One could, I suppose, fudge it by simply painting the Austrian grenadiers in dark blue coats faced yellow, negating the issue of conversion and figure wastage altogether. 

 

Don't forget there were various contingents within the Reichsarmee that wore coats of the Austrian cut, after all, but colored blue rather than white/off-white/cream/light gray.  Still, the larger cuffs are a sticking point.  And  the equipment carried is a bit different, I suspect, between the Minden Austrian grenadier and the Minden Prussian grenadier.  Right?  Must open the infamous Drawer o' Lead to my immediate left and check on that point later today.

Now, were I able to wave my magic wand, I am attracted to the notion of modifying an existing Prussian sculpt (with Prussian cuffs) and casting a new figure.  Alas, I do not actually design and produce figure castings myself.  And admittedly the time and economics of such a venture for what must surely be a very small niche interest in an already niche hobby probably makes that wish unrealistic.

 

"So, sculpt your own figure, Stokes!" you might cry.  Sorry.  Not that talented here.  3D printing maybe?  Certainly you jest.  I have enough hobbies and interests vying for already limited time without opening that particular can of worms.  Still, not a bad idea.

 

But I digress!  As usual, I am putting the cart before the horse, and waxing philosophically (?!) about other things instead of getting my seat into the painting chair for a painting session or three this weekend.  

 

Time now to stop nattering on about that set of missing sherry glasses and return to those 15 Croats before moving onto another squadron of Eureka Saxon cuirassiers followed by that planned large regiment (36+) of Austrian hussars.  These delusions of grandeur clearly demonstrate that I am a glutton for painting punishment.  In other words. . .  "Thank you, Sir! May I have another?"  

 

And no.  That is not a pledge pin on my uniform.

 

-- Stokes