General de Brigade

[DJB24124]

I'm thinking of starting the AWI as my next wargame project. I know little, (i.e almost nothing), about this war and am not really an accuracy pedant...they're my toys and if you don't like it too bad, that sort of thing, you know what I mean.
Anyway I'd like to do the Southern Theatre for the sole reason that I like the Perryfigs for that theatre, and I'd be grateful for any advice. Specifically are Perrryfigs compatible with Front Rank and does anybody have any readily available, (in U.K.) alternatives?
Thanks in advance for all or any help
Dave

[Axebreaker]

[mikeb]

"I'd like to do the Southern Theatre for the sole reason that I like the Perryfigs for that theatre, and I'd be grateful for any advice. Specifically are Perrryfigs compatible with Front Rank and does anybody have any readily available, (in U.K.) alternatives?"

............... IMHO the Perry figures and Front Rank do not really mix very well. I am a fan of the chubby Front Rank models. They are easy to paint and come in a number of good war-gaming poses. But, the majority of their British figures are not in the proper campaign style dress, although you can get a few that are. The Front Rank cannon (are huge) and second to none. The American Front Rank choices seem very good with a lot of options. While I prefer Front Rank to Perry's, there is no question that the Perry miniatures are the most popular on this list and as with anything that the Perry's do, they are very-very good. Foundry is probably more compatible with Perry's than Front Rank is.

When I first started buying my Front Rank AWI stuff I had not done a lot of uniform research. I had Molo, who really doesn't emphasize the campaign style of dress that the British went to early in the war. So I thought my really cool Front Rank Brits in Tricorns offered a beautiful contrast to the milita and variety offered for the Americans. Now I have 200 British in Tricorns and dress uniforms that are only really fit for Bunker Hill. So I will begin the ever-so-slow process of getting the slouch-ier British. In the meanwhile, Cornwalis must attack Guilford CH with smartly dressed regiments until his dirty cut-down rag-tag regiments are ready.

Mike B

[Cornet]

[Giles]

Dave, first, welcome to the forum There are some highly knowledgeable people here who will be able to answer any questions on the BG rules and the AWI. Many of us here came to this period as a result of Alan Perry's excellent figures.

I agree with Mike on the non-compatability of Front Rank and Perry. I have a few Front Rank skirmishers in my largely Alsn Perry-sculpted armies and they hardly ever make an appearance onthe table - they just don't look right. The sculpt are now showing their age; but in any event, there is no need to look beyond Perry figures and those that are compatible with them: Foundry (make by the same person), Eureka and Conquest. These ranges should give you everything you might need.

For inspiration, might I recommend the following blogs on the Southern theatre:

http://blog.belisarius.org.uk/

http://miniawi.blogspot.com/

And these for 25mm AWI:

http://fg-zinnfiguren.blogspot.com/

http://awiandnapoleonics.blogspot.com/

http://www.gilesallison.blogspot.com

I should admit to an interest in that the last link is to my own blog

[Cornet]

Giles has a blog? Heh, just kidding.

The blogs that Giles cited are a wonderful source of information and inspiration.
_________________
Then let us fill a bumper, and drink a health to those
Who carry caps and pouches, and wear the loup'ed clothes.

[DJB24124]

Thanks for your help Gentlemen. Mildly miffed to find Front Rank not compatible with Perryfigs as they have one advantage, you can buy one figure. But life goes on.
Giles, it was your blog, that I found by accident, that inspired me to this new venture, I like the small units.
Also I'm a bit hesitant about Foundryfigs for two reasons, One the price, I'm terribly mean, two I've doubts about the quality. I've got some of their cowboys and the faces just don't exist.
Before I begin to collect my army I have another question, Can I mix hunting shirt, more
"uniformly" dressed types and shirt sleeve types in the same unit?, a mix of Perryfig 139, 42 and 135 for example? or doesn't it really matter?
Once again thanks in advance.
Dave.
P.S. Giles congrats on your wedding. and remember blondes are best. I know I've been married to mine for over 20 years, and I wish you and yours as much at least.

[Cornet]

Whether you can mix hunting shirts with regimental coats depends on the unit and where you are on the war's timeline. In the vast majority of instances you can, and arguably should mix. There are a handful of units that were so well maintained that heterogenous appearance might be inaccurate. For instance, the Delaware Regiment was reputed to be among the best clothed, best equipped, and fittest units in the Continental Army. I would tend to represent them in regimental coats.

However, you also stated in your opening remark that you weren't a slave to accuracy, so I wouldn't sweat it. Record keeping in this era was not meticulous, so there are enormous gaps in what we know and in what we can reasonably deduce.
_________________
Then let us fill a bumper, and drink a health to those
Who carry caps and pouches, and wear the loup'ed clothes.

[Axebreaker]

[Ronan the Librarian]

Hunting shirts were more common before 1779; after that, they disappear from the inventories of the Northern and Middle colony regiments (the Georgia and Carolina units tended to be less well equipped and kept the shirts). After the French joined in officially, supplies of uniform coats became more regularised. Whilst they were often tatty in the field, the late war Continentals tended to be more uniform - at least in the coat department.

Units with "mixed" clothing are perfect - they can be very early war militia, early-to-mid war Continentals, and late war Southern militia (which included lots of ex-Continentals). Such units can also, with a change of command stand, represent a unit from any State.

Bear in mind is that:-

1) officers usually had their own uniforms made - often these are the only surviving data on what the "official" uniform of a Continental unit was; and

2) NCOs tended to get first dibs on any complete "suits" of clothing that arrived (a "suit" being a coat, a hat, a waistcoat and a pair of breeches, usually socks and shirts as well, and one - sometimes two - hunting shirts, if available/affordable).
_________________
You can lead a horse to water, but a toy soldier can no longer be lead (due to Health & Safety Regulations).

[Giles]

I missed a couple of other AWI blogs from my short list:

http://lead-mountain.blogspot.com/

http://willawi.blogspot.com/

http://ajs-wargaming.blogspot.com/