Finally got this unit finished a few weeks ago. I started it back in March but it sat on the painting desk mocking me as I lost interest. Finally got the mojo back and started back on them. . Glad I got them finished because they are such a colourful unit in an otherwise drab looking army. EDIT – Just remembered why I lost interest. My dog Snow, an Abruzzi-Maremma came into my room and his tail of death swept half the unit off the table and there were half a dozen broken bayonets and rifles. So before I could even start painting them again I had to repair a bunch of figures.

Apart from the Iron Brigade (post to come) I am not really doing any particular order of battle. Just painting units that catch my fancy or ‘generic’ regiments that can be used pretty much any time in the civil war period. So far I have the Iron brigade painted, a generic brigade and am working on a generic New York brigade that has three zouave units (5th, 146th and the 14th Brooklyn and a couple of other regular volunteer units). Not bad for lockdown period and was still working during that time.

These are obviously Perry plastic Zouaves. I had some left over from the 5th New York I did earlier this year and also had acquired the Battle in a Box set which had another sixteen figures (off the top of my head). I have a few left so might make then as skirmishers or perhaps as a company within another union volunteer regiment.

Flags are not exactly right for this unit but who is really looking at the flags when they are on the table top?

I am betting everyone has this unit in their Union army, or are at least planning on having it.  I have another Zouave unit to be painted – awaiting some command sprues from Perry and a fellow wargamer has kindly sent me the five or six extra minis I need to crank this unit up to 25 figures.

These particular Perry miniatures have the option of charging/advancing or right shoulder shift. I preferred the latter  and am pleased with the look.   These guys were actually easy to paint. The detail is well molded and easy to follow. One thing – I did not have any yellow paint so did their tassles and legging thingies in a yellowish-brown instead. I figure that they faded on campaign.  Anyway, without further ado….