Saturday 7 March 2015

Black Watch on parade

Finally finished off and based up – the 42nd Black Watch on parade. They’re going to need to brush up on their drill (particularly forming square) if the rumours are true that the ‘monster’ has escaped from Elba!

Scotlands finest in column of march.

 The regiment deployed in battle-line.

All the figures I used for this unit were vintage Hinton Hunt castings with the exception of the two colour bearers who were converted from DK figures. The unit is made up of:

18 x BN/36 Highland private (marching)
3 x BN/30 Officer (charging) – two converted as colour bearers
1 x BN/37 Officer (marching)
1 x BN/31 Sergeant (charging)
1 x BN/38 Piper (playing bag-pipes)

"Jock, is there anything worn beneath your kilt?"
"Nae sir, it's all in perfect workin' order!"

A taste of things to come? The regiment forms square to defend against French cavalry.

The preparations for Vintage Waterloo are continuing at quite a pace – Roy seems to have every skilled brush-smith in the land (actually the world) beavering away painting up his troops. If you haven’t already seen them take a look here at Matt’s blog and here at Lee’s blog.

So the pressure is on – next up for me will be a squadron of Grenadiers-a-cheval of the Guard who will be brigaded with my Polish Guard lancers for the game.

22 comments:

WSTKS-FM Worldwide said...

Highly impressive brushwork there, and the unit is extremely pretty if you'll pardon use of the term about military men.

Best Regards,

Stokes

Wellington Man said...

Ian, they are simply stunning and also rather humbling. They remind that I really must stop moaning about how hard I'm finding it to do those French Young Guardsmen!

Stryker said...

Stokes - I agree they are pretty but probably not a good idea to say so to a scotsman!

Matt - thanks for the kind comment. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how you tackle a highland unit!

lewisgunner said...

It is indeed a lovely unit and we will need to marshal our resources to put on a damned good show Ian. The blogosphere expects and all that.
Roy

Stryker said...

Yes Roy, it'll be a damned close run thing!

MSFoy said...

Pretty? - maybe not, but bonnie lads, and braw to a man!

Stryker said...

Och aye Tony!

Matt said...

A stirring sight indeed!

'Lee. said...

They look great on parade Ian, no doubting that Vintage Waterloo will be quite a spectacle.

It just occurred to me that I have not yet had the pleasure of painting a HH redcoat battalion!

Stryker said...

Lee - be careful what you wish for!

Anonymous said...

Lovely work. At the risk of being pedantic, my understanding is that the pipers wearing Royal Stewart was post Napoleonic- Jacobites weren't very popular in the recent past.

the Archduke said...

should we read anything into your sudden change of passport photo, Ian?
I'm surprised those pretty French chaps have got that close, and still on their horses....

Stryker said...

Anon - you may well be right but I took the tartan info from my Blandford Armies of Waterloo book.

Archduke - I've just been playing around with the profile pic so read nothing into it as Roy and I haven't talked sides yet!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful unit, the project is gathering pace and lovely to see units being drawn together.

Paul

Stryker said...

Hi Paul - yes things are moving on and it's great to have so many in the blogosphere being drawn in!

tidders said...

Loverly - a fine body of men; nice work on the tartan

Stryker said...

Cheers Allan!

KEV. Robertson. said...

Hi IAN - splendid effort- certainly resplendent. Look forward to seeing the Highlanders in Action. Regards. KEV.

Stryker said...

Thanks Kev!

Anonymous said...

Hello, Found a reference to the piper's tartan in the Osprey "Queen Victoria's Highlanders". 42nd pipers wore the same tartan as sergeants i.e. the same as rank and file but with the thin black stripes running through the broad green ones replaced with red ones. The Royal Stewart was adopted in 1870.

Stryker said...

Anon - Oh well, too late to repaint him now. My piper will have to be a bit ahead of his time, anyway as a retro project I'm happy to go with my 1970's source!

Al said...

Lovely set of figures !