Every now and then I get a bee in the bonnet and have to paint a figure or unit not in the plan.
In this case my sizeable paint queue from last summer has reduced, yet there are still units now 12 months on the table, and counting.
So of course it’s madness to start a new set of figures. Undeterred I have managed to get these six completed in a day with the help of high temperatures drying the paint rapidly.
Next up should be some more rule tests.
In 1848 the Tuscan Army headed north with other contingents to join Piedmont in expelling Austria from the Italian Peninsula.
Their uniform was really a throwback to Napoleonic times. Unlike some other troops the soldiers wore a Shako – bell shaped. With white tunics and blue trousers there was a nod to Austrian influence.
Like the Danish Infantry in Painting Pedestal 22c, these figures are 20mm metals from Irregular Miniatures. They are sold under their Colonial range as Regular British Infantry serving in India.
This unit is part of an occasional series that aims to paint many of the units described in Osprey Men At Arms No. 520 Armies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-1870 (2).
The flag is homemade using dried out lens wipe paper and permanent marker pens – very quick. Well the Tuscan rebels like most had to rustle up their armies in quick time.
After securing Sicily Garibaldi reorganised his mass of volunteer units into a series of Divisiones.
The soldiers shown here are from the Divisione Bixio which comprised two brigades.
An officer is in the illustration (G) shown in the Osprey Men at Arms book 520. I have already mentioned what an excellent book this is, with a wealth of detail in black white alongside text overflowing with wargamers ideas for painting units.
The Bixio Divisione figures are by Lucky Toys……..
I had to post these because they are not varnished and look rather different to my usual glossy painting pedestal offerings.
Strelets set 150 US infantry attack ACW.
Painted as 1859 Bologna Volunteers as described in the Osprey 520 Armies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-1870 (2).
Brigata Milano was part of Division Turr being formed before crossing from Sicily to the mainland. The figures have good animation I think.
The bugler has a kepi – all the rage at this time (1859/60). He has acquired some Piedmontese uniform trousers.
I have again used the fine words and black and white pictures of osprey MAA 520 Armies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-1870 pt2.
You can find out more on the Garibaldini troops Garibaldi took to Sicily with him and those that followed on in my recent postings.
Finally you may notice the easter egg style basing!
Tucked away in the text either side of the Osprey 520 colour plates there is a very neat summary of volunteer units from both the 1848/49 and 1859/60 Wars of the Italian Unification (WotIU).
One such detail is about the first three expeditions of volunteers sent in 1860, from Piedmont, after Garibaldis’ first success in Sicily.
One wave of reinforcements was led by Enrico Consenz and I have shown what some might have worn here.
Three figures are depicted as infantrymen in a “ticking” blouse with white trousers for the fierce sicilian summer.
The sharpshooter (Bersaglieri) is dressed in dark blue tunic and grey/blue trousers. This reflects the uniforms of the Pidemontese/Sardinian line infantry.
I guess the elite Bersaglieri might have been supplied by the Piedmontese/Volunteer funders better than the ordinary infantryman who in a “ticking” material uniform might have looked less impressive.
In the summer heat of Sicily I wonder who was the easier target?
The figures are by Lucky Toys.
Gabriele Esposito has written a fine Osprey about the Italian Wars of Unification. In fact he has two: Part 1 covering Sardinia/Piedmont plus the two Sicilies while part 2 covers Papal States, Minor States and Volunteers.
They are Men-at-Arms series Nos 512 ansd 520.
This particular unit is based for my preferred rulesets by Neil Thomas and Piquet Field of Battle.
With only 12 figures for a battalion they may not be to some people’s liking. Equally they are 1/72 and plastic so 28mm metal fans will have no joy here.
I am quite taken with MAA 520 because it is not just the colour plates that offer so much opportunity and variety. Often in the past Ospreys offered little on uniforms beyond the text for the plates – much of the other text dwelling on potted histories and organisation. These MAA’s offer lots of uniform detail. The black and white plates are very relevant (not always the case in Ospreys), well chosen and in the case of volunteers lots of choice.
I have discovered that there was an English battalion of volunteers in the Sicily campaign of 1860 during the Second War of Unification. It was followed by an English Legion which saw no action. They were all part of the Brigade or Brigata named Dunne after its English Commander.
Plate H1 showing an english volunteer of Brigata Dunne also figures on the front cover of MAA 520.
I used Strelets 1877 Russians in summer dress as they offered the nearest thing to this figure in my view. You might say – well there are plenty of ACW figures that would fill the gap. Well I did look and somehow none looked the part when compared with Strelets 1877 Russians.
Plastic Solder Review complained about the missing bayonets which applies here as well.
I can live with that – 1/72 plastics is often about compromise. I am pleased with the result. In this case Guiseppe Ravas’ illustration made the job easy.
The Wargaming Erratic 