Question Anglo Afghan War 1878 Uniform Afghan Regulars

[Driscoles]

Hi,

can anybody tell me how to paint the uniform of Afghan Turcomans and Afghan Regulars ?

Maybe someone of you has painted foundry miniatures in his cabinet ?

I saw this unifor mix on the foundry website. Are those uniform style examples or did the regiments came up so colorful.

Thank you

Cheers
Björn

[Plynkes]

I think those are a little fanciful. The uniforms are generally described as being brown, with red jackets for the "Highlanders" and cavalry.

But the thing is, there is very little reliable info on these uniforms, so there is a bit of leeway for creativity. Some have suggested that many of the uniforms were British surplas, bought by traders on the frontier.

[Plynkes]

The above pic is from the Osprey Queen Victoria's Enemies (3): India and shows Afghan regulars. Sorry it's a bit small. The chap in the centre sitting down fits the common description for regular infantry. The one on the left is a Highlander (copied from the appearance of Scottish Highland regiments), and the other fellow is a cavalryman.

[Hammers]

The above pic is from the Osprey Queen Victoria's Enemies (3): India and shows Afghan regulars. Sorry it's a bit small. The chap in the centre sitting down fits the common description for regular infantry. The one on the left is a Highlander (copied from the appearance of Scottish Highland regiments), and the other fellow is a cavalryman.

I was going to refer to my copy of this book to. There is also an option to use turcoman headwear, i.e. a big sheepskin hat with the uniform.

[former user]

?
seriously?
enemies of the british used pith helmets and copied kilts?

strange...

[Plynkes]

They sure did:


At the time they did it they were not so much enemies as neighbours, though. It's been quite common for countries to copy the military fashions of other countries who are seen to be successful. It's been said that the British Guards adopted the Bearskin inspired by their Imperial Guard enemies after Waterloo (though that may well be a myth), the Sikhs adopted European style uniforms and tactics in the 1830s-40s, in the 1860s the Americans copied French Military fashion, and British Victorian helmets were influenced by the Pickelhaube (and English police still wear them, and some constabularies even had the spike).

Björn, I found a website with some painted figures, might give you some more ideas and inspiration. This fellow has done his Highlanders green and his regulars blue, and he talks a bit about the reasons for his colour choices:

http://nmated.com/colonial/gallery1/gallery.htm

[former user]

still very strange for afghans
however the bearskins for scots greys and grenadier guards is not a myth
you can read it in the regimental history on the HP of the units....
(same with Napoleons mounted grenadiers after Marengo)

and yes, the original "Pickelhaube" was a Cuirassier helmet fitted with a spike on service dress
later copied in the Albert helmet, from which the actual "bobby" helmet derives

the prussians and russians derived it to the lower version

but I guess you know that anyway   

however, what surprises me is that a rather european fashion of adopting "captured" uniform did spread to afghans....
but anyway, as it is....
so you could actually paint british colonoal highlanders as regular afghans  - why not

[argsilverson]

Plynkes,
Quite so. Also concider that most of the rulers of the time employed foreign advisors to train their troops. Then they finance a new dress usually copying/adopting the uniforms of their tutors.
For example we had French advisors in the Army, hence the kepi of pre WW2 armies and English to establish the Police which had very british uniforms with a colonial look.

Good find on this website. This was also my choice of colours for my (few) foundry afghans I have.

[H.M.Stanley]

Why wasn't i informed of this link?? 

I've just gone through Google Images to TMP to this ..