Help with unit ID please (1 Viewer)

[Sgtminiman]

Hi,

This figure is one of a set of bandsmen I have obtained to paint. My issue is I can't identify the correct unit to paint. He is virtually a 9th Lancer of the British army accept he appears to have a single row of buttons down the centre of his tunic whereas all the other Lancers I have seen have buttons either side of the torso?

Any ideas please picture would be even better!

Thanks

Gary

http://pho.to/Agsp9

 

[johnnybach]

Hi,

This figure is one of a set of bandsmen I have obtained to paint. My issue is I can't identify the correct unit to paint. He is virtually a 9th Lancer of the British army accept he appears to have a single row of buttons down the centre of his tunic whereas all the other Lancers I have seen have buttons either side of the torso?

Any ideas please picture would be even better!

Thanks

Gary

http://pho.to/Agsp9

Hi Gary - Beats me too. That figure looks all wrong to me.

British Victorian Lancer Regiments wore a tunic top with a Plastron ( as you describe - a panel at the front of the tunic with buttons down each side). They were, of course, cavalry units - and as such - the only Bands I have ever seen have been Mounted Bands.

There were six Lancer Regiments ( 5th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 17th). here's a useful web-site - with link to the work of Richard Simkin - which shows illustrations of officers from each of those Regiments, which may give you some ideas to follow up on;

http://www.uniformology.com/BR-SIMKIN-01.html

Britains made a painted set of the 9th Lancers Mounted Band, which often appear on e-bay etc - so just Google and check on Images - to see how they looked.

Here's a link to a postcard by Tuck DB Postcards - which shows a painting he did of the 17th Lancers band http://tuckdb.org/postcards/77833

http://tuckdb.org/postcards/77833



All are MOUNTED.

The casting you show appears to have been "made up" by someone as a foot soldier. The head looks very similar to a Britains Other rank head ( i.e NOT an Officer - the plume is too small. You COULD file off the buttons and just paint on any plastron you fancy for whichever Regiment you choose.

OR you could remove the head - and replace it with a head from a Foot soldier Regiment.

BUT - if you really do want a lancer Regiment band - you could purchase a Mounted Lancer Regiment Band from two suppliers that I know of.

Langley Miniatures make one you can buy as castings:

http://www.langley-models.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Cavalry_Sets_123.html

And Dorset Model Soldiers also make a set you can paint up as any of the Lancer Regiment Bands. Here's my version of the 16th Lancers Mounted Band

which came as castings from dorset.



Hope some of that helps - jb

 

[johnnybach]

A pal of mine has just advised me that RP World Models makes a 17th Lancer Band - ON FOOT. I had never seen that before - so here's the link.

http://www.rpworldmodels.net/Steadfast-Bandsmen?product_id=127

Looks like you can buy them individually or as sets. I assume the prices is for painted - so they look to be reasonably priced. I've bought things from there before - and can assure you that they are good sturdy castings, which usually come at half of the painted price.

However - speaking for myself - I would still prefer any Lancer Band to be mounted.

Best - jb

 

[theBaron]

...The casting you show appears to have been "made up" by someone as a foot soldier...

I agree with John. The body reminds me very much of Tradition's Toy Soldier range of kits. They are solid-cast figures for hobbyists to paint, with a simpler level of sculpting than their other kit figures. They are meant to look like classic toy soldiers. Their bases look very much like the base on your casting, with six sides--I want to say "hexagon", but that's a regular six-sided figure. In any case, I think John is right, it looks like someone