Walloon Guards 1743: Part Three – Flags

As outlined in the previous post, I will require six flags in total. I am representing each actual battalion from Campo Santo with a single on-table unit. There were six Walloon Guard battalions at the battle, so I will have three in my brigade. Each one of the Guards battalions will have a Coronella (King colour) and a Sencilla (Regimental colour). As far as I can see there is no difference between the flags of the individual battalions within the Guards brigade.

I choose to handpaint my flags, partly because I enjoy making life difficult for myself and also because I think that they blend in more with handpainted figures rather than computer printouts.

I pretty much adapted my method of painting flags from the lovely standards produced by Andy McMaster which he nicely summarises on his excellent blog here.

Another Slight Diversion Blog

First step was to identify a template to use. The best 18thC flags available are on the Not By Appointment Blog by David Morfitt. They are free to use, but he also provides a link to give a (well-deserved) donation to support his work.

Not By Appointment Blog

As previously mentioned, David has produced a great template for the Walloon Guards but for a slightly later period than I was looking for (1750s rather than 1740s). I downloaded the template and edited it in a software package (I use Pixlr, but there are lots out there). This involved cutting and pasting the Philip V coat of arms into the central image on the flag templates. This was then converted into a light black and white image before printing.

Outlining the black and white templates

Once printed, I then outlined the details using a fineliner pen (waterproof!) to give, effectively, a colouring-by-numbers outline.

Starting to colour-in the detail

Part way though the painting

Each flag was layer-painted and then glued to the flagpole with PVA glue and bent into a furling shape. Final step was to make sure the edges and rim of flag were painted and then it was done

FInished flag

Furled flags drying on a Lego drying rack

Regimental flags cut out before glueing

Easy really (?!)… Only took me…. a month…….. The flags are now safely stored away and I can get on with painting some regiments to carry them!

One Comment

  1. January 21, 2025
    Reply

    I’ll get my comment in before the other two…
    Splendid flags! The final units will look most excellent!

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