From PhilH: 'Over That Hill And Get Me A Latte' 28mm Spanish Guerillas (100 points)

Phil has pulled out all the stops on doing up these excellent mounted Spanish guerillas for the Peninsular War. 

From Phil:

'These are an attempt to convert up some mounted Spanish Guerillas for the Peninsular War, inspired by a scene in Sharpe's Enemy where a guerilla band led by Sharpe's floosy rides off over a hill. I tried to find a screenshot, but my google-fu failed me, sorry! I started with Perry ACW cavalry, which, being plastic, were relatively easy to butcher. Most had their left arms carved off and replaced, alternate right arms, a good number of head swaps, some of the large cavalry sabres on the left leg removed and variety added to the bedrolls and baggage on the horses. The officer in green even had his entire body and boots replaced with those from a Victrix French officer. As well as plenty of greenstuff, I used leftover bits from all sorts of sets: plastic Perry British, Victrix highlanders, Victrix French, Victrix British Artillery and probably others.

Painting-wise, I tried to put extra time into them to help make each an individual and almost tell stories in miniature. Why are they led by what looks like a Spanish Officer? Did he desert or is he under orders? Why does he look like he is falling off his horse? (not sure the conversion worked...) Why in one in a red jacket with one epaulette? Did he steal a uniform or is it his own? Why is one of them carrying a nasty-looking head wound, hastily bandaged? Even the horses got more work than usual - socks and other markings, dappling on the grey.

I'm sure traditional 'big battle' Napoleonics gamers might not get why I bothered. For fun, mostly! In game, they will serve as convoy guards, or messengers (WSS 'catch the pigeon', perhaps?), or flavour figures on the board, or as a unit of mounted infantry in our games of Sharpe Practice. No cavalry charge bonuses for these chaps though! 

I'm happy with them, a lot of work but something unique. The Perry ACW cavalry are so-so, seem quite small and nothing special sculpt-wise. Clearly the Perry's first attempt at plastic, which i know (from the British Hussars) that they have greatly improved upon since. The horses are super though - I kept the other half box in case I ever need some horses (they may feature in Pulp...). My only thought is that if I started these guys again I would work more on the basic bodies, they do almost seem uniform, though a range of of colours helped break that up if you don't look too closely.'

These six fine caballeros will give Phil a base of 60 points, but I'm going to add another 40 for the thought and conversions that he put into them. Lovely work Phil!