British Light Infantry of the American Revolutionary War, 1771–1783
Miniatures Conversions in 1:72 Scale
A very interesting conversion from a historical point of view, it mirrors the way British light infantry uniforms were originally created during the French and Indian Wars. Existing line infantry uniforms were cut down for light infantry use. The style was re-adopted in 1771 when light infantry again became an important part of the British Army establishment in North America.
British infantry battalions each had a light infantry company with men trained to act as skirmishers. On campaign, the standard operating procedure was to strip the light companies from their parent regiments, and brigade them together, forming a converged light infantry unit.
Organization
- 1st Battalion Light Infantry
- Major Thomas Musgrave (64th Foot)
- Major Thomas Dundas (65th Foot)
- Light Company, 4th (King‘s Own) Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 5th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 10th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 17th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 22nd Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 23rd (Royal Welsh Fuzileers) Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 27th (Enniskillen) Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 35th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 38th Regiment of Foot
- 2nd Battalion Light Infantry
- Major John Maitland (Marines)
- Major Turner van Straubenzee (17th Foot)
- Light Company, 40th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 43rd Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 44th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 45th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 49th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 52nd Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 55th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 63rd Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 64th Regiment of Foot
- 3rd Battalion Light Infantry, 1776–1777
- Light Company, 15th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 28th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 33rd Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 37th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 46th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 54th Regiment of Foot
- Light Company, 57th Regiment of Foot
At the beginning of the American War of Independence, the light infantry wore a variety of cap styles, short jackets with wings on the shoulders, breeches and stockings, and calf length "half spatterdashers" or half gaiters. Cuffs and lapels were the same colour as the parent regiment, but light infantry had red waistcoats as a further mark of distinction.
Parts Required
- British Infantry, Accurate Figures 7200, also distributed as Revell 02603
The Cut of the Cloth
The Revell figure used for this conversion is the one with legs apart and the coat tails falling between. This stance facilitates the removal of the coat tails in order to arrive at the shortened light infantry coat. Using a sharp blade, cut a 1 mm deep line across the rear of the coat, just above the tail flaps. This cut defines the bottom of the new coat. Position the blade below the coat tails and slice upwards, carfully removing the coat tails until you meet the cut line. You should leave the top part of the turnbacks in place. Finally, the legs need to be trimmed into shape a little to complete the coat conversion.
The Light Infantry Cap
The peculiar cap of the light infantry is made by converting the figure’s tricorn hat. First slice off the left and right corners of the tricorn. The remaining front corner becomes the front flap (or plate) of the cap. Trim off the back brim of the tricorn to form the rounded crown of the cap. Paint over the cap crown with PVA glue to cover nicks and give a rounder, smoother finish.
This type of light infantry cap was popular on both sides of conflict, and the conversion may be used to create the light infantry company of the 2nd Canadian (Congress’ Own) Regiment and many other American units.
Anthony De Lyall