Figures for Kings African Rifles - inter-war

[Doug ex-em4]

I tell a lie - I actually want to do a non-historical unit (section strength) that looks like KAR. Can anyone suggest suitable figures, preferably from UK?

Thanks

Doug

[traveller]

WW1 KAR?

https://www.brigadegames.com/British-Commonwealth--Great-War-in-Africa_c_488.html

[Atheling]

WW1 KAR?

https://www.brigadegames.com/British-Commonwealth--Great-War-in-Africa_c_488.html

Agreed, Brigade Games are spot on for WWI and I'm guessing they could extend further? I'm certainly no expert 

[traveller]

Agreed, Brigade Games are spot on for WWI and I'm guessing they could extend further? I'm certainly no expert 

I guess it would not be unheard of that colonial troops would keep their WW1 uniforms into the interwar period. An alternative could be to use Copplestone or Pulp British and make a headswap to a fez:

https://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/prod.php?prod=43
https://pulpfigures.com/products/view/135

[Atheling]

I guess it would not be unheard of that colonial troops would keep their WW1 uniforms into the interwar period. An alternative could be to use Copplestone or Pulp British and make a headswap to a fez:

https://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/prod.php?prod=43
https://pulpfigures.com/products/view/135

Another set us potentially useful headswaps for KAR post WWI are available as singe heads from Gripping Beast Woodbine Designs:
https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/shop.php?p=category_products&category=228&page=2

There are no pics so maybe give Gripping Beast a ring?
01386 761511

[Plynkes]

The uniform doesn't seem to have changed much in the interwar years. Their Sunday best seems to have remained a tallish red fez (which was retained into the post-WWII period), but in the field it would appear they continued to wear the low pillbox cap seen in WWI, though usually without the neck flap that the figures always seem to have. To be fair, though, most photos I've seen of them in WWI show them without neck flaps, too. I've long wished that figure manufacturers would leave them off, as you have a devil of a job trying to remove one from a figure without ruining it.

In WWII they were more often in long trousers and wearing brimmed bush hats. That's their typical look for E Africa in WWII (though I have seen pictures of them in shorts and also with tin helmets). Photos of them in Madagascar have them in tin hats, and jungle green and bush hats for Burma.

Due to a lack of newsworthy engagements in the interwar years, pics of them on campaign in this period are pretty sparse, so I'm not exactly sure at what point the change in uniforms occurred. Wouldn't surprise me if it didn't happen until the war itself. A big conflict is often the thing that spurs on a change in gear.


Think I'd use the WWI Brigade ones, personally. Not sure of their UK availability currently, mind.

[Atheling]

Think I'd use the WWI Brigade ones, personally. Not sure of their UK availability currently, mind.

North Sat used to stock them on occasion so it might be worth dropping Nick a line and asking if there are plans to get them back in stock?

Otherwise it's a transatlantic postage "journey"

[Plynkes]

Yeah, that's where I got mine, but it seems like many years since North Star stocked them, so I don't hold out much hope.

[Atheling]

Yeah, that's where I got mine, but it seems like many years since North Star stocked them, so I don't hold out much hope.

Now I think about it, I think you're right Dylan; it has to be a decade since Nick stocked them?

[Goliad]

Brigade Games also has "interwar" Askari in their "Ends of the Earth" range. Only one pack though.

https://www.brigadegames.com/Askari-I-5_p_382.html

Another option for conversion could be Empress Minis Jazz Age Imperialism range. That range has packs of British and Indian soldiers that could be good for head swaps. I have also been looking (casually) for 28mm figures suitable for KAR either WW2 East Africa or Madagascar but no luck unless you want to do conversions (Early War Miniatures has 20mm though!). As Plynkes mentions in Madagascar grainy pics of KAR I have seen show a lot of KAR with helmets wearing shorts, socks and boots looking a bit like British 8th Army Kahki Drill but maybe not quite (hard to tell from the pics. Your post has picqued my interest again so maybe I will ask KAR Madagascar uniform question on WW2 board!)

[Doug ex-em4]

Thanks for the input everyone. Since these are going to be ahistorical, set in a Pulpy/VBCW world, I’m looking for colourful over gritty so the "Sunday best" look is the one. The Brigade figures are the easiest solution (I’m not thrilled by the conversion route although it’s a possible) and I like the look of the interwar Askaris as well. I haven’t had the bottle to look at the postage rates from the US but it may be that’s something to grin and bear.

Doug

[juergen c. olk]

Underfire Miniatures is currently developing a line of KAR WW1 to go with WW1 vehicles for German East African campaign by David Michael Freemantel at Rhodesian Bush War Models on Face Book. Awesome sculpts and models.

[S J Donovan]

Early War Miniatures in the UK has several packs of KAR in the 1939-1942 uniform.

[Atheling]

Underfire Miniatures and EWM are mostly 1/72 scale or 20mm yeah?

Or do either have 28mm ranges?

[juergen c. olk]

These will be 28mm ,and they have many minis now in 28mm ,across there ranges,