The Plan
It's time to return to the ACW which I first attempted in 1999. Back then I started building 18 man units for Principles of War and produced too many Union and not enough Confederates. Although these units probably represented the pinnacle of my painting ability, I didn't like the bases and I sold them off (for quite a lot of money, so not all bad).
Nowadays I'm better at planning projects. I did have a second aborted attempt in 2021 but I made a mistake with the miniatures I bought and inspiration failed me. I switched to the Crimean War however, and completed that project fairly quickly.
Armed with this experience I'm off to the USA again.
I want to produce two armies, Union and Confederate obviously, with 28mm miniatures. Each army will consist (to begin with) of six infantry units of 16 miniatures each, two cavalry units of 6 mounted miniatues, 6 dismounted miniatures and a horse holder each and two guns with 4 crew each. Commanders will be a main commander fielded as a 5 miniature group of mixed mounted and foot and a sub commander fielded as a pair of mounted miniatues.
I shall be using Wargaming in Nineteenth Century Europe by Neil Thomas which worked so well for the Crimea with my added commander rules and slight (very slight) adjustments to reflect the nature and abilities of the American troops.
All my miniatures are coming from the excellent Redoubt Enterprises ACW range.

Painting
It took me a while to decide how I wanted my colour scheme to look. In the end, I opted for a very dark blue for the Union as opposed to the dark, highlighted medium blue I'd used before.

Here are the paints I've used so far for the Union. These will cover all the basic blue Union troops, Zouaves and Berdan's Sharpeshooters will differ. I've mostly used Valejo paints.
Jackets, kepi Dark Prussian blue
Trousers, some canteens Deep sky blue, Sky blue Off-white strap
Belts, pouches, kepi peaks, bayonet scabbards Black
Blankets, socks, some canteens Coat D'arms Grey triad, Panzer grey, Tank blue grey, Slate grey.
Haversacks Bone white, Ivory
Muskets, canteen tops Flat brown
Brassy brass, Oily steel
Sword scabbards are either black with brass trim (officers) or steel (NCOs)
Bases from Warbases (80mm x 60mm x 3mm) and flags from Flags of War. I have some flags supplied from Redoubt made by Body's Banners, If I use them, I'll mention it. Flag poles are brass from eBay.

1st Michigan Infantry Regiment

The second Union infantry regiment.

The 166th Pennsylvania Volunteers

Painting
Clean uniform. I want one unit in regulation uniform. I've decided that it will be the 1st maryland, Band of Brothers since they were the 'pristine' troops in my old collection.
​Once again, most paints are by Valejo.
Jacket, Coat d’arms Tank blue grey, Blue grey pale. Deep sky blue, Sky blue cuffs
Kepi Deep sky blue, Sky blue
Trousers and canteens Deep sky blue, Sky blue Off-white strap
Belts, pouches, kepi peaks, bayonet scabbards Black
Blankets, socks, Cavalry brown
Haversacks Bone white, Ivory
Muskets, canteen tops Flat brown
Brassy brass, Oily steel
Sword scabbards are either black with brass trim (officers) or steel (NCOs)
Bases from Warbases (80mm x 60mm x 3mm) and flags from Flags of War. I have some flags supplied from Redoubt made by Body's Banners, If I use them, I'll mention it. Flag poles are brass from eBay.

Here are my old Band of Brothers, followed by the new versions.

I damaged the state flag so I'm awaiting a replacement. This set of flags is from Redoubt.

My second Confederate unit, Texans.

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