Italians: They're Wearing Funny Hats!

[Plynkes]

Just had an email from the Askari Miniatures people. These look quite nice:





I do like a hat with feathers. So very dashing. Suitable for the Abyssinian invasion, Somaliland in WWII, etc. I would have thought.

[Svennn]

well thanks a lot Plynkes thats another battering the credit card has taken now.

Nabbed some Askaris to go with them as well - just that little bit different and hopefully the detail will be as smooth as it looks and they are ok height wise.

[Helen]

Hi Dylan,

I know of an Italian Unit that was in the Middle-East in WW1 serving alongside the Allies.

A small contingent of Bersaglieri and Carabinieri Guardie were attached to the British Army in Palestine.

http://digilander.libero.it/fiammecremisi/guerra1/172.htm

Helen

[MadMö]

Looks like an elite italian unit: Bersaglieri
They wear feathers at the helmet. Even today.
Look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bersaglieri

[Plynkes]

Yeah, I knew that, mate. I was just clowning around.  

[dodge]

So the question is can I get those into a back of beyond campaign.

I could just invent it.

They look lovely especially the feathers.

Thanks Plynkes.

[Svennn]

These troops wore a very similar if not identical uniform during the first world war. I havent got my order yet so I have not checked the weapons - I'm not too picky anyway, a guns a gun to me, especially when its only 1/2" long and three feet away on a tabletop - call me a heretic.

Askari informed me that MAA349 was part of the reference material they used when sculpting which is a later period but where exactly is the BoB?

To me its a licence to have some FUN and thats why I ordered some (that and the fact I can paint something thats not in Khaki/drab and has a great big cockerel feather on its hat to add some real colour).

[dodge]

These troops wore a very similar if not identical uniform during the first world war. I havent got my order yet so I have not checked the weapons - I'm not too picky anyway, a guns a gun to me, especially when its only 1/2" long and three feet away on a tabletop - call me a heretic.

Askari informed me that MAA349 was part of the reference material they used when sculpting which is a later period but where exactly is the BoB?

To me its a licence to have some FUN and thats why I ordered some (that and the fact I can paint something thats not in Khaki/drab and has a great big cockerel feather on its hat to add some real colour).

A man after my own heart,  It's all about fun.

For me BoB is the interwar period from Russian Civil war through to the end of the warlord era in china so from 1917ish through to 1930ish

But as you said if its about fun you can always write it in.  

If you're a heretic I'll be on the next stake at the ritual burning.

Dodge

[Malamute]

If you're a heretic I'll be on the next stake at the ritual burning.

Dodge

Now where did I put those matches? ::

[Le matou rouge]

These troops wore a very similar if not identical uniform during the first world war.

For the record and for older settings, Bicorne miniatures had a nice range of Bersaglieri too :

http://www.bicorne.net/catalog/index.php/cPath/1_27_28

Meow,
Matt

[Svennn]

never considered Bicorne for this period before. They are quite nice. Taller hats and even bigger feathers!!!

I based my comment about the uniforms after a quick look at the Osprey Italian WW1 book which arrived in the post this morning which I ordered in the hope it would have some of these in it. The hats in WW1 for these elites was as these Askari mini's which are really 1930's I think so perhaps the rest will be close enough. I am certainly no expert - I had never even heard of Bersaglieri until this thread.

In my BoB the Brits have tanks in China, wear DA uniforms with SA blue shirts etc. etc. etc. because thats the way I want it

[dodge]

If you're a heretic I'll be on the next stake at the ritual burning.

Dodge

Now where did I put those matches? ::

Bugger ::