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Miniatures Adventure => Gothic Horror => Topic started by: traveller on 19 March 2013, 10:37:14 PM

Title: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: traveller on 19 March 2013, 10:37:14 PM
I am gathering forces for a Victorian London setup around 1880. Think riots where the police cannot handle the situation and call for army support. I would like to add some cavalry from the Empress Zulu British range but I wonder which, if any, that could fit. I assume they should have spike helmets so maybe Natal Carabiniers or Natal Mounted Police could be used? I would be grateful for any comments or suggestions.
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: fastolfrus on 19 March 2013, 11:30:35 PM
How about mounted Metropolitan Police?
They were equipped with revolvers and swords anyway.
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: Sterling Moose on 20 March 2013, 12:37:15 AM
Was there a Home Service uniform for cavalry?  Lead Boiler Suit Company used to do a bunch of Victorian cavalry, Lifeguards, Hussars, Lancers etc but AFAIK they have been discontinued and were sculpted in dress uniforms, nothing specifically designated as being 'Home Service'.

I'm not aware of anyone sculpting cavalry figures with the small pillbox hat which may be construed as 'Home Service' other than RAFM and they would be too small to fit in with any other range of 28-32mm figures.

http://www.rafm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RAF&Product_Code=RAF06720&Category_Code=RR
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: Mors on 20 March 2013, 09:02:26 AM
Pretty sure that the AZw figures from Empress are your best bet for home service looking cavalry from current ranges available, all my uniform info is on my dead (unbacked up  :'( ) desktop computer, but I have Richard Simkins cavalry book so I can check what regiments would be closest to the AZW minis, although most of his work was dress uniform, something Im not too bothered about..more pretty.
I bought a whole load of the HLBS cavalry when Richard did a production run a few years ago, here are some pics
(if I can remember how to do it)

Life Guards

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wlNNyJ7SvaU/SsKN27gtUdI/AAAAAAAAAD8/rHpqiH0luls/s1600/lifeguards1.rs.jpg)

Scots Greys

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wlNNyJ7SvaU/SsKNkH-Is2I/AAAAAAAAAD0/0fwUH4MVSlg/s1600/scotsgreys1.rs.jpg)

17th Lancers in the background
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wlNNyJ7SvaU/TREsSEDQzBI/AAAAAAAAAPA/MRAifyaBoUA/s1600/17th.rs3.bmp)

They are a bit smaller and not such clean sculpts as we are used to now, but I like them. I also have Hussars, Dragoons and Caribiniers, if you think they will do for your project pm me as I have plenty of spares.
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: Malamute on 20 March 2013, 09:25:43 AM
Nice work on those figures Mors. :-*

Perry Miniatures Sudan Wars have British cavalry in a spiked sun helmet wielding sabres that might do the trick.
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: psyberwyche on 20 March 2013, 10:12:03 AM
I reckon if you asked about Home Service uniforms at the Victorian Wars forum, you'd get a comprehensive answer: http://www.victorianwars.com/

They've helped me out a lot with research in the past.
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: former user on 20 March 2013, 10:19:47 AM
wow, that's a cool link THX
here is an interesting statement
http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=7847
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: The Gray Ghost on 20 March 2013, 02:24:19 PM
wow, that's a cool link THX
here is an interesting statement
http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=7847
That is a good post I had always wondered what the British would wear in a European war.
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: traveller on 20 March 2013, 03:47:30 PM
Thanks for your comments!
Those Perry Sudan Hussars look good but they have an annoying pagri around the helmet which to some extent disqualify them. Seems Empress is the best route available, if I omöy could figure out if the Natal jackets are close enough to the British stuff or not  ???
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: former user on 20 March 2013, 03:55:39 PM
the problem You have are the patrol jackets
if bandoliers won't bother You, both Carbineers and Mounted Police should be OK

But what if You use imperial mounted infantry or dragoon guards and put spikes on top?
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: argsilverson on 21 March 2013, 12:23:13 AM
You might use some of theseQ
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/glenn.turner/ceremonial.htm
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: traveller on 21 March 2013, 06:59:32 PM
How about mounted Metropolitan Police?
They were equipped with revolvers and swords anyway.

I have only seen these available from Foundry, overpriced and mediocre sculpts... Any other sources out there?

