KGL 2nd Regiment of Hussars

[Bill Slavin]

I'm not really painting at this rate, just catching up on posting work from the last few months. These 2nd KGL started life as Italeri French Hussars, with a head swap with some HaT French grenadiers to give them a higher, narrower bearskin. I was sorry to loose the nicer faces on the Italeri figures but a bit of work on the bearskins gave these guys the right head gear. Now, along with the 1st, they give me both regiments of KGL Hussars that saw action with Wellesley in the Peninsular War.
Here are some photos of the results, with more pics and a bit of background, of course, on my blog:
https://tinywarsplayedindoors.blogspot.com/2022/04/kgl-2nd-regiment-of-hussars.html

[C M Dodson]

Wonderful stuff.

However, you have missed a trick Bill.

You can, Ala Egbert, just swap the hats.

I have, following his amazing work and ideas chopped heads and hats to mix three figures into one that I am after .

Keep up the good work .

Best wishes,

Chris

[Wellington2008]

Very cool figures!

[Bill Slavin]

Chris,

I considered swapping hats but the Italeri Hussar faces were a bit too large for the grenadier caps! I also find it fiddly putting hats on heads - they never seem to fit so well, so I generally prefer using the entire head.

[Bessiere]

Very nice looking unit Bill, weren't the KGL one of the rare "square breaker" units to take down French infantry? I don't if it's their Germanic ancestry or just a feeling of a need to prove themselves but the KGL were certainly among the best foreign born troops in any army. Fine addition to your pennisular war armies. I was browsing your website and I am amazed at the number of units you did substantial conversions for. You certainly have it down as it's unnoticeable even when I'm familiar with the figures you used.

[Bill Slavin]

Yes, Bessiere, I think you are right about the square-breaking. That rings a bell in my dodgy memory.

[MABO]

Very fine work again, Bill. And thanks for the information on those KGL units. I did not know much about them.

[C M Dodson]

The battle of Garcia Hernandez.

https://www.britishbattles.com/peninsul ... hernandez/

Best wishes,

Chris

[Bill Slavin]

The battle of Garcia Hernandez.

https://www.britishbattles.com/peninsul ... hernandez/

Best wishes,

Chris

You're a better man than I am, Chris! I was too lazy to look it up.

[Santi Pérez]

...These 2nd KGL started life as Italeri French Hussars, with a head swap with some HaT French grenadiers to give them a higher, narrower bearskin. I was sorry to loose the nicer faces on the Italeri figures but a bit of work on the bearskins gave these guys the right head gear. Now, along with the 1st, they give me both regiments of KGL Hussars that saw action with Wellesley in the Peninsular War...

It doesn't matter what the original figures are, Bill. What matters is the final result you achieve and it is always the same: a new wonderful unit to add to your fantastic collection.

My best compliments.

Santi.

[k.b.]

Terrific as usual Bill. I think it’s just clicked now why your figures are so irresistible.
It’s the grimy battle worn appearance that you depict so naturally that many painters fail to capture. They research uniforms meticulously and paint them in their glorious bright parade ground attire.
After a night or two roughing it somewhere around Europe, albeit in tents, if they were lucky, I have no doubt the muted look of your armies is more like what Napoleonic soldiers on a battlefield would really look like.
These fellows are splendid and I’d say the French hussar horses by Italeri are some of my all time favourites.

[PaulRPetri]

Bill your work is excellent. Your figures remind me of Peter Gilders figures in the early 80's Wargame magazines that so inspired me as young man!!

[Patrick71]

This conversion is very successful, Bill and they are also beautifully painted.
I completely agree with k.b.'s comment that you can capture the campaign atmosphere in your work like no other. I also admire the horses and the gray horse of the trumpeter in particular. I'm currently trying to paint a white one myself but don't find it easy to make it look realistic.
Thanks for sharing.

[Minuteman]

Superb conversions, painting and basing. A very fine-looking cavalry unit indeed !

[Bessiere]

Bill, being the gentleman he is shares his secrets in a painting tutorial showing how he creates his weathered or campaign look. I will certainly have to take a stab at replicating his technique myself. Thanks Bill!
https://tinywarsplayedindoors.blogspot. ... art-3.html

I was also very impressed with his scratch builds of pennisular war buildings, they really set the scene nicely.

[Peter]

Fine painted and converted cavalry men! Keep them coming Bill!