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| Some of my first 15mm War of 1812 minis were Frontier Miniatures. A package of Frontier Miniatures came up for sale recently. It was hard to tell, but from the photos they appeared to be American infantry which I have been looking for. |
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| I won the auction and was pleasantly surprised to find they were the minis I was looking for. Above are two of my originals from 20 plus years ago. They are my favorite War of 1812 minis. |
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| I got 20 in the package, doubling the number of figures. For now I have to decide how to paint them. I am thinking of doing one 4 man unit based on the Maryland 5th Militia Regiment. |
Nice looking figures John. How old are they?
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember getting a catalog from Modelers Mart, who manufactured Frontier Miniatures, back in the late 1980's. Looking at the packaging, my guess is they are from around then. I started going through my old magazines a few months ago, and unfortunately I threw away an old Modelers Mart catalog. I regret it now.
DeleteThese will be fun to game with.
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
According to Esposito's Armies of the War of 1812, the Maryland Militia wore 'stovepipe' caps with a black cockade and a red over black plume on the left side, with a red cloth 'turban' around the base of the cap and no cap badge. Coatees were single-breasted, dark blue with red collars and cuffs, blue epaulettes for rankers, blue with white fringing for NCOs, white turnbacks on coat tails. White cross belts with oval silver belt plate; black knapsack straps. Officers wore the 1812 style cap with white plume in front, black cockade on left side with white cords and rectangular silver cap badge, same as line regulars, with silver bullion fringed epaulettes, white sword belt and red waist sashes. Drummers wore redcoats with light blue lapels, collars, cuffs and cap turbans, with a red plume. Flank companies had white plumes, light blue cap turban, white lapels and cuffs edged red, red collars with white trim, red epaulettes with white edging and blue shoulder wings with white edges and braid stripes. White trousers for all; Hessian boots for officers.
ReplyDeleteYour figures appear to have the later, false fronted cap worn by the regulars but a bit of green stuff and a painted turban would alter that.
Espoo 's book is a great source for those interested in the War of 1812. The figure's shako looks like a later War tombstone shako. However, it isn't well defined and other figures I've painted can pass for early War soldiers. I've also saw these same figures painted as the 5th, and looked the part. And as they probably will never be seen on any table except my own, I can turn a blind eye to the error.
ReplyDeleteOver the years I have gotten quite a few Frontier War of 1812 figures, and some are completely off. I put this to the lack of I formation of uniforms available in the 1980s. About the only book on War of 1812 uniforms available then was the Osprey book, which had limited artwork. One Frontier figure Seems to be a British infantryman but the shako seems to be a regular shako with the cords and plume on the left side. I believe the personal computer and internet was the greatest boom to researching uniforms.
It's a great feeling when you buy some figures on spec and they turn out to be just what you wanted.
ReplyDeleteIt truly is,especially when you spend years looking for them. The bad thing is sometimes you find yourself hesitating too long on figuring out the best use for them.
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