Fife & Drum Miniatures is a range of 1/56 scale figures (approximately 30mm in height) sculpted by Richard Ansell, and is devoted to the American War of Independence. The figures may be purchased from Der Alte Fritz through this blog, using Paypal for payment. Click on the page tabs for Crown Forces, American forces and artillery equipment to see pictures of the individual figures.

Winner of the "Best Historical Miniatures Range of 2011" by The Miniatures Page.

The Crown Forces



Listing of all stock numbers for the British Fife & Drum castings.



British Light Infantry


The "Light Bobs"companies were detached from their parent regiments and converged with all of the other light infantry companies to form two very large converged battalions of elite troops. We recommend painting each stand in a particular regiment's facing colours, so that when you converge all of the stands together in one unit, you have a variety of facing colours within the battalion.

            B1) Light Infantry Officer
            B2) Light Infantry NCO
            B3) Light Infantry Musician with horn
            B4) Light Infantry kneeling firing
            B5) Light Infantry standing firing
            B6) Light Infantry loading musket
            B7) Light Infantry Advancing
            B8) Light Infantry at the ready


British Light Infantry (L-R): B1, B2, B3 and B4. Front view.

British Light Infantry (L-R) B1, B2, B3 and B4. Rear view.

British Light Infantry (L-R): B5, B6, B7 and B8. Front view.

British Light Infantry (L-R): B5, B6, B7 and B8. Rear view.

British Brigade of Guards

The Household Guards regiments each sent detached companies to North America in 1776 and they were amalgamated into a Brigade of Guards which was divided into two battalions. The centre company officers and men wore a brimmed hat that was turned up on the left side. The flank company officers and men wore a cap with a front plate. Both centre and flank company men wore the same coat, which was cut down with shorter tails, while the lace was removed from the lapels. The Guards carried a bayonet scabbard across the shoulder and had a wooden keg water bottle rather than the metal canteen carried by the line regiments.


            B10 Guards Officer Marching w/fusil
            B11 Guards Drummer - centre company
            B12 Guards NCO - centre company
            B13 Guards Centre Company Man, Marching
            B14 Guards Centre Company Man - standing firing
            B15 Guards Centre Company Man - cocking musket
            B16 Guards Flank Company NCO in Cap
            B17 Guards Flank Company Man in Cap

Guards Centre Company (L-R): B10, B11, B12 and B13. Front view.

Guards Centre Company (L-R): B10, B11, B12 and B13. Rear view.

Guards Centre (two left figures): B14 and B15; and Flank Co. (two right figures): B16 and B17.

Guard Centre and Flank Companies (L-R): B14, B15, B16 and B17. Rear view.

British Line Infantry Centre Companies

These are the British regulars as they would have appeared on campaign. Their coats have been cut down with shorter tails. They are wearing "overalls" - a one piece pair of pants with gaitor buttons at the ankles, rather than the formal knee breeches and half gaitors worn on home service. The cocked hat has been converted to a brimmed hat, pinned up on the left side. They did not carry the cumbersome knapsack on campaign, but rather the more practical "tumpline" or blanket roll strapped over the shoulder and worn on the left hip.


            B20 Officer w/ fusil (use w/gren. too)
            B21 Std Bearer, Marching
            B22 Drummer, Marching, w/Hat
            B23 NCO, Marching, fusil in left hand
            B24 Marching, light kit
            B25 Marching, blanket roll
            B26 Marching, tumpline, long stride
            B27 Marching, tumpline, short stride


British Centre Co. Command (L-R) B20, B21, B22, and B23. Front view.

British Centre Co. Command (L-R) B20, B21, B22, and B23. Rear view.

British Centre Co. Rank & File (L-R): B24, B25, B26 and B27. Front view.

British Centre Co. Rank & File (L-R): B24, B25, B26 and B27. Rear view.

British Grenadiers

While it is likely that the grenadiers did not wear their bearskin hats on campaign, they are the quintessential figure of the American War of Independence, so we have them wearing the bearskin along with a cut down coat and overalls.

Use the B20 line officer figure as an officer for your British Grenadier battalions.


            B30 NCO w/fusil in left hand
            B31 Drummer w/bearskin
            B32 Standing firing
            B33 Advancing, Musket levelled
            B34 Marching, light kit
            B35 Marching, tumpline



British Grenadier Command (L-R): NCO B30 and Drummer B31.

British Grenadier Command (L-R) B30 and B31. Rear view.

British Grenadiers firing (B32) and advancing (B33).

British Grenadiers firing (B32) and advancing (B33). Rear view.

British Grenadier in light kit (B34) on left; and tumpline (B35) on right.

British Grenadier in light kit (B34) on left and with tumpline (B35) on right. Rear view.

British Mounted Command (L-R) Brigadier General BC1 and ADC or regimental commander BC2.

British Mounted Command (L-R) BC1 and BC2. Rear view.


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