A Hair's Difference (1 Viewer)

[PolarBear]

I enjoy looking at single figures and picking out details. The WB Classics are a wonderful source not only for aesthetic pleasure but historical instruction as well. Take, for instance, 18th C military hairstyles. Here are 2 examples from the 1st Foot Guards from the Seven Years War: An OR from a battalion company and an OR from a grenadier company. If you turn the figures around and look at their hair, you will observe a difference between the 'hat' man and the grenadier. The hat man has his hair pulled black and tied with a black ribbon so that it hangs just over his collar. The grenadier has a plaited pigtail that is tucked up under the back of his mitre cap.

 

[REVWARBUFF]

I never noticed that. What a keen observation, Randy! Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[DMNamiot]

Good eyes!!!

Thanks for the very good photos to enable the discussion as well. This is a great way to back up discussions and I wish more folks would use it.

Dave

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Hi All!
Nice to see you noticed the details.
As I recall you will also see the mounted officer and the ensigns with the hair terminating with a small bag, often of silk. This was a popular style that was also worn by some civilians during this period.
On the Royal Artillery set I used the clubbed hair style which also became the style for most of the center company infantry well into the 1790s. This was often tied with a black ribbon or a leather rosette with a lace.
Just a 'hairs difference' as you say.
Ken

 

[PolarBear]

Hi All!
Nice to see you noticed the details.
As I recall you will also see the mounted officer and the ensigns with the hair terminating with a small bag, often of silk. This was a popular style that was also worn by some civilians during this period.
On the Royal Artillery set I used the clubbed hair style which also became the style for most of the center company infantry well into the 1790s. This was often tied with a black ribbon or a leather rosette with a lace.
Just a 'hairs difference' as you say.
Ken

Here are the figures Ken mentions above:

1. Royal Artillery
2. 1st Foot Ensign
3. 1st Foot Mounted Officer


Note: the ensign likely has a powdered wig and the mounted officer has powdered his hair.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Hey Randy!
thanks for posting the images again. The RA figure is indeed wearing the clubbed hair style, but the bag wig style appears on the 45th officer figures and I realized you don't have those yet. As a matter of fact only Richard has those at the moment so I cannot post an image. I am sure my last post was a bit confusing when you looked at your Foot Guards figures... sorry!
All the Best,
Ken

 

[PolarBear]

Hey Randy!
thanks for posting the images again. The RA figure is indeed wearing the clubbed hair style, but the bag wig style appears on the 45th officer figures and I realized you don't have those yet. As a matter of fact only Richard has those at the moment so I cannot post an image. I am sure my last post was a bit confusing when you looked at your Foot Guards figures... sorry!
All the Best,
Ken

I guessed that it must be the new 45th figures when I did not see the bags. I am hoping WB will eventually issue them in singles for us folks who collect them one at a time rather than in sets. I see the sets have already sold out both here and in the UK. I think the uniforms of the 45th are quite splendid.

Randy