Painted Willies

 

This is where my current folly began. I had a few figures left over from earlier parts of the larger French and Indian War project. I also had an itch to build a smaller frontier fort, hence the blockhouse. And of course, a blockhouse needs a garrison.

Then I ran across 20 Willies on eBay which fitted perfectly with my evolving ideas. So, I am slowly stripping and repainting them. Their rosy little cheeks are a nod back to their original painting which has a charm that I can't deny. So, I can see myself painting three companies/Grand Divisions of them per Bill Protz's "Drums of War Along the Mohawk". They are good units to have for the petite guerre that grumbled up and down the Ohio Valley and I always have my eye on one day fighting la Belle Famille.

Lastly, allow my to tease the project that I hope to get underway in the second half of the year, the Gardes Francaises. It's always struck me that the Suren 18th mid-Century range was always geared around just a few battles. Carillion/Ticonderoga, Quebec, Culloden and, of course, Fontenoy. I have the Arquebusiers de Grassin in my collection, so I really ought to add the Gardes Francaises, I think. I bought about half the required figures 5 or 6 years ago, forgot them and then rediscovered them recently, do hopefully I will keep my head of steam up and get stuck in. If I was to be honest, I would also like to add the Regiment d'Eu to the collection as well!