I have a spare unit of American War of Independence British Light Dragoons that I would like to make use of within an AWI context.

So far as I can find out, there were only two British Army List cavalry regiments used in the AWI, the 16th and 17th Light Dragoons.  I have painted and based the 17th, and have started painting the 16th Light Dragoons.

Would it be sensible to attempt minor surgery on the headgear and paint them as Loyalist cavalry?  I know that Peter does do Loyalist cavalry, but I don't want a whole packet.  Presumably if I did that, the coats would be a nice green colour for the early years of the war.

Alternatively, were there rebel American cavalry units that used uniforms and headgear of a similar cut to the British light dragoons?

Thank you in anticipation.

The only unit I can find that has headgear the same as  that of the British Light Dragoons is the US Militia Philadelphia Light Dragoons. No need to alter the headgear. The jacket is shorter than that of the British though. Light buff breeches, black boots, brown jacket with white facings. Trumpeter white jacket, brown facings.

You could go with the British Legion for Loyalists: http://www.historicalimagebank.com/gallery/v/album01/album15/album43/Tarleton_email_version_wtrmkd_001.jpg.html  It would be hard to resist having Banastre Tarlton's boys in the line.  Just get some tube acrylic, and pull the plume all the way over the front of the mitre cap... front.. thing.  Whatever it is properly called.

If Continentals, 2nd Continental Dragoons are very fine looking with one of the rare known standards which is also very attractive in its own right.  https://www.tumblr.com/search/2nd-continental-light-dragoons  Just pull a line of thick acrylic along the front of the mitre to make a visor/bill. 

Ist Continental Dragoons - kinda meh, dull and drab.  http://www.historicalimagebank.com/gallery/v/album01/album15/1st+Continental+Light+Dragoon+Pvt_+Fall-Winter+1780-1781+watermarked+.jpg.html

3rd Continental Dragoons - very attractive color reversal from the 2nd. White with blue lapels and cuffs instead of blue with white distinctions. Black helmet instead of white.  http://www.schistory.net/3CLD/Articles/3dragoon.html

All easy conversions - just use thick acrylic tube paint or acrylic medium and carefully draw it where you want it.

Wow!  Thank you very much, njt236 and Spangenhelm.  That is five useful alternatives. :-)

Must admit that I hadn't thought of using acrylic filler to add bits to figures.  Can imagine it would work well on non-load bearing areas.

The rebels (with generals for both sides) arrived yesterday, so I will be starting them fairly soon.  Have undercoated the Hessian/Brunswick infantry, so not much more to do for the British.

Happy to help!  I had a massive AWI project in the works years and years ago and was surprised that I remembered much of it.  Also I found this site, which may be useful to you: http://www.acwgc.org/CCC_Am_Army/Flags.htm    The Union Jack canton would be replaced fairly early with the thirteen stripes.

And thank you for that site. I have book-marked it for future reference.