I reckon if you asked about Home Service uniforms at the Victorian Wars forum, you'd get a comprehensive answer: http://www.victorianwars.com/

They've helped me out a lot with research in the past.

I am waiting for my membership to be accepted  ;)

the problem You have are the patrol jackets
if bandoliers won't bother You, both Carbineers and Mounted Police should be OK

But what if You use imperial mounted infantry or dragoon guards and put spikes on top?

Not a bad idea, but these troops do not display the brass plate on the helmet, which I assume was present on the Home Service helmets (?). I think the Natal troopers might therefore be the better option
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: former user on 21 March 2013, 07:28:09 PM
Empress have replacement heads with brass plates, although this is an additional effort
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: traveller on 21 March 2013, 08:05:17 PM
Empress have replacement heads with brass plates, although this is an additional effort


Well spotted! I wonder how those heads would look on the Perry Sudan cavalry  ???
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: zerostate on 22 March 2013, 01:58:11 AM
Lancers wore czapkas; hussars busbies; and dragoons helmets (of a metal variety), with exceptions like the Scot's Grey, who wore bearskins.

In undress pill-box caps were usually worn.

Foreign service helmets with or without spikes won't be quite right, even for dragoons.
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: traveller on 22 March 2013, 10:27:05 AM
Thanks zero,

What about mounted infantry, would they use the blue cloth Home Service helmet with spike and brass plate on the front?
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: former user on 22 March 2013, 10:30:06 AM
for this I have a nice picture
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: traveller on 22 March 2013, 12:30:33 PM
Nice one ! Is it labelled "Mtd Infantry"?
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: former user on 22 March 2013, 01:27:57 PM
yes it is, though I don't recall where I got it from....
Dylan will clarify, give him a few moments  ;)
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: zerostate on 22 March 2013, 02:53:15 PM
Thanks zero,

What about mounted infantry, would they use the blue cloth Home Service helmet with spike and brass plate on the front?

Glengarry most probably for comfort, but quite possibly the home service helmet. They would however wear dark blue puttees instead of the usual infantry leather leggings (gaiters) as that was correct for mounted duty.

EDIT: I just remembered that there ware no peacetime mounted infantry before 1888 - they were ad hoc in theatre before then. From 1888 a detachment of an officer and 32 men from selected battalions were trained, and four such detachments would concentrate to form a company of mounted infantry in the event of war.
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: Sterling Moose on 22 March 2013, 05:55:06 PM
The Pontoonier/Badger 2nd Burmese War Brits would work for the mounted Infantry.  The only drawback being they don't have bandoliers and are wearing packs.
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: traveller on 22 March 2013, 06:40:30 PM
The Pontoonier/Badger 2nd Burmese War Brits would work for the mounted Infantry.  The only drawback being they don't have bandoliers and are wearing packs.

Nice sculpts by master Hicks! Only problem is that they are dismounted  ;)
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: zerostate on 23 March 2013, 03:33:55 AM
How about swapping cavalry for infantry...

Options are Zulu wars with glengarry... Redoubt Home Service... Or going a few years later and choosing Ironclad.

If not, a possibility is: http://traditionoflondonshop.com/index.php?cPath=221_254 (http://traditionoflondonshop.com/index.php?cPath=221_254) for conversion to hussars.

If not, then the modern guards cavalry mentioned earlier in the thread.
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: traveller on 23 March 2013, 07:00:17 AM
How about swapping cavalry for infantry...

Options are Zulu wars with glengarry... Redoubt Home Service... Or going a few years later and choosing Ironclad.

If not, a possibility is: http://traditionoflondonshop.com/index.php?cPath=221_254 (http://traditionoflondonshop.com/index.php?cPath=221_254) for conversion to hussars.

If not, then the modern guards cavalry mentioned earlier in the thread.

Well, to quell the gin-induced mob I have already lined up a force of policemen and agents+infantry in glengarry+a gatling. The final touch should be some cavalry to put the fear of god into the rascals  ;)
Title: Re: British cavalry in Home service uniform?
Post by: The Gray Ghost on 24 March 2013, 01:24:09 AM
The Pontoonier/Badger 2nd Burmese War Brits would work for the mounted Infantry.  The only drawback being they don't have bandoliers and are wearing packs.

The glengarry infantry are not wearing packs
edit
They do have a bedroll/something on thier back.
What about Castaway, their camel corps figures have bandoliers