Of Kilts & Trews - Jacobite Conversion from Cowboy. French & Indian War & WW2

 The Scots are getting a lot of attention lately. I suppose I always put them on the back burner as I could not be bothered painting tartan. I have decided that it is not as difficult as one might suppose. The degree of detail painted is variable. The old hollow-cast figures had a very rudimentary indication of clans but it was clear, from the colors, who was who. I am mostly painting more detail than that but looking at the thin stripes on a real tartan it is apparent that the thinnest would not really be visible at 1/32 scale so no way is anyone going to paint every one from a real tartan or trews.

  First up is my latest conversion. This was a cowboy, a Chinese copy of a West German figure. The right arm pistol had its revolving chamber trimmed down and some Green Stuff added to suggest the flintlock mechanism. The left arm and hand are made from wire and green Stuff. The sword and scabbard are made from split pins. These are really useful. They are rounded on one side which gives a good scabbard look if this side is kept on the outside. For the sword, I ground down the curved side on a grinding wheel. The end is made pointed. I used the usual Super Glue and baking soda to stick it. I noted, in my research on Jacobite officers, that trews were common, so as a point of contrast, I am making an officer NOT wearing a kilt.

  Below: The left hand figure is a copy of Matchbox 8th Army glued to a Poker chip. He is slightly smaller than the original but a good copy. I assumed he would have a bit of a suntan, at least on face, legs and hands. (In fact, any European soldier, due to constant exposure to the weather, is unlikely to be lily white, even in Europe).

  As indicated in an earlier post, the French and Indian wars figure was made from an AIP WW1 officer. He is from the 64th. Some sources gave red pompoms on the hats and some did not. I am guessing they were variable. The jacket length and cut I am uncertain about but the Highlander ones worn at this time were not long, so that they would not get in the way of the tartan over the shoulder, I think. I did cut the pockets off the lower part but maybe I should have trimmed the jacket shorter. The lace work is largely obscured by equipment and officer's sash etc. but it is suggested. I gave him a white (actually off-white) wig which was the expectation of officers. I gave the flintlock pistol a wooden colored handle and under bit but then I found a reference of Scottish officers with all metal pistols. I suspect much of it was up to personal acquisition.

I don't have a unit of French and Indian Wars Scots but I can see this becoming a future project AFTER I finish some Napoleonic highlanders and also some late 19th century ones I left unfinished. Now with the Internet, there is no excuse for finding references for kilt colors.

  The Jacobites are also a side project but I can see it getting bigger. However, as I ran out of Cherilea repro Scots any others are going to be conversions or even scratch-built! Possible sources are Airfix Napoleonic Highlanders, A Call to Arms ECW, cowboys and American Indians, the latter being those with bare legs to have kilts added. Even ancient figures in tunics and no pants could be converted as they can have sword and round shields. In fact, footballers could also get the kilt additions.

  The pictures I saw of Jacobite Scottish cavalry shows them in trews but I read that it was not unknown for mounted Scots to wear kilts. Anyhow, I'd tend to make them from cowboys. It is not hard to trim off pistols, drill out hands and to add DSG swords or split pin ones. 

  Last additions to the figures will be clear overcoats and flock to bases. They will be worthy opponents of my Charbens grenadiers.