FWI & AWI Compatibility? (1 Viewer)

Ruggles

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I was wondering what everyone thought on the compatibility of troops, militia, equipment, buildings etc between the FIW & the AWI. As both conflicts were so close together time wise it would seem that not much changed in either the military, indian or colonial world between to two conflicts. I would think that displaying pieces together would work pretty well overall.

Of course there would be some clear exceptions, the forming of the American Continental Army vs the Colonial Regulars formed by the British during the FIW for example. Different uniforms, standard equipment etc. But even those were pretty close I would think.

But I would imagine that the American militia during the AWI and the Colonial Militia during the FIW would be very similar and could cross over. So using the W Britain AWI militia would work in a FWI setting for example. Same for the forces consisting of indians for that matter.

The biggest exception would be the use of flags of course.

Concentrating on the FWI right now and it would be nice to be able to pull some AWI figures into some settings if they mixed well.

So what does everyone think?
 
Colonial militia would look relatively similar, especially colonial riflemen, Minutemen, companies of alarm, etc.

The line units would look different, for both colonials and regulars. The cut of the coat became less voluminous, after the Seven Years War/French-and-Indian War, cuffs became shallower, gaiters, when worn, were narrower and changed colors, smallclothes changed in color.

There was a significant change among the European armies in terms of style, after the war, as they began to copy the Prussian style. The change in the cut of coats is an example of that change.

Also, units changed, some were disbanded after '56 and not re-formed in 1775.

If you use German troops, though, the Hessian and Brunswick uniforms were virtually unchanged, at least between 1756, and their initial arrival in North America in 1775-76. Brunswick had added light infantry units, whose uniform was likely the same as the detachment von Barner in the Revolutionary War.

Those are things that come to my mind, immediately, on considering your point. Hope that helps!

Prost!
Brad
 
Beyond what Baron says, it depends on how knit-picking you want to be considering artillery pieces, especially the French pieces. Only in the last few years has the documentation been uncovered detailing the the French artillery was likely painted blue and not red during the FIW and the AWI. The JJD American Chippawa pieces (1812) might actually be the best match for the French pieces, double tailed gun carriages.

When people start producing new French Seven Years artillery for collectors, we will have a mess on our hands. No idea how you sell people blue guns with red caissons and carts - garish color scheme?

I think the British artillery is "safe" until you get to single tailed carriages which is a more modern evolution (Napoleonic Era).

Wonderful web site for the Seven Years War. This page is linked to French Artillery, simply beautiful line drawings.

http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=French_Artillery_Vallière_system


More from the above site, but different page:

"At the beginning of the XVIIIth century, French artillery carriages were probably red as were the gun carriages of the French Marine Royale. However, by the time of the Seven Years' War, gun carriages of the French army were blue to distinguish them from the equipment of the supply train (caissons and carts), painted brick red. Furthermore, canvas used with artillery equipment were usually decorated with a device consisting of two crossed cannon (in saltire) with a crowned "A" or "AA". The change to blue occurred very soon after the Vallière reform of 1732, even though the precise date is unknown. More details are available in the aforementioned article."
 
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I collect both ranges and have actually done the reverse of what you're trying to do--I have used some FIW milita in with my AWI. To answer one of your questions, I would recommend the WB AWI militia figures to stand in as FIW militia. They certainly crossover quite well in my opinion.

Mark
 
Thanks for the info, exactly what I was looking for. The linked website is great as well :)

I pre-ordered the WB Native Americans (3 in all) who are part of their AWI line. When they arrive they will get transported via my time machine to the late 1750s!

Again thanks for the info, it really helped me think thou this.
 

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