Richard Tennant's Last Regiment - 6.º Regimiento de Infantería de Marina
Dick's health was failing, but he managed to complete his planned forces shortly before he passed away (some 2800+ miniatures). I can only hope that working on these provided some joy as he battled cancer. Even while sick, his meticulous attention to detail was manifested on these figures in hand painted anchors on every ammunition pouch, and hand lined their water casks! His one concession, was that he left the flag for me to do, and I believe, simply forgot to paint the reinforcing bands on the muskets, as he had done in all of his other Spanish units. It was my absolute pleasure to add the finishing touches as well as some shading and highlighting, and bring his final regiment to completion.
https://miniatureminions.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-richard-tennant-collection.html
https://miniatureminions.blogspot.com/2020/12/55-years-from-start-to-finish-tennant.html
Below is the description Dick provided of the uniform he chose for the 6th Marines:
I had managed to find a website about Spanish Marine battalions, but I was not sure
of the authenticity of the illustrations. I wanted them to stand out from the other
Line battalions so decided to give them black cross-belts; the pack, including straps
and the musket sling are in a buff/light tan colour. Whereas the Line battalions had
coloured tapes on their shakoes, the marines have black leather; there was no
distinction (grenadier, centre & light) between companies which have red plumes.
The rest of the uniform is totally blue with brass buttons.
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| The 6th Marines with their new Colonel, converted from the Division General, a staff officer and Aide de Camp. A new divisional commander is on my painting desk currently. I was extremely pleased with the new hand painted paper flag. |
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| Here you can see Dicks work on the ammunition pouches and water casks. So much attention to detail! |
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| The big 36 figure battalions have just enough room for the Colonel to shelter inside when formed in square. |
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| The Colonel gets a visit from the divisional staff officer and General Bárcena's Aide de Camp. |
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| Unfortunately I have not been able to find a list of the Colonels actually leading the regiments of the Galician Division of the 4th Army. |
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| The French Marshal's baton has been converted to a telescope and his epaulets removed, otherwise the figure was a great fit for a Spanish Colonel. |
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| The two will accompany General Bárcena once he is completed. |
These are epically well done David! DT was a man of great artistry and I feel sure that he would have apprved. I'm intrigued by the Colonel. Who did he start out as?
ReplyDeleteThank you Matthew. These were in better condition than most, since they had made the journey across the Atlantic in a smaller parcel than the rest of the collection. I believe the Colonel started life as Marshal Bessieres, but the uniform was unlike anything I have seen a Spanish General depicted in, so the demotion and conversion seemed appropriate. I have Franznap figures for Bessieres and his aides that I plan on using, as it is exquisite!
DeleteWhat a lovely looking regiment, he certainly did a cracking job on them and your finishing work on them is very much in the keeping of the originals, great to see them. The Colonel works really well, lovely figure and very well painted, I hope he leads them well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Donnie. I am rather fond of the way the Colonel and this whole unit turned out, which of course means they will stink on the battlefield if previous experience is a metric...
DeleteThis is great stuff, when completed it would be great to have the collection immortalised in a book, including restaged photos from vintage publications. Some of the supporting information you put in the posts would also make a good commentary. Now I just need to win the lottery.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more and would love to do so, it's just that pesky phrase "when completed" that seems to be the major hurdle!
DeleteStunning work by Mr Tennant and yourself. Have you a particular future battle in mind for your Spanish collection?
ReplyDeleteIndeed I do. The Spanish fought the French German Division at Mesas de Ibor in a small but aggressive engagement, but were unable to hold back the tide of Germans despite their advantage in terrain. The German division is ready, but the Spanish still have a way to go. I will need to add 4 more of the painted infantry regiments and at least one artillery battery and small Cavalry unit to the figures Mr. Tennant painted.
DeleteThis is superb work that you have expertly enhanced and that flag is great work too. Also good to see the Austrian general masquerading as an ADC!
ReplyDeleteOh Thank you for saying that! I had no idea what figure had been used for the ADC, but he is quite the dashing fellow. Mystery solved!
DeleteDoes that Austrian general actually come reading a map / paper? If so I must get one of those, he'll be Spanosh of course like David's.
DeleteThe ADC is in the Hussar uniform, though I suspect you are correct and Stryker was referring to the staff officer reading a map. I have an extra DK figure of that pose that I would be happy to send you.
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