16th Legere

[Bill Slavin]

So here is my crack at the French Light Infantry in Spain figures by 52nd Black Watch. For some reason I decided they wouldn't look much like French light infantry if they were all in long-sleeved white vests, so I added coattails to the majority of them. Apologies to Massimo Costa for playing fast and loose with his beautiful sculpts!!
I decided to paint mine up as the 16th, mostly because I was getting very conflicting information on the uniforms of the 31st, who these guys were intended to be, based on the painting of a soldier of the 31st by the artist El Guil. Both units had a long history in the Peninsula.

Here are a few photos and, of course, more can be found on my blog along with a bit of unit history.
https://tinywarsplayedindoors.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-16th-legere.html

[C M Dodson]

Another beautiful unit Bill.

I am sure the master will not mind your adjustments.

Best wishes,

Chris

[Minuteman]

A very fine unit, beautifully-painted and based; this looks just as a French Infantry unit on campaign in the Peninsular should look. And some great figures from Black Watch Miniatures. Well done!

[k.b.]

Terrific unit as usual Bill. Amazing variety of uniforms within the same unit…..
Hope you don’t mind me being picky but I find it a bit off putting to see rifles, bayonets that haven’t been straightened before one takes ones photos. So much hard work gone into converting, painting, basing, photographing etc only the final effect is let down by a dodgy firearm.

[Bill Slavin]

I totally agree, K.B.! I noticed in the photos that the second officer's sword is bent like a dog's leg! I thought I had straightened things out but the close ups never lie.

[Patrick71]

Well, Bill, I've been looking forward to what you'd do with this Blackwatch miniatures set for a while and I must confess: you've made something beautiful out of it, in your familiar style. In your creation, the uniforms look much more realistic (than in my version) and may be closer to what such a unit should have actually looked like.
The conversions are well done again and I like the addition of the coattails but also that you kept some of them in their white waistcoat.
thanks for sharing.

[Konrad]

Very clean and detailed painting.
A delight for the eyes.

[Bill Slavin]

Hi Patrick,

I’m glad you saw these. I still think it was wild that you were posting on these exact same figures when they were on my painting table! It’s interesting to see where different painters take things in their own styles. I loved your results and, as I say, regret a bit not leaving them all in the vests, as they were sculpted.
FYI in true wargame fashion the first time they were on the table under my command they were clobbered!

[Rich W]

Great again Bill. They look perfect to blend in with all your other excellent Peninsula units!

[huib]

Great painting, Bill!

[Peter]

Fantastic painted unit again Bill!

[Santi Pérez]

Very clean and detailed painting.
A delight for the eyes.

What more can I say? Konrad has already expressed my same thoughts. Another fantastic unit, Bill.

Santi.