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Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Dining Room Battles on December 29, 2020, 02:01:48 AM

Title: Palace Guards
Post by: Dining Room Battles on December 29, 2020, 02:01:48 AM

Hello all!
What would you recommend in 28mm for a Royal Bodyguard of troops for a local Indian prince in the late 19th or 20th Century?
Neil

Title: Re: Palace Guards
Post by: has.been on December 29, 2020, 12:12:03 PM

Perhaps some Indian officer/leader figures from any Afghan,
Wellington in India or Indian Mutiny ranges. You might add
a nice shield, even an ornate pole-blade as well.

Title: Re: Palace Guards
Post by: Dining Room Battles on December 29, 2020, 05:44:24 PM

Thanks for the ideas.
Neil

Title: Re: Palace Guards
Post by: JBaumal on December 30, 2020, 12:45:32 AM

I would suggest the Castaway Arts Afghans painted uniformly or Foundry Sikh or Indian figures painted uniformly to represent a palace guards.

Title: Re: Palace Guards
Post by: Plynkes on December 30, 2020, 10:33:25 AM

The military forces of the Princely States (or Native States) formed a reserve for the Indian Army, wore Indian Army uniforms and used British equipment. So at a pinch, you could just use some sharp-looking sepoys of your period, and try your best to paint them up as colourful dress uniforms, rather than drab khaki (and you could go to town inventing your own if it is a fictional Princely State).

However, the uniforms of troops kept for ceremonial purposes tended to be a bit more lavish. I'm not aware of too much out there that completely fits the bill, but the idea of using figures from a slightly earlier period for their fancier uniforms, or Afghans or Sikhs etc. is not a bad one.

Title: Re: Palace Guards
Post by: Plynkes on December 30, 2020, 11:15:06 AM

I just had another thought. Maybe try Baluchis from the Foundry Darkest Africa range. I don't think many self-respecting princes in the late 19th or early 20th Centuries would want their palace guards to be wielding matchlocks, but that is perhaps something you could overlook. They truly are some of the nicest, more characterful figures out there, and though a bit rag-tag, if you gave them a unifying colour scheme it might not be too noticeable that they aren't actually wearing uniforms as such.

I'd go with the Indian-style ones with the long robes and turbans, rather than the Omani-looking bare-chested ones with bandanas. There are some really nice sword and shield armed guys there for that ceremonial look too, if you really don't want your guards wielding matchlocks.

Title: Re: Palace Guards
Post by: Dining Room Battles on December 30, 2020, 04:58:35 PM

Thanks all for the great suggestions!
Neil