Boer War minis for Space: 1889?

[Dezmond]

Would (second) Boer War British be suitable miniatures to represent the British Army on Mars in 1889?

All the British soldiers on the Red Planet have recently been re-equipped with Magazine Lee-Metford rifles that look a lot like long Lee Enfields, and I don't think it is too anachronistic to have them wearing 1888 pattern Slade-Wallace equipment.

So are the helmets and whatnot appropriate for the earlier period?

And what historical miniatures would most 'authentically' represent other Earth nations troops?

[Cadet13]

I my opinion, as long as it's of British origin, it's fine. Just call it 'prototype' hot climate uniforms issued for service on Mars and you're Kosher.

Not 100% sure about uniforms of other nations, or whether what I know will help you, but here's my two bits:

I would imagine that the Prussians (or Germans) would have a World War 1-ish looking uniform, with the Pickelhaube, in stately Prussian blue of course. Their uniforms changed very little in style from the 1870s up to the start of the First World War.

Americans would have uniforms that are both similar to that of the Spanish American War and to those of the American Civil War (the late 1880s were a time of crossover for the Americans, such as the issuance of khaki trousers with blue coats, and vice versa, as well as a mixture of kepis and 'Montana' hats, but not within the same units). Generally the active units would have the more modern uniforms, while the Guard and Reserve units would have the older equipment.

French would have their red kepis and dark blue uniforms with greatcoats. Franco-Prussian War or Early World War One: I personally use a mix of the two.

That's all I've got really. Hope it helps, if not you, then somebody!

Regards,

Cadet13

[DrVesuvius]

That's the joy of Space 1889 and VSF in general, you can get away with an awful lot of historical inaccuracies.  The VSF German army I'm currently painting mixes figures from 1866 to 1914 and even some fictional "Zendarians" without too much difficulty.  Basically if it has a pickelhaube, it's in.

My only beef with using Boer war British for 1889 is that they're generally modelled wearing puttees, which is a style I mentally associate with khaki-clad brits rather than 1889s "redcoats on Mars" look.  But that's a very, very minor quibble - a couple of units did wear redcoats & puttees and you can just handwave it as a "martian experiment" like Cadet13 says.

For Americans, you could also look at Plains Wars figures as a possible source.

[Plynkes]

Khaki and puttees are actually more accurate for 1889 than the "redcoats on Mars" look, historically speaking. Puttees were being worn in action by Tommies as early as the late 1870s.

[Dezmond]

Yeah, it turns out I am a fairly hardcore Khakiite. Actually, I think the grey serge seen in the Sudan looks pretty spiffing.



My cunning plan for a source of alternative minis for S1889 has, however, rather hit on the snag that there don't seem to be many producers of 15mm (to go with the new Highlander Studios 15s) Boer war British.

I see Miniature Figurines do a range (on which I don't think I am all that keen). Anyone else?

[Gluteus Maximus]

Yes, go for the 2nd Boer War figures. It is VSF after all, so doesn't really matter if they are slightly anachronistic. As Plynkes says puttees and khaki are well established by then and I don't think anyone would quibble about the rifles being too futuristic. Just say they are a new design optinised for Martian conditions or some other similar nonsense.

I happily use 2nd Boer War, Sudan and Zulu War British together in my VSF forces without any worries. They look a right mess, but they all fight the same 

[Plynkes]

I don't think anyone would quibble about the rifles being too futuristic. Just say they are a new design optinised for Martian conditions or some other similar nonsense.

No need for that. Anyone who says they can tell the difference between an MLM and an MLE in 15mm is a bloody liar, and a fool to boot. 

[Gluteus Maximus]

No need for that. Anyone who says they can tell the difference between an MLM and an MLE in 15mm is a bloody liar, and a fool to boot. 

#

  I have trouble telling the difference between Zulus and Beja in 15mm 

[Froggy the Great]

I don't think anyone would quibble about the rifles being too futuristic. Just say they are a new design optinised for Martian conditions or some other similar nonsense.

Slap some rivets on it and paint it brown, nobody will notice.

[DrVesuvius]

Khaki and puttees are actually more accurate for 1889 than the "redcoats on Mars" look, historically speaking. Puttees were being worn in action by Tommies as early as the late 1870s.

Of course you're right, in the real world by 1889 the British Army overseas was almost entirely in khaki. But Space 1889 has always stuck to the "redcoats on Mars" look and at the end of the day if you're doing VSF of any flavour it comes down to a purely aesthetic preference.  Me, I just likes me boys in red, sloshin' Johnny Martian with Martinis. 

My cunning plan for a source of alternative minis for S1889 has, however, rather hit on the snag that there don't seem to be many producers of 15mm (to go with the new Highlander Studios 15s) Boer war British.
I see Miniature Figurines do a range (on which I don't think I am all that keen). Anyone else?

When I was doing Colonial/VSF in 15mm, I used a lot of Irregular Miniatures.  In addition to Early (trousers) and Late (puttees) British they have a huge 19th century-WWI range, enough to cover any VSF forces.  They're large 15s (closer to 18mm in fact) with a lot of character.

[fastolfrus]

I would imagine that the Prussians (or Germans) would have a World War 1-ish looking uniform, with the Pickelhaube, in stately Prussian blue of course. Their uniforms changed very little in style from the 1870s up to the start of the First World War.
Cadet13

Tropical kit for Prussian forces doesn't include pickelhaube or blue uniforms - look at Boxer rebellion or East Africa

[Cadet13]

Tropical kit for Prussian forces doesn't include pickelhaube or blue uniforms - look at Boxer rebellion or East Africa

True, but with the tropical helmets and khaki uniforms they could easily be confused with Brits, especially in 15mm. That is, of course, unless they were all wearing the slouch hats. Whatever floats your boat really. I personally  like my Prussians in blue and in Pickelhaubes, not matter where they're stationed.

[Laflin and Rand]

True, but with the tropical helmets and khaki uniforms they could easily be confused with Brits, especially in 15mm. That is, of course, unless they were all wearing the slouch hats. Whatever floats your boat really. I personally  like my Prussians in blue and in Pickelhaubes, not matter where they're stationed.

Heck, the original Soldiers of the Queen miniatures for Space 1889 came with a booklet suggesting that you could use them for just about any other colonial power with just some modification in color scheme.

[DrVesuvius]

Tropical kit for Prussian forces doesn't include pickelhaube or blue uniforms - look at Boxer rebellion or East Africa

According to the Soldiers' Companion, the bible for Space 1889 military matters, regular units on colonial or off-world service replace the blue uniform with grey-green jackets and grey-green, white or light grey pants.  They still have the pickelhaube (or shako for Jaegers) but *may* replace them with a white or grey-green sun helmet.

So you've got plenty of options - WWI style figures in pickelhaubes are acceptable and look a lot more German, or the more real-world historically accurate Boxer figures in Sun Helmet.  And don't forget the specialist colonial troops like the Schutztuppen in their slouch hats (which I think I've seen somewhere).

I *heart* my Soldiers' Companion and it's extensive army lists.  What it might lack in real-world historical accuracy it more than makes up for in in breadth and depth.  Want to fight the little known Brazil-Graustark War?  SC has you covered