I was thinking of trying to make an Army for this time period and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. I know there was a thread about this a while back but was wondering if anyone had any new suggestions since then. I'm still trying to figure out what to do for U.S. Artillerymen, U.S. Dragoons, and Mexican irregulars/militia. The B.E.F. WW1 cavalry look like they could probably fit for Dragoons, and I could maybe use Boers for Mexican Irregulars, but I have nothing for Artillerymen aside from just pick an ACW one and call it good.

Also for painting the US Regulars would the sky-blue used for Union Civil War soldiers work for Mexican American war Regulars coat and pants? It looks basically the same but didn't know if anyone had any other more specific colors. 

Thanks for the help.

Re the artillery, I would suggest file the kepi down then a tiny blob of 

Re the artillery, I suggest filing the kepi down then a tiny blob of Greenstuff to fashion the cap.

greenstuff

Re the artillery, I would suggest file the kepi down then a tiny blob of 

Re the artillery, I suggest filing the kepi down then a tiny blob of Greenstuff to fashion the cap.

greenstuff

Yes, I really am that crap with computers!!!!!

I faced a similar problem in a different scale (10mm), I did exactly as dourpuritan suggests. I took ACW figures and cut off the top of the kepi and then rilled a tiny ball of greenstuff and pushed it down on top where the kepi once was. The result looks like the 1839 forage cap.

Regarding irregular/militia types, I probably wouldn't even bother especially since there isn't an ideal proxy. Perhaps some of the Napoleonic mounted guerillas could be used for rancheros...but I'm not sure the militia and irregulars played much of a part in the battles.