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Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: Curassier on July 13, 2019, 05:25:51 PM

Title: French Revolutionary War era British Light Dragoons
Post by: Curassier on July 13, 2019, 05:25:51 PM

Hi all - is there any significant difference in the uniforms or horse equipment  between this era and the slightly later Perry plastic Light dragoons or the equally nice Brigade Games metal ones in Tarleton helmets ? I am wondering if these would pass for the earlier period ?
many thanks for any advice.
JM

Title: Re: French Revolutionary War era British Light Dragoons
Post by: Jemima Fawr on July 14, 2019, 09:39:58 PM

Hi JM,

The Perry plastic Light Dragoons are absolutely fine for Light Dragoons from about 1794 onward, provided you use the legs with breeches and boots, rather than the overall-covered legs.  I wish they'd been available when we did our Fishguard game, as we wouldn't have to have converted plastic French Hussars for the job... :(

For the purists, the dolman was very slightly longer during the 1790s, as it extended down over the hips - it was shortened to waist-length sometime around 1800ish.

In the early 1790s the jacket was very different, being longer and having criss-cross braid down the front.  This was replaced by the more familiar dolman sometime around 1793/94.  My apologies for the vague dates - I'm working from memory.

If you're doing Fencibles and Yeomanry, many of them were identical to the regulars in terms of uniform style (albeit some in red rather than blue), though some regiments lacked the hussar- braid and simply had the three rows of buttons down the front of the jacket (sometimes with a 'frame' of lace around the buttons).

Title: Re: French Revolutionary War era British Light Dragoons
Post by: Jemima Fawr on July 14, 2019, 09:42:21 PM

I just had a google for the Brigade Games Light Dragoons and they appear to be in overalls, so more suited to the 1800s.

Title: Re: French Revolutionary War era British Light Dragoons
Post by: Curassier on July 18, 2019, 11:31:34 PM

Thank you so much.,
Perry plastics its is.
JM

Title: Re: French Revolutionary War era British Light Dragoons
Post by: Jemima Fawr on July 19, 2019, 12:17:58 AM

Glad to be of help!  This is a Pembrokeshire Fencible Light Dragoon from around 1797.  They wore a uniform that closely matched that of the regular light dragoons (except for the lace 'frame' around the frogging and the shoulder-scales - the regulars tended not to have those features).  Note that the dolman is slightly longer than the later style, but not so different that it's really that noticeable in 28mm.  Note also that he's using a simple saddle (and probably a horse-blanket beneath), leaving the full-dress shabraque back in barracks:

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q90/923/kZDArJ.jpg)

Title: Re: French Revolutionary War era British Light Dragoons
Post by: duc de limbourg on July 19, 2019, 03:28:40 PM

The FR light dragoons had their hair in a que; afaik the Perry figures have short hair. Its just a small detail

Title: Re: French Revolutionary War era British Light Dragoons
Post by: Curassier on July 20, 2019, 10:49:26 AM

Merci all !