Gary Owen Hail.

My first US Cavalryman is now done.

I had to steel myself to do the cavalry since I am basing them on some surplus 1990's Britain's Charge of the Light Brigade Light Dragoons. I got the cavalry at a good price at that time (thanks Stuart) and they have seen hard action in the War of 1812 and various colonial games but my Crimea game never happened. Besides doesn't the legend say that it was veterans of the Light Brigade that brought Garry Owen to the 7th cavalry?

Take one battlescarred OOP Britain's Crimean Lt Dragoon (sacrilege!) + the head from a home cast Reb  from Miniature Moulds and voila, a US cavalryman reminiscent of the old Britain's Union ACW cavalry from the 60's. The next 2 will have carbines in hand as they should.

My first thought was to sell the Dragoons and use the money to buy castings from Dorset but the evidence suggested that I was unlikely to make enough to pay for the replacements and anyway, not only was I rather attached to these veterans but I cut my military modelling teeth on Henry Harris's book on converting toy soldiers to models. In the end all it took was a head swap and a partial repaint. I left as much as possible alone including the horse. Still a toy not a model but he's ready for action.

 I just need to do 2 more plus  2 more Gunners before committing the US to battle. It'll be a motley force with a General, 1 troop of cavalry, 2 companies of regular infantry, 3 companies of volunteers (Fenians) and a gun and crew. Not much, but enough for a One Hour scenario.