Portuguese Troops

I'd say 'yes' to using the Belgian infantry set, which despite it's relatively small number of poses is one of the most versatile that HaT have produced to date I think.  I use figures from this set as Portuguese....and also 1815 Hanoverian Field Battalion troops....and also (with head swops) to add pose-variety to British/KGL light battalions.

You have probably seen this, but on the main HaT website (product listing under 'Muskets') there is a post going all the way back to 2006 where the contributor shows Belgian infantry painted as Portuguese Line; and British Light Infantry painted as Cacadores.  Both work well in my view.  www.hat.com/Othr7/Pardo04P.html

The cacadores are the more awkward of the two of course, as the headgear (Belgic; or stovepipe shako) varies depending on date and unit!  But whoever said that uniformity was a feature of the Peninsular campaign...??!

I have done all the above to put together a decent Portuguese contingent. They are in the queue (longer and longer) waiting to be painted; however I have done all the research and believe I can put together a passable representation of the Portuguese Army. I would add that actual Portuguese sets would not be unwelcome.

Well, dependant on the year: shako/headress types, amount of buttons, lace or braid on tunics, colour of tunics, whether external gaiters or loose trousers. Shoulder wings, straps or rolls and equipment. Then there were some units that were armed with rifles instead of muskets (eg KGL 2nd Light battalion).

So in certain cases very little, in other cases a reasonable difference. Problem is, even the Hannoverian field battalions had differences in their appearance from one another. Some had a very British Redcoat look, some had a tunic like that of the 95th rifles. Some had Belgic shakos, some stovepipe and then there is the question of the feldschmutze caps.

The Portuguese Cacadores also had their own appearance. Brown uniform with what i think is rows of braid going across the front. Then there is the fact that at beginning of Peninsular war both Portuguese line and Cacadores wore a sort of belgic type shako, before changing to a stovepipe type later on.

They were all uniformed from British stocks, but at different times various types of uniform were on display. I guess it depends how much accuracy or eye for detail you want in portraying these nations regiments.