I recently completed a Baden jager battalion. I have no problem doing skirmishing figs for LI coys within line battalions, but draw the line at replicating whole or half battalions as Simon has so bravely done.
The jager battalion consisted of 5 x 5 fig coys. I did two coys in MA poses with 5 figs on each base, then three coys with three skirmishing figs on each. This was the battalion when ‘formed’ (ie no skirmishers).
I also painted 3 x 2 skir figs in normal skir bases.
Total figs painted where 2 x 5 = 10, 3 x 3=9 and 3 x 2 = 6, a total of 25, the actual strength of the battalion.
When I wanted to deploy skirmishers, I would take each of the three skirm company (of 3 figs each) and then add one of the two fig skirm bases, making a total of five figs skirmishing. Multiply this by the two others of each type and you have the two formed coys behind a skirmish screen on three coys totalling 15 figs.
The drawback is that, when formed, your battalion looks a bit skinny with the 3 x 5 bases at the back, but it works very well when deployed. For light battalion it’s an idea worth considering.
john