By John Mollo and Malcolm McGregor (Original Publication: 1977)
The Wargamer’s Bible: A Splash of Colour for the Third Silesian War
Introduction: Uniforms of the Seven Years War 1756–63 is a cornerstone of the Blandford Colour Series and has served as the primary visual reference for generations of wargamers. Written by the late, great John Mollo and illustrated with the precision of Malcolm McGregor, this volume provides a vibrant survey of the major and minor powers involved in the conflict. While it cannot cover every single regiment in the depth of a multi-volume series, it captures the essential "aesthetic" of the era—from the austere Prussian blue to the flamboyant lace of the French court.
The 6mm Connection: For our Baccus 6mm project, this book is effectively our painting manual. At such a small scale, we aren't painting every button, but we are painting "patterns of colour." Mollo’s breakdown of facing colours, lace patterns, and headgear is exactly what is needed when batch-painting 24-figure infantry battalions or 12-figure cavalry regiments. It helps us distinguish between the red-faced Prussians of the 13th Regiment and the white-faced Saxons. Moreover, the plates for artillery crews and the distinctive mounts for Brigade Commanders and the overall commander ensure that our high-command stands look appropriately distinguished on the tabletop.
Historical Insight: The true "lightbulb moment" in this volume is the realisation of just how much variety existed within the supposedly "standardised" armies of the mid-18th century. Mollo highlights the idiosyncratic dress of the light troops—Hussars, Pandours, and Chasseurs—whose irregular uniforms provide a brilliant visual contrast to our rigid lines of musketry. This has encouraged me to spend a little extra time on my 12-figure cavalry stands to ensure the dolmans and pelisses reflect the historical flamboyance of the period, making the 6mm "mass effect" even more striking.
Conclusion: Uniforms of the Seven Years War remains an essential project companion because it translates dry historical descriptions into a tangible visual guide. It rounds out our library by providing the "palette" with which we build our world. Despite its age, its clarity and the sheer charm of McGregor’s plates make it a volume I return to every time a new batch of Baccus figures arrives on the painting desk.
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