War of 1812 - 5th Maryland Volunteer Infantry

My Old Glory stuff has still not turned up - Australia Post are looking for it in their sortation facility in Sydney.....

Anyway, at the weekend a tiny package arrived from Caliver in the UK, containing a single packet of Knuckleduster 5th Maryland Volunteer Infantry. These particular figures are the elite company. I have ordered the same unit from OG but as I need 18 per unit and OG are packs of 30, I needed and extra 6 figures and thought it would make sense to have one element of elites for each battalion.

I have noticed that the US army of this period does not seem to have had elite companies - no light or grenadier companies seem to be mentioned - but apparently some of the state and militia units DID have these differentiations. Anyway, it helps explain why they no doubt will look a bit different from the other 15 figures in each battalion! The "centre" companies have a red over black plume and a red "turban" around the base of their shako, but to make the elite company stand out, I made these two elements white.....

I am still not totally convinced by Knuckleduster - they are not bad figures but I don't think I like them as much as OG, and they are quite pricey - US$10 for six figures....anyway, when my OG order FINALLY turns up, that may be about it for me and the War of 1812...time to move onto another project!

Here are the two elements from a number of different angles

Hopefully next time I post, it will be to say the parcel from OG has arrived...........!