Artiglieria (Continentale) Americana, 1775–1783

Conversioni in Scala 1:72

A more sophisticated conversion. Soldatini di fanteria are coverted to cannonieri ed artiglieri austriaci are reduced in size to match the smaller Airfix e Revell soldatini della guerra di indipendenza americana. Cannon e crew pictured here are from Revell. The man on the right is a former Fanteria Britannica figure, the other soldatini e the cannon are from the artiglieria austriaca della Guerra dei Sette Anni. The reggimenti di fanteria on either side of the battery are Airfix Washington’s Army from the editor’s collection. The troops are based on 1.5" x 3" regimental stands of the Volley & Bayonet game system.

Parts Required

• Artiglieria Austriaca, 1:72 Revell 02579
• Fanteria britannica, 1:72 Revell 02560
• Artiglieria a piedi britannica, 1:72 Revell 02577

I Cannonieri

Soldatini della fanteria britannica di Revell are already quite large for the period, but the cannonieri austriaci are true giants at 187 cm. Compared con them, Giant Grenadier Guardsmen prussiani only measured a modest 180 cm. The unit had just one granatiere who measured 190 cm, a curiosity at the time, the man had been brought to the King’s attention e was then pressed into military service.

The gigantic Austrians are cut below the knee, shortened by 1mm e soldered back together. In addition, the thickness of the soldatini’s bases should be reduced to 0.3 mm by slicing the plastic off con a scalpel. This is a useful trick which makes the soldatini appear smaller, allowing us to use them alongside Revell Fanteria Britannica.

Riding boots were only worn by artiglieria a piedi austriaca at the time, ed even they preferred gaiters on most occasions. The boots need to be carved off e converted to gaiters o breeches worn con stockings. The Austrian soldatini have long pigtails which are no longer in fashion, they should be shortened to 3mm. Shoulderknots devono essere tolto on all soldatini except corporals e sergeants who wore narrow epaulettes on the right shoulder. Finally, remove the pouch from the waist-belt.

Convincing cannonieri of the Continental Artiglieria may be converted from soldatini della milizia american e fanteria britannica. The soldato britannico con the musket in his right hand is particulary suited for this conversion. Remove the rifle e the fingers of the right hand. Clean the rifle ed use it in a diorama later. With the soldering iron, weld the ramrod next to the figure’s right foot e prudentamente tack it to the right hand. Melt a piece of soft plastic sprue con the soldering iron e sculpt it around the ramrod, to create new fingers. Excess plastic can be removed con the scalpel, e new fingers are engraved con the soldering iron. Spare artiglieria ramrods may be scrounged from Revell artiglieria a piedi britannica, o made from 0.6 mm pianowire, both ends wrapped con yarn e sealed con superglue.

The Cannon

Austrian cannon may be used universally throughout the period, as long as the unique prolong handles are cut off at the front dell’affusti. The Continental Army was equipped con obsolete iron cannon at the beginning of the war, which were heavier e less maneuverable than brass pieces of the same poundage. Captured cannone britannici were a welcome replacement, e many of the artiglieria pesante pieces came from Fort Ticonderoga which was captured by Ethan Allen in maggio of 1775. Because the artiglieria pieces originated from a variety of sources, they were painted in many different colours:

• Cannone della milizia e captured equipment were painted medium blue britannico
• Continental Artiglieria was painted in dark red, red brown, varies shades of green e blue, dark yellow e sealed natural wood. How the affusti d’artiglieria were painted seems to have depended very much on the availability of paint e wood stains.
• Later in the war, equipaggiamento francese became available ed it was already painted green francese, an olive green mixed from yellow ochre e small amounts of black.

When the guns e soldatini are based, remember to add scatole di munizione ed altri oggetti of equipaggiamento which may be kept near the gun. Boxes are easily carved from small pieces of balsa wood e painted in the same colour as the affusto d’artiglieria. If you own a fountain pen, you will find realistic looking 12-pdr roundshot inside the empty ink cartridges. To show that the battery is under fire from artiglieria nemica, trace a furrow into the ground which covers the base e bury a spent cannonball at the end of it.

Pictured here is Captain Nathaniel Smith’s 1st Company of Maryland Artiglieria ca. 1776:

• Blue coat con silver buttons
• Light grey collar e facings
• Grey waistcoat
• Black stock
• Leather breeches
• Blue stockings
• Short black gaiters
• Black tricorno con white lace edging
  • Captain, yellow cockade, beige after 1776
  • Subaltern, green cockade
• Sergeant, red epaulette on right shoulder
• Korporal, green epaulette on right shoulder

Similar uniforms of different colour e facings were worn by cannonieri britannici, Hessian e francesi durante la guerra di indipendenza americana.

Domande più frequenti

Per ulteriori informazioni, per favore contatta la redazione di Rivista Military Miniatures nel Miniatures Forum.

Soldatini della Guerra di Indipendenza Americana

- Pubblicato: 1996 - Aggiornato: 18.06.2008
© 1996-2010 by IDL Software GmbH, Darmstadt, Germania. Tutti diritti reservati.