MinWips: May 2009

I wanted an elite trooper of dragoons so had a go at converting one from an existing centre company dragoon. The elite troopers wear a bearskin and have epaulettes. The first step was a headswap and that required carving away the mane of the helmet.

I used the head from a light infantry carabinier. There were no cords, tassles or plume on the bearskin which fits with this dragoon's campaign dress. I carved and shaped the metal on the rear of the figure to reveal the collar, back and rolled cloak. Next up will be sculpting some green-stuff epaulettes, some hair and a bit of re-shaping of the neck.

Rear view after conversion

Original dragoon figure before conversion

Rear view of original dragoon showing the mane of the helmet

Conversion: Dutch Grenadier

I had a spare Grenadier bearskin head from the Foundry Fusilier Porte Aigle that I'd converted to a shako. I swapped the head on this former Voltigeur to make a Dutch Grenadier in the loading position.

Painted as an Imperial Guard Dutch Grenadier

Conversion:1812 Drummer

front rank french napoleonic drummer conversion

This figure was converted from a Vistula Drummer because the tunic was already the correct shape, it just required the lapels cutting away. I swapped the head and added shoulder decoration and turnbacks from green-stuff. Next it will need the stripes on the arms and tunic adding.

Conversion:1812 Officer

front rank napoleonic french officer conversion

Front Rank don't have an 1812 Officer, Porte Aigle or Drummer to match the newer figures for this range, so I decided to make my own by converting existing figures. The original was a pre 1812 light infantry officer. The conversion required a head swap, and carving away of the lapels, boot tops and tassles. Green stuff was used to resculpt the lapels and boot tops.

Conversion: Grenadier to Chasseur

This is my attempt at converting a French Imperial Guard Grenadier to a Chasseur. The obvious difference is with the bearskin. The plate is absent from the front and there is no cap/pouch at the top, so the bearskin is domed rather than flattened. These were both filled and shaped with green-stuff. The other changes required are the removal of the four small eagles at the corners of the cartridge pouch, and the cuff flaps are removed from the arms. The lapels are pointed on the Chasseurs tunic as opposed to square on the Grenadiers. Fortunately due to the cross belts these can't be seen apart from the very bottom edge, which was cut straight. I just need to reshape the cuffs now and add a couple of buttons to each.

Guard Chasseurs during base coating

Guard Chasseur showing cuff flaps

Conversion:1812 Officer with Bicorne

French Line Infantry Officer post 1812 with Perry Miniatures head

Conversion: Light Infantry Porte Aigle and Line Officer

French Light Infantry Eagle Bearer after head-swap

French Line Infantry Officer after head-swap with above

Conversion:1812 Porte Aigle

French Eagle Bearer after headswap

Conversion: Grenadier to Fusilier Drummer

foundry napoleonic french drummer conversion

Original Grenadier Drummer on the right. The conversion required cutting off the plume and carving away the epaulettes and moustache. Followed by re-shaping the shoulder decoration and his upper lip. Finally adding green-stuff shoulder tabs and pompon.