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  • Writer's pictureBlaxkleric

"The Rifles Wore A Distinctive 'Greenjacket' And Black Leatherwork."

Updated: Nov 25, 2023


"This was the first attempt at camouflage by the British Army."

These two 28mm scale metal models are sold by “Wargames Foundry", and can be purchased either as part of their identical eight-figure B081 Riflemen Advancing blister, or the Nottinghamshire-based company's B080 British Riflemen set. I actually found this pair miniatures whilst searching through a long-thought lost pile of lead, and am rather ashamed to say that they date back as far as my earliest days in the hobby, probably some twenty-three years ago.


Indeed, both Riflemen had clearly been previously-painted before (having been glued to two-pence pieces) and subsequently re-primed with most likely "Citadel" Skull White. Just why I decided to undercoat so darkly-coloured a unit with such a bright an acrylic is a bit bemusing, as it definitely caused me some issues when I initially decided to use "Vallejo" Dark Green for the British soldiers' uniform, and after repeated applications still found the white showing through.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - The two Riflemen were painted from the boots up

Ultimately, I therefore went with a "Citadel" Abaddon Black base layer, and used a combination of Wyvern Green by "Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats" alongside plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil for the Greenjackets' attire - hopefully marking them out as 95th Rifles. I also pigmented their water bottles with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and "Citadel" Drakehnof Nightshade, whilst selecting "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade for the models' bread-bags and gunpowder horns.


Focusing on all the miniatures' fiddly bits, I slowly worked my way up the two Riflemen, applying "Vallejo" Sombre Grey to their backpacks, Gunmetal to their Baker Rifles and Shako badge, and Heavy Sienna to the odd strap and firearm. All these areas were subsequently washed in "Citadel" Nuln Oil or Agrax Earthshade as appropriate. As a final touch, I picked out the soldiers' scabbard and plume pin with a dab of "Vallejo" Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. I'm not sure how historically correct such colours are, but they looked good on the figures shown on the "Wargames Foundry" website.

"The Eye of Horus is upon you as the Sons of Horus march to war!"

I had been hoping this brief, albeit rather detail intense, sojourn into my old Napoleonic backlog would scratch a very definite Battle of Waterloo itch I've recently acquired - mainly thanks to repeated watchings of "The Waterloo Collection" four-part DVD series by "BHTV". However, whilst I'm going to steer clear of a 1:1 28mm scale collection of Napoleon's final battle, I do intend to scramble around my two decades old backlog for some other models to see whether I can assemble two opposing skirmish forces. Plus, I also now plan to visit to a certain factory in East Stoke, near Newark, this September.


Lastly, I've managed to polish off yet another of my 28mm plastic Horus Heresy Space Marines by "Games Workshop". One of ten MK VI Legion Tactical Marines I aim to field as part of my core traitor force, the figure was predominantly painted using "Citadel" Sons Of Horus Green, "Vallejo" Gold and Gunmetal, with plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil and Agrax Earthshade thrown in...

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