portuguese troops in WW1 East Africa, in 28mm

[Jonboy]

Hi I'm an occasional poster in the interwar section but this is first time in the world War 1 section so a big hello to everyone as a total novice in this area as it were. I'm getting hooked on the small scale skirmish actions around East Africa and French Cameroon during WW1 with an interest in building up some small scale skirmish forces, probably be using mud and Blood or Triumph and Tragedy rules so looking at small section sized squads of around 10 men a go.

I'll be using Brigade games figures from Northstar for Von Lettow's glorious boys, however there's this mad thought in my head to go for a combined Anglo/ Portuguese force to add a little colour and uncertainty top the proceedings. Brit's will be KAR backed up by a section or two of Woodbine Design's latest offerings, representing the 25th Battalion Royal Fusileers.

http://www.grippingbeast.com/sizeimage.php?size=150&image=photos/man%20in%20shorts.jpg

However for the portugese as far as i'm aware nobody produces a decent range of figures specifically for them, glancing through the renegade range of minis, i was wondering if I could get away with using the early war German Jaeger figures with a head swap for the Woodbine designs French sun hat as used on their French range. would they be suitable, initially going by the illustration in the osprey title, the jaegers appear to have reasonably similar kit, mauser rifle, pack/ blanket roll arrangement to pass for Portugese Force Publique, given a different paint job. Was thinking of using British soft hats with some green stuff to make the Portugese caps on a few of the figs.

Renegade Jaegers
http://www.renegademiniatures.com/ww1/images/wwig09.jpg

French sunhat
http://www.grippingbeast.com/sizeimage.php?size=150&image=photos/ffl.jpg

Does anybody know if the two would be suitable scale wise?

Many thanks in advance

Jon

[Plynkes]

It's not an exact match for the shape, which is rather distinctive, having more of a brim...



Other points are the Portuguese uniform having a small standing collar while the Jaegers had a turnover collar. However the way that Renegade have sculpted the collar means it could probably pass as a standing collar. The German 1909 ammo pouches are rather distinctively German-looking. If you could find a German figure with the earlier pouches, they look much more like the Portuguese ones (such as some of the Brigade German Askaris). Thankfully, on about half the Renegade figures the pouches are obscured by the rifle, but they are quite clear on the others. The Jaeger uniform lacks breast pockets, too.


But anyway, if none of that is a problem, from memory the Renegade figures are quite chunky, if not actually taller than most others, while Woodbine are at the smaller end of things. I have some of those French heads and some Renegade Jaegers, so I'll have a bit of a root around and see if I can compare them for you.

[Plynkes]

Just had a look and to my surprise I find the heads match very well.

I'll see if I can take a picture for you.


Edit: Flat battery on the camera. Have to wait until it's charged.  

[carlos marighela]

If you wanted to use jaegers with stand collars and the older style ammo pouches, maybe look at head swaps with Prussians for the FPW. They will have probably have blanket rolls of course.

[Plynkes]

Here you go:

[Plynkes]

...maybe look at head swaps with Prussians for the FPW.

That will create another problem, I think, as unlike his Great War counterpart, I don't think a FPW Jaeger will have puttees. So Greenstuff may be required whichever way one chooses.

[Kingscarbine]

Hi Jon,

You must mean Portugese Army and not "Force Publique"...

Great ideas! Lacking BG interest in adding Portuguese to the EAC range it's a good option. I'll try to find a CD I have with uniforms info but here are a couple of Portuguese sites with info and photos to help you choose the best figs:
http://grandeguerra-marr.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html
http://www.momentosdehistoria.com/MH_05_02_Exercito.htm

Cheers

[Plynkes]

Great links there, Kingscarbine. I notice some of the officers seem to be wearing yet another pattern of sun helmet, shaped a bit more like a Wolseley, and that some of the soldiers have helmet spikes and some don't. Interesting.

[discok3]

Plynkes...perhaps your Zaphod Beeblebrox should also be in VSF thread??

[Jonboy]

many thanks to one and all for taking the time to post,I know it's not 100% accurate but i'm thinking I will go ahead with the Renegade  Jaeger and Woodbine head swap, aiming for a fair representation of the Portuguese in East Africa. Many thanks for the suggestion regarding the FPW Jaeger, hadn't considered this, but issues such as cross belts etc also start popping up.

Pics up when the first test figure is complete.

Cheers
Jon

[nightgaunt]

I know this topic is pretty old, but since no one has produced figures in the interim, what about using 25mm Old Glory Spanish American War "Spanish with pith helmets" or the Artizan "March or Die" Troupes Colonial figures for WW1 Portuguese in East Africa? They lack the putties, but perhaps those might be modeled or ignored... Additionally, Mexican Federales (with boots, not sandals) might do for troops in caps instead of helmets.

[Kingscarbine]

Plynkes suggestion is a good one but you can also use British caps and slouch hats on colonial officers. You can field the DA uniformed Askaris with fez for Native infantry.

[NurgleHH]

Ask the wargames-club in Lisboa, Portugal. They do not play WW1 Colonial, but they would use normal colonials and paint them in Portuguese colors.