Possible conversion Idea...

[Kommando_J]

For my dissertation have been doing a lot of reading on weapons and equipment, found a few references to Africans using surplus British and Prussian weapons (sabres and muskets mostly) and found it intriguing.

Saw this box set (http://www.warlordgames.com/prussian-landwehr-regiment/) just out and it struck me, with the very simple great coat, musket, ammo box, with some headswaps could these be used for Africa?

I feel there is some conversion potential but maybe i'm on the wrong board?

[Kommando_J]

Maybe some mad Prussian traders personally outfitted troops? Was thinking possibly Perry miniatures Mahdi heads alongside or possibly warlord NNC troop heads?

[Plynkes]

Other than French ones, I can't recall ever seeing images of African troops in greatcoats, I'm afraid. Not in Africa, at any rate. Before WW2 the French were the only power to use their African troops extensively outside of Africa. You'll see plenty of tirailleurs in greatcoats in WW1, but they don't really look like these guys, and there are already perfectly good figures of them available from firms such as Gripping Beast.

I'm struggling to see a use for them in a 19th Century colonial context, I'm sorry to say. Maybe Germans (i.e. white troops) in South West Africa or East Africa if you gave them sunhats? Maybe?

[Kommando_J]

Maybe go a little a-historical? Perhaps a Prussian Trader/war veteran equipping his personal askari?

I read in the Livingstone bio of a few instances of African chiefs/warlords/troops being gifted impractical uniforms they then became attached too, in one case the chief wore it no matter the weather(it ws scarlet with copious gold braid) until it fell apart.

[Plynkes]

That is true. Sam Baker outfitted his best askari in red shirts as I recall, so that kind of thing is not without precedent. They certainly would look cool. I'd like to see it done.

[Leigh Metford]

I'd have thought they'd look hot and sweaty.

[Kommando_J]

Most uniforms would be , practical colonial uniforms were only a thing in the latter half of the nineteenth century, eve then Belgian officers wore blue frock coats for example.

[Plynkes]

It does get pretty cold in some parts of Africa. Both German and British troops in colonial postings wore greatcoats at times, which is why I didn't want to dismiss the idea out of hand, even though you never tended to see native troops in such get-up.

I have found something, though they are Peelers rather than soldiers (from Natal at the turn of the century)...

[Malamute]

That is a great photo Plynkes

[Plynkes]

The native police (armed with rifles) did fight against the Zulus and Natal rebels in 1906, so it's not an entirely worthless cul-de-sac I've driven us down.

[Hammers]

I have found something, though they are Peelers rather than soldiers (from Natal at the turn of the century)...

Strapping men! Good find, Plynkes.