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Post by Edwardian on Oct 10, 2017 12:21:50 GMT
I have several boxes of HaT's Bengal lancers. They seem very well suited to the last years of the Nineteenth Century, e.g. campaigns on the North West Frontier (campaigns that would benefit from some later style British infantry figures, and a screw gun and crew!).
Anyhow, I thought HaT's Bengal lancers (HAT Set 8289) might also do for WW1. I had Mesopotamia in mind, though they also served on the Western Front.
Looking at contemporary photographs, Indian cavalry regiments in Mesopotamia invariably seem to be wearing service dress tunics, with chest pockets and fall-down collar quite visible, instead of the kurta worn in the HaT set. Whilst I am sure I will find that some Indian cavalry deployed wearing the kurta, it hardly seems typical. Furthermore, photographs of the Great War period invariably show the Indian cavalry wearing ammunition bandoliers, as seen in HaT's WW1 British cavalry and Australian Light Horse sets.
So, I am wondering whether the best way to represent the Indian cavalry in Mesopotamia might be to use the HaT WW1 British Cavalry (HAT Set 8272) and do head swops with the Bengal lancers?
The close-up of the 3 riders is in fact of cavalry in France, in 1917, but was the most detailed shot I could find. The other shots are from Mesopotamia, however.
If anyone has any suggestions or information that might help, I would be most grateful.
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Post by Ironsides on Oct 10, 2017 13:10:09 GMT
I think in 1914 on the Western Front and in Mesapotamia early in the war the old uniforms would be ok, you can also use the WW1 Indian infantry to represent dismounted, and either swap the heads to match the mounted or vice versa.. for later war you may be better off head swapping the 1914 British Cavalry... It all depends on how much of a button counter you are, but think its all possible....  |
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 10, 2017 13:29:26 GMT
I think in 1914 on the Western Front and in Mesapotamia early in the war the old uniforms would be ok, you can also use the WW1 Indian infantry to represent dismounted, and either swap the heads to match the mounted or vice versa.. for later war you may be better off head swapping the 1914 British Cavalry... It all depends on how much of a button counter you are, but think its all possible....
Thanks. Not too much of a button counter, I hope!
You raise a good point; I suspect that, if the dates were known, most of the Eastern theatre photographs would be more like 1917 than 1915.
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Post by grumble on Oct 19, 2017 14:23:56 GMT
I use the 19th century Indian cavalry in Mesopotamia with great satisfaction. For dismounted, I use the colonial Indian infantry because the turbans are closer in size and style to the cavalry than are the WW1 Indian infantry turbans, which (I think) are wrapped above the ears and are more Muslim than Sikh-looking.
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 19, 2017 17:37:09 GMT
I use the 19th century Indian cavalry in Mesopotamia with great satisfaction. For dismounted, I use the colonial Indian infantry because the turbans are closer in size and style to the cavalry than are the WW1 Indian infantry turbans, which (I think) are wrapped above the ears and are more Muslim than Sikh-looking.
Grumble,
I am coming round to this view. I may add bandoliers.
Thanks
James
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Post by Ironsides on Oct 19, 2017 20:12:35 GMT
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Post by grumble on Oct 20, 2017 20:43:53 GMT
Edwardian,
I tried to quote your post in this post but it led to an attempted assault by malware, so I'll just reply about your comment on bandoliers without the quote. I converted the HaT (Airfix) Gurkhas to WW1 style by removing the Bren pouches and adding bandoliers adapted from the WW1 cavalry sets. Worked nicely, IMO.
Grumble
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Post by Edwardian on Oct 31, 2017 9:26:51 GMT
Edwardian, I tried to quote your post in this post but it led to an attempted assault by malware, so I'll just reply about your comment on bandoliers without the quote. I converted the HaT (Airfix) Gurkhas to WW1 style by removing the Bren pouches and adding bandoliers adapted from the WW1 cavalry sets. Worked nicely, IMO. Grumble
That is very helpful, thank you.
It's nice to have some scope left for a little converting!
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Post by grumble on Nov 7, 2017 22:55:41 GMT
Edwardian, I tried to quote your post in this post but it led to an attempted assault by malware, so I'll just reply about your comment on bandoliers without the quote. I converted the HaT (Airfix) Gurkhas to WW1 style by removing the Bren pouches and adding bandoliers adapted from the WW1 cavalry sets. Worked nicely, IMO. Grumble
That is very helpful, thank you.
It's nice to have some scope left for a little converting!
Yes, and the Gurkhas are a great addition to my Mesopotamian campaign.  |
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