I'm using the WW1 Serbians as WW2 Greek, some with Italian WW2 helmets weich are identical to the Greek ones in 1/72.

The FFL artillery from Mike's avatar will be used for several Otter troops, incl. WW1 French.

Some WW2 Polish can be used as WW1 Russians.

The Long Tom Boer gun is a 155mm French artillery piece as used in WW1 and the SCW, but might double as a Rusdian WW1 gun.

Regards, Pa

Many years ago (more than I realized until I thought of it), I was doing a story I shared on several forums online about a detachment of Napoleon's troops trailing the main body and under almost constant attack from Russian Militia and Cossacks. There were a number of mounted Cossacks from several makers available and I used them all. Finding Cossacks on foot was a bit of a challenge. I used Strelets' Crimean War and WWI Cossacks. With very little effort they painted up well to fit the bill. Thankfully at this scale a bit of paint covers a LOT.

I painted Strelets' Crimean War Zoauves have stood in well as ACW units, greatly enhancing my units for both sides. I would still like some Louisiana Tigers without headswaps.

Their Boers also made great Rebel guerillas with a minimum of effort and paint, mainly the rifles.

Of course, when I was still doing Medieval figures I've used their sets for various purposes; a paint job renders their military orders sets into any orders you want - as well as "generic" knights depending on the era.

The joy for me of not painting troops over the years (I started painting my 1/72 figures in the 80s trying to match a then-new company's figures with my old stuff from my childhood) was the fact that one was only limited by imagination when you used them. WW2 US figures in green could be used in the Pacific, Europe, or Africa. Once I paint them I identify them as early war (pre-1944), late war, Northern Europe of the Pacific. Even by unit patch (as an old All American 82nd Abn) it always upsets me to see folks paint their WW2 paratroopers with the wrong patch of the 101st. :wink:

And what about the Angels of the 11th Abn in the Pacific?

One is limited only by the imagination.

That, and sentimentality, is why I've painted relatively few of my 1/32 scale figures - though I've been painting some.

But even in painting, one is only limited by imagination.

One of the reasons I enjoy your site so much, Mike.

Now that Wayne mentions it, also I used the Crimean War Cossacks on foot for 1812! The sailors from the same set could double as Germans constructing WW1 trenches.

Thank you Wayne.

I have made a WWII German Cossack unit using mostly Strelets figures, and a few others like Odemars, and Imex.

https://bunkermeister.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-last-of-german-cossacks.html

They include camp followers, cows, dogs, Bishop, and others.

https://bunkermeister.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-last-of-german-cossacks.html

One of them even has a panzerfaust.

https://bunkermeister.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-last-of-german-cossacks.html

Mike Bunkermeister Creek

Hiya

My project on the Pacific War 1879 - 1883 has drawn on Strelets ACW and Boers ranges.

A paint job on the excellent Strelets 'Gettesburg' union sets can easily represent Chilean, Peruvian and some of the Bolivian troops.

Used the Boers for one of the volunteer Bolivian units, mounted and on foot, also a few of the 1877 Russian infantry have joined the Peruvian army.

Also have Hat ACW and a few Colonial British eg machine guns, signalers, officers in Pith helmets, Italeri French Foriegn Legion (with the neck covers and tropical dress) and ACW artillery

Its one of the more colourful late 19th century conflicts (from a wargaming point of view) and number of accessible sources eg the Osprey Armies of Pacific War 1879 - 1883. Units in blue and red, white, green, grey, yellow and red. For example Bolivia had its regular units in the colours of its flag - red, yellow and green, militia in greys with coloured facing - all look great on the table).

cheers


Justice, Peace and Safety to Ukraine

A lot of the French Crimean figures can be used for the French Army in the opening months of WW1. I've mixed them with EWM metal figures with some success.