Pith helmet question

[Jonas]

I have a question concerning pith helmets (for our Subterranean VSF game).

As shown on the picture below I have 3 adventurers with 3 different pith helmets, the two on the right is fairly alike and would mix fine, so my question is if the guy on the left could fit in? Would there be use of such difference in helmets during the same period?


Reaper, GW, Foundry

The Reaper guy is also pretty tall compared to the other figures in the adventure group (Foundry, Artizan and GW dwarf so far), but I decided on using him anyway as people tend to be different sized in real life too.

So I don't know if I should do a head swap on the Reaper guy or keep him as he is?

Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks in advance.

[Svennn]

Carry on! As you were!

I can see no reason whatsoever for not using them alongside each other.The two are more British army circa the zulu war whereas the other I see as the civilian type (I mainly think of Abbot & Costello, Three Stooges movies) for expedition and safari - more of a Wolseley style

[Jonas]

Sounds good...

and as a sidenote; of course I will pair the tallest guy with the dwarf 

[JollyBob]

I was once told that the rounded pith-helmet is more typical of European wear (specifically Belgian, IIRC) rather than British. Also as Svenn points out, there will be differences between civillian and military kit anyway.

So in short, do what you like and to hell with convention!

[Jonas]

ok, thanks for the feedback, then I will just go ahead and paint him up.

The guy is probably Belgian, I think the expedition is a joint adventure of several countries anyway.

[Count Winsky]

Jonas,

Here is a pretty cool link about pith helmets;

http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/category/pith-helmets.html

[Shikari Sahib]

Jonas,
the centre and right helmets are for the period until 1885, around.
the left is a Wolseley helmet of later period around 1900.
so is a matter of period, if you game around WW1 you could mix all,
if early don't use the Wolseley one. was not made yet.

[Jonas]

As it is VSF we have mixed lot of different troops, so I don't think we have set our minds on one single year, but I think in general our games should be considered in the end of the 1800's.

Usually I use the Empress british zulu war troops, which is 1879, so a bit too early for the Wolseley I guess...

But there is no military troops in this perticular game, so I guess it could be later, but then it would not fit with the rest of our campaign...

Hard one...

[Argonor]

I'm pretty sure I've seen a picture of RHA in khaki crossing a river during the Boer Wars, and wearing the 'bell-shaped' pith helmets (that should be around 1900)?

I think the flatter one - historically seen - was coming into use later (I think I have seen WWI Brits with those).

I did not read the article, yet - will do 

EDIT: No article - 'just' a shop.

EDIT2: Here a shop with info:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php/products_id/1378

"Introduced in time for WW1 and saw service throughout the Empire until after WW2."

[Shikari Sahib]

Jonas, if not historical you are authorized to mix all 

[Svennn]

In Victorian times a lot of hats, especially for the gentry, would have been bespoke and commissioned from a milliner. I would happily use them as who can prove it was not the chaps own design he had made for his trip?

[Dewbakuk]

Difficult to tell without a top view but it doesn't look like a Wolseley, which had a wider brim at the back than at the front and was often still peaked at the front. It looks more like the almost circular brim used by the French and adopted by many civilians. Can't find a date but given that the pith helm was a French invention, I wouldn't be surprised if it fits although I suspect it's a later design than the originals and is around 1900.

[Jonas]

ok, I guess I should not be so concerned about it anyway, it is VSF after all, so if someone flips out about the historical aspect it is probably not a game for him anyway.

And I will make that guy French or Belgian just in case 

He is already half way painted now, so I wouldn't want to make a headswap now anyway, so the alternative would be finding another guy with a torch... It has actually been quite hard to find people with lamps or torches fitting the period.

[Argonor]

I THINK the Reaper guy is meant for a more modern/pulp style period - his jacket looks like the sort of 'safari jacket' you can get even these days.

But of course, in a game you can mix minis from different periods with no ill effects at all - if somebody comments on it, just invent an explanation on the go  

I use Victorian and interwar minis together for various ends - some pulp minis even wear the bell-shaped pith helmet (the French professor from the Chaos in Cairo line, for instance..)

[Shikari Sahib]

I believe WestWind or RAFM UN. Expeditions  should have a miniatures that has a torch on his hand, anyway to add a stick and some glue paper to an hand should not be difficult and you could use any figures you like.