Back to the 18thC

Last week I received a package from Graham at Crann Tara Miniatures with some new figures he has been working on - Compagne Franches de la Marine in "summer" uniform.

These chaps are commonly referred to as French Marines, but they are not. Although they may have served on ships the "Marine" part of their title refers to the section of the french government which dealt with overseas colonies. These troops were raised to provide garrisons for these colonies and to support any local militia. I'd prefer calling them Colonial troops, but this is confusing too as it suggests "foreign" regiments to a British audience!

Anyway, now we know what we're talking about. The summer uniform is simply the troops discarding their uniform coat and wearing their long sleeved waistcoat. Although we think of waistcoats as being unsleeved, in this period they could be either.

These figures are wearing the soft fatigue cap with its long, tasseled, tail and front peak with a yellow band of tape and french cross. Equipment is light too, just a musket and pouch. Travelling light in the summer heat of Canada, or in the case of these troops intended posting - the Caribbean, is essential.

So what of the figures themselves.

 

Well these are just samples and amongst the first castings produced but they are what you'd expect from Crann Tara. Nice clean well proportioned castings. Simple and easy to paint whatever your style. The poses are perfect for skirmish games - advancing, standing firing , kneeling firing and reloading. There is an NCO whom I will be using as a standard bearer but could equally be pointing while grounding his musket and pointing. Finally there is a very useful officer who could serve in a variety of nations.

Crann Tara figures are realistically proportioned and come in about 1/56 scale. This makes the, slimmer than 28's. However these and Minden are probably the finest 18th century figures out there. These new figs are very nice too. At first I thought the heads seemed a little small but once undercoated and painted they looked right - the soft cap instead of the tricorn probably made the difference more apparent than real.

I had a crack at one of them on Sunday. Painted up with a black undercoat, Prussian blue and then royal blue with a blue ink wash. Actually I think a white undercoat would suit these best. I mocked up a flag and popped it on and overall I am happy with the finish.

 

Graham tells me that troops in tricorns should be next - brilliant! They'll make a good mix for the unit and add some irregularity.

They also make pretty good Russians in Summer dress too!