1880s Apache Campaigns starts The Western Range from Galloping Major

[Rob Herrick]

All nice stuff Rob, I really do like getting input like yours.  
Yes, the Apache Wars spanned quite a while on and off, earlier still if you count early conflicts with the Spanish then Mexicans, however, I’m starting out with the first military element of The Western Range, as the title of the thread says, with the end-game: the 1880s campaigns. I may produce figures for earlier campaigns as things go on, but I’m not ready to put down which and when for all the obvious reasons  
The range will eventually cover a great deal of territory.
. . .
There will be some figures from south of the border, not sure yet whether regular troops will feature for a while, but the list is extensive

I certainly hope so! The Mexicans were involved right up to the end, since they REALLY hated the Apache, while we just found them annoying. There's also several incidents where US and Mexican forces shot at each other while crossing the border chasing Apaches, and that element should be a major factor in many an Apache Wars campaign.

There's a real gap in miniatures for the regular Mexican military between the end of Maximillian (made by Foundry, Gringo and a few others), and the Pancho Villa campaigns (with Gringo, Old Glory, Brigade and others). Villistas work for irregulars throughout the whole period, or Mexican bandits, and the armed citizens produced by both ranges also work, since they don't have magazine-fed rifles, but you have to punt for Mexican regulars, especially cavalry (Ebor's Belgians for 1914 look the closest to convert). I'm hoping somebody will do these, from Frederick Remington's The Mexican Major of 1889:

Between the end of the Civil War and the late 1870s, you’re right, there was a great deal of “war surplus” uniform and kit being used up alongside various trial and short lived issues, producing a hotch-potch look with a heavy mix of civilian clothing to substitute for poor issue items, reaching its most extreme amount of variety by the mid 1870s. The late 70s and early 80s issues were often improvements and better received, signalling a return to a more uniform (though still with a fair degree of latitude) appearance in the field. So far my troopers are wearing the 1883 blue flannel shirt with two pockets (nothing to stop anyone painting some of these as civilian shirts if they prefer), I’ll be doing others probably in earlier issues, especially buffalo soldiers, when they come along. Other variations in kit and clothing will appear.

1880 sun helmets, nice thought……

   
Thanks for your interest and input and please keep it coming, I hope that you’ll be happy with a contribution to your field force from Galloping Major when you get some.  

Those troops in sun helmets look nice, though I don't see the chinstrap across the front of the helmet. The US pattern, though British style, look more French-like. The US Army in the West, 1870-1880: Uniforms, Weapons and Equipment has a good example of the 1880-issue on page 232. Since summer uniform issue was at the discretion of the post CO, there's lots of scope for including them! Can we get troopers in straw hats too? 

Oh, absolutely. I wouldn't chime in if I wasn't anticipating an order! The command pack, once you get the mounted element done, will be VERY valuable. It's different enough from the Artizan and Foundry poses that they'll fill in gaps, but still look like they belong in the same unit if painted together. I just paint my mounted and dismounted together so they look right, so I'll be waiting for the mounted packs.

My understanding from 40 Miles a Day on Beans and Hay is that campaign clothing were slops - basically, you wore your oldest, most worn out kit, because campaigning would pretty much destroy it. The good stuff sat in barracks, transitioning to campaign equipment once you got a new issue. As with any uniform issue, it took time to filter the new stuff into the ranks, especially at far ends of the supply line. So I think you've got plenty of justification for 1870s clothing in the 1880s for any US Army (infantry, artillery as infantry and cavalry), and I look forward to what you come up with. We desperately need another complete Buffalo Soldier line, since the Foundry and Artizan are incomplete, and the only ones I've found are Dixons.

[Galloping Major]

Rob, stop tempting me with those Mexicans, I've always really liked that Remington painting, but wait and see.
I've always though one of those cross-border incidents would make a great scenario. 

Re the sun helmets, yes, the chin straps are round the front  , the man firing has his over the front of the helmet, the one loading has his under his chin. The helmet is indeed different to the British contemporary type, lower and less pointed.
These 2 are the first half of another 4 figure dismounted pack, I have the other 2 to sculpt. 

www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Malamute]

Pre order placed

[axabrax]

Really like the look of these figs, but I have a feeling it may take a while for me to get on board--kind of like with the French Indian War stuff. I get how you want to start with the basics, but for those of us who already have a lot of Apaches and cavalry, there's not too much incentive to buy more, especially if we already have the Foundry stuff which is so well-sculpted. I would think about throwing in something unique, whether it's a personality pack for the cavalry, or an Apache leaders pack with a shaman or something not done before. That way there would be a reason to buy a pack for those of us who already have collections, and once people get on board they tend to buy more, or to impulse buy a few extra packs with the one that they really want. How about a pack of native cavalry scouts? They really should be part of any basic force, and nobody really does them. It's a huge oversight really...

[Galloping Major]

Thanks Nick  

Axabrax - that's right, there will be plenty of special packs, there will certainly be Apache scouts, a snippet from the text accompanying the first pic of the first Apache pack on The Western Range page of the website:
"To use any of these as army scouts, paint their head-cloth red, although dedicated army scouts will be added later. There were occasions when more Apache scouts were in the field in pursuit of 'renegades' than regular soldiers."
The Western range will be just that, it'll contain all sorts of stuff, not all coming out in any specified order, so there are bound to be things in there for you sooner or later  
Meanwhile - fear not, the French & Indian War Range will continue to grow  


www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[The Gray Ghost]

some civilian scouts, Hollywood style, would be nice

[SgtMcNab]

Just made the pre-order.

Anyone recommend a set of rules for these figures?

[Svennn]

Placed a pre-order Sunday night, my mates a bit of a dismounted cavalry nut

[ffrum]

Good figures Lance.  I pre-ordered the Western figures and a FIW BPT5 tonight.  You are making it very difficult to keep from spending more money.  I really like the Sam O'Neil figure-free.  You have done very well with the new line.  I assume that these Western figures will also be available in the US from you dealer when they are out.

[DoctorPete]

I am trying to resist getting into this era.  You are making it darn near impossible to do that, however!  Those troopers with sun helmets nearly pushed me over the edge.  All these figs are so nice!   

[Galloping Major]

Thanks Chaps 

Curt - yes, Keith will be carrying them at Loyalhanna Outpost along with the F&IW range 

Cheers,
Lance

www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Galloping Major]

Last call for Pre-Order deal 

Tomorrow (Sunday) evening the pre-order will be taken down and the packs will be available to order individually 

Cheers,
Lance

www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Svennn]

So are we close to them being shipped?

[Conquistador]

All of your stuff is really great    but too late for my games    for now... 

Don't think I will not be  waiting for your line to produce earlier stuff I can use/bastardize for skirmished in the 1700's!   

Spanish troops may be a [long] wait (certainly quite a while, maybe not ever,) since I see Mexicans, earlier period Americans, and earlier period Apaches being a - properly - higher priority - but early period Apaches will be along soon enough I am sure.  I just need to be patient...   

Gracias,

Glenn

[Galloping Major]

So are we close to them being shipped?

They'll all be on their way in the next day or 2 

Packs are now in the online shop 

Glenn - I will be doing some Apaches with "traditional" weapons at some point which you may find useful for earlier stuff 

Cheers,
Lance

www.gallopingmajorwargames.com