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Tuesday 19 January 2021

Sempill’s Foot (Off Topic #29)

I have had an interest in the ‘45 Rebellion for quite a few years fostered in part by visiting the Culloden battlefield back in 2011. As a wargame project though it has remained pretty much a pipedream due largely to the lack of any figures that took my fancy.

Just after we moved to Scotland four years ago my son-in-law took me to the Falkirk wargames show (Carronade) where I first laid eyes on the superb range of 28mm Jacobite wars figures made by Crann Tara Miniatures. It was a temptation I resisted until now.

This is my test figure - a British Hatman from the 25th (Sempill's) Foot. The figure is beautifully sculpted and was a joy to paint - no need to make up any detail on this one!

This will not be a major project and for the moment I only have enough figures for one British regiment and one Jacobite regiment. I’m not sure if I will ever get as far as wargaming with these figures and they may just become a display case item, but I do always like having something else on the go as a change from painting Hintons.

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20 comments:

  1. Rob19 January 2021 at 19:38

    I'm not familiar with Cran Tara - they have a bit of the look of Willie about them are they meant to match?

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  2. Fire at Will19 January 2021 at 19:40

    I can see the temptation, Cran Tara are lovely figures and the owner is a great guy, if they had been 20mm I would have bought the lot! Glad to see someone supporting his work.

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  3. Stryker19 January 2021 at 20:43

    Rob, I don't think it is intentional but they are sculpted by Andrew Stadden (son of Charles Stadden) so may be influenced by that era.

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  4. Stryker19 January 2021 at 20:44

    Will, if they were 20mm they would be perfect!

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  5. WSTKS-FM Worldwide19 January 2021 at 21:14

    What a handsomely painted figure!!!

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  6. Aly Morrison19 January 2021 at 23:15

    He looks very nice Ian...

    I am looking forward to seeing the whole unit...

    All the best. Aly

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  7. Stryker19 January 2021 at 23:25

    Thanks Stokes!

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  8. Stryker19 January 2021 at 23:27

    Aly, that may take some time as I'm on a roll with the HH cavalry at the moment!

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  9. Paulalba20 January 2021 at 02:11

    He looks lovely, very nice figure! did I not meet you that very day?

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  10. 'Lee.20 January 2021 at 08:49

    He is beautifully painted Ian, your style suits him very well indeed. When I was painting 20mm ECW's for Graham a few years ago he sent me a batch of the Highlanders to look at, amazing figures, the first thing I noticed was the long scale muskets and the generally lean anatomy of the sculpts, so much nice than the dwarf like offerings so popular. My problem was (and still is) that I just cannot paint tartan in any convincing manner. I look forward to seeing your first Highlander, these would indeed make perfect display figures.

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  11. Stryker20 January 2021 at 10:17

    Paul, yes you are right - you have a good memory!

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  12. Stryker20 January 2021 at 10:42

    Lee, I love the lean look and the rather overscale muskets as it aligns with my image of troops of the era. As for the tartan, well you can see I started with the British! I will give it a go but it will have to be highly stylised I think.

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  13. Graham C20 January 2021 at 19:39

    Thanks very much for the kind comments re the figures and Sempills boy looks really good.
    Minor correction this figure is sculpted by Richard Ansell, I’m very fortunate that I have two classic sculptors working for me, as you say Andy Stadden who still sculpts in metal! No green stuff for him and Richard. Without going on too much I wanted a range of figures that brought back some of the elegance of the ‘Willie’ and Stadden figures I used to admire but could never afford.
    I’m looking forward to seeing some more pieces you paint

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  14. Matt20 January 2021 at 22:55

    Wow - that's a very nice figure indeed!

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  15. Stryker20 January 2021 at 23:44

    Graham, thanks for the correction - the figures are lovely and fun to paint, I'm looking forward to trying my hand at a Grenadier next!

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  16. Stryker20 January 2021 at 23:48

    Thanks Matt, didn't Richard Ansell sculpt your Holstein-Schleswig figures?

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  17. Doug22 January 2021 at 16:09

    I am also doing some 1745 figures, using the Flags of War range, but that's turned out beautifully. The Crann Tara range was very tempting, especially when I first moved back to Scotland and was looking for a new project, seeing them at Carronade and Claymore I was sorely tempted but held off.

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  18. Stryker22 January 2021 at 20:58

    Doug, the FOW range of figures do look very nice and presumably are a fit in scale with Crann Tara. I had a quick look on your blog but couldn't see them, have you posted any pics?

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  19. James Fisher24 January 2021 at 06:36

    This is absolutely superb painting Ian! Can't wait to see the entire units.
    Regards, James

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  20. Stryker24 January 2021 at 17:17

    Thanks James, I really enjoyed painting this one but finding time to paint the rest of the unit may be problematic!

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