1816-1830 British infantry

[George]

I need about 2 dozen figures of British infantry 1820-ish for a skirmish project. As this is such a small scale affair I'd like a degree of animation about the figures, not rigidly robotic line infantry poses. I am therefore inclining towards plastics. But metal would be my first choice.

Ideas which ranges I should look at first?

[SteveBurt]

1820 most troops were still in Waterloo style uniforms. So lots of sources for those

[SteveBurt]

For a bit later, you want bell topped shakos, but not much else changes. Could maybe use Russian heads if using plastics?

[SteveBurt]

The Foundry First Afghan War range might also do

[Plynkes]

I've got a feeling the Regency shako came in right after the Napoleonic wars, and it doesn't really look like anything worn during them.


Perry also do British figures in their 1st Carlist War range.

[George]

I think the bell topped shako arrived in 1829 so definitely of the period. Forage caps would be a good option. Perry Cape Wars might be my place to go.

[Emir of Askaristan]

The Regency shako replaced the Belgic shako after the Napoleonic wars and was slightly wider at the top but not as wide as the later Bell Shako which came in in 1829. See piccy. The last two figures on the right are a good comparison and the frost two shakos on the right are the Belgic and Regency respectively.

Orinoco Miniatures make ranges for the South American wars and have British legion. Parkfield also have figures for this range.

Personally I think you could get away with Bell shakos in 28mm....if you agree go for the GAPS range from Empress, Carlist Brits from Perry or the older Foundry 1st Afghan Brits

What do you plan on using them for???

[George]

Emir of Askaristan. Australian Frontier Wars and some fictional Pacific adventures.

[carlos marighela]

Indeed. The Regency shako appeared in 1816, although the short, Napoleonic jacket soldiered on into the early 1820s. You can see them being worn as late as the First Anglo-Burmese War. That said, a combination of plastic British Napoleonics with donor shakos from Russians or maybe French Hussars.

The Foundry Afghan range could be worked up but it would require some work as they are all in shell jackets, which weren't typically worn outside of the warmer garrisons. The Empress chaps in temperate uniforms are wearing the later, long tailed coats.

The Perry Carlist War British Legion probably offer the simplest route. You would need to paint lace on the coats and maybe file back/ alter the shako plate.

If your scenario is set in the colder months then the Empress range has some great, animated, figures in greatcoats from the retreat from Kabul. The greatcoat was essentially the same for the entire period.

It all depends on how hung up on detail you are. I have the Empress British infantry both greatcoated and in coats for the 1830s as well as the Perry Royal marines and would quite happily use them from the Radical War (1820) through to the First Afghan War and even a little beyond). Come to think of it I still have the old Foundry Afghan/ China war infantry knocking about.

[carlos marighela]

Ah Australia? To the Perry British Legion you could add the aforementioned Foundry but  remember each pack is essentially one pose with no variation, save for the command.

[George]

Carlos - I belong to the "it looks good enough" school of gaming. I currently own not a single uniformed figure between about 1780 and 1880 so I won't be counting buttons or bothering with too much lace. 

[SJWi]

George, if gaming "Australia" I don't know how much the troops stuck to regulation uniform. I would throw into the mix 1st Corps' Cape Wars range as well.  Slightly smaller than Empress but I mix them together in individually based skirmish games. Some nice poses and nice characterisation.

[forrester]

Seems like the Belgic shako was the least loved of all British infantry headgear... probably took till the Waterloo campaign to get it fully introduced then they couldnt get rid of it fast enough!

[carlos marighela]

Seems like the Belgic shako was the least loved of all British infantry headgear... probably took till the Waterloo campaign to get it fully introduced then they couldnt get rid of it fast enough!

 I suspect 'least loved' status is properly the domain  of the 1970s DILAC* cap, albeit it probably had greater longevity.


* Don't I Look A C*#t in this cap?

[George]

Cape Wars figures do seem to offer the poses and slightly scruffy look I am after.