After seeing Alex's very nice North Carolina regiment in the last post, I knew I had to pull my finger out and get started on my Iron Brigade. Here you can see the first 12 models from the 2nd Wisconsin Regiment.
These models are the very nice, simple Perry Miniatures plastics, with a little bit of additional greenstuff from me, as you can see below.
One of the most prominent features of the appearance of the Iron Brigade was their adherence to their formal uniforms. According to quite a few sources I've looked at, and discussions with other ACW wargamers, it seems the five regiments of the Iron Brigade regularly went into battle wearing their standard issue frock coat and Hardee hats, as opposed to the more common/popular (at least amongst the Union troops) sack coats and forage caps.
I really like the Perry plastics, but only the officer model has a frock coat, so out came the greenstuff and sculpting tool. It was surprising how quickly the lower half of the coats came together. Even so, I've decided that not every model in the army will have a frock coat, as I'm sure that no matter how hard they tried, the occasional soldier would have lost his frock coat, either removed and lost on a long summer march, or torn from his wounded body by a field surgeon.
You'll also notice that I built a few Hardee hats from greenstuff on top of the standard plastic slouch hats that come with the set. Again, a little bit of quick manipulation with the sculpting tool, a slice across the top with a knife (once the putty was dry) and you have a very serviceable Hardee (check the top picture for reference).
Well, I've just completed building the next 18 models to round out the regiment. More on those guys once the paint is dry.
I hope you like them.
Cheers
Dave
Very nice indeed, love the conversions too.
ReplyDeleteOO Mr. Taylor, you always have to show the rest of us up and bust out the conversion skills:). They look great honestly and cheers to you for what you did on them as personally I distaste the current perry plastics infantry as I have found them lifeless. This actually added some great feel to them and changed them up enough you couldn't tell who they were. In fact I was curious as to what company those were from until I read more. Little fact too btw that some Iron Brigade fellas wore kepis but they had the black feather plum thing attached to the right side.
ReplyDeleteMy apologies I meant left side..
DeleteAre you going to paint the piping on the frock coats?
ReplyDeleteGood job otherwise.
Don
Hi Don,
DeleteDo you have a link that shows me where it should go?
Cheers
Dave
Dave,
ReplyDeleteOn my website you will see my attempts. I can take some pics of a real Frock if need be.
They had them around the cuffs, about 4-5 inches from the end of the sleeve and around the stand-up collar.
Here's one of my posts. Scroll down to the bottom for my 3 pics.
http://actionfront.blogspot.com/2011/08/pianting-civil-war-miniatures-part-2.html
If you need pics just let me know.
Don
There should also be a sky blue hat cord was well. Since you are doing battle of Gettysburg and the Iron Brigade you can include the round red Corps badge usually positioned on the hat or sometimes on the left breast. But that's just for the inner man to paint. ;)
ReplyDeleteDon
Dave,
ReplyDeleteTry these:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/91205862/civil-war-wool-frock-coat-federal-or
http://www.cjdaley.com/boylancoat.htm
Don
Dave,
ReplyDeleteOne last thing... you don't need to paint a French horn (symbol for infantry) on their Hardee hats. Many reenactors wear because they think they look 'kewl' but after the first few fights in the REAL war most infantry realized it was just a target for the Rebs and NOT cool. By Gettysburg they would have either thrown them away or lost them by 1863. What also helps you is that by 1863 they would have tossed away their gaiters too. so you are good.
Don