I really enjoyed both watching the Sharpe TV series and then reading the Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell.
As a result many years ago I bought some 25mm Napoleonic 95th Rifles, mainly on impulse with the intention of painting them at some point.
I based the miniatures on two pence pieces and then “flocked” them using PVA white glue and Citadel Sand.
The next stage was a white undercoat using a Citadel spray.