Tuesday 17 May 2016

Portuguese 1st Alcantara Cavalry Regiment

The first post for a while as life does have a habit of getting in the way, luckily for all the right reasons so I'm not complaining. I managed to complete the first of three Portuguese cavalry units the week before last in the form of the first Alcantara:


















The regiment was present at Albuera as part of Otway's brigade, and saw action at Salamanca as part of D'Urban's brigade under whose command they remained throughout the Vittoria campaign:


















The Portuguese dragoon uniform is relatively uncomplicated, with the main distinction being the facing colour and piping. In the case of 1st Alcantara these were white:


















Which indicated that they formed part of the Central Division:


















That's the first of them done, with two more regiments to go. They are probably a little on the large size as far as Portuguese regiments go, but it is obviously an easy thing to remove a few figures when they are not required.

16 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Anthony. I'm actually quite happy with them, and hope I'm able to improve with the next couple of regiments.

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  2. What a fantastic return! They look superb, beautiful paint job and flag!

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    1. Too kind Phil, as always. Your blog is one of the things that has kept me at least semi-focused, it has to be said.

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  3. welcome back Lawrence, good to see your postings again! it happens to us all - real life issues (i.e. my recent Double Hernia surgery:) usually get in our way while we are having fun painting and wargaming with our armies....anyway....great work on your Cavalry, I'm sure they will perform well on the table top with their "over run's" against french skirmishers....

    Great to have you back!

    cheers,

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    1. Cheers Phil, and I hope you notice that I have refrained from asking what might have caused the double hernia, even though I'm dying to know (I hope it was lifting boxes of lead from the front porch step).

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    2. :o) yes I think lifting and carrying boxes of lead from my mail box to up stairs to my little painting room may have caused my double hernia or :o) helping my neighbors during the past 5 years, moving cement slabs, repairing (carrying wood) fences, carrying fire wood for my 82 year old neighbor..etc :o)

      cheers,

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    3. All noble pursuits, Phil.

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  4. Looking great, nice inspiration for the Elite Minis regiment of 24 I need to get painted. GMB flag looking perfect as usual.
    Be good, thanks,
    Jeremy

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  5. Thanks Jeremy. 24 figures - that will be a decent effort but will look quite spectacular as a unit.

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  6. I've always liked the simple but elegant Portuguese cavalry (dragoon) uniforms, and you've done a super job on them here, Lawrence.

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    1. Thanks Peter. I think your "simple and elegant" description sums the uniform up perfectly, and they are certainly very unfussy with the only affectation being the brass scales on the shoulder. Without those they might actually look slightly dull.

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  7. Given how much I hate painting cavalry the chances of any Portuguese Light Dragoons making it onto my table are pretty remote - but one never knows. I might go all masochist and decide to do a brigade of them like you.

    Really nice work. I am not a fan of Front Rank cavalry (they are a little rigid for my tastes) but you have done a superb job on these and I am sure the next few regiments will be spot on as well.

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    1. Thanks Brian. The Front Rank cavalry can be a little "stiff" as you say, but the detail is there and they are quite fun to paint.

      The three regiments I am doing should be more than enough, and probably as many as the Portuguese actually managed to field at any one time. I'll be looking forward to seeing yours, once you get around to them.

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  8. Lovely looking unit, excellent painting! :)

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    1. Thanks Mark, much appreciated. I have just been admiring the very fine Murawski Poles over on your blog. Lovely work indeed.

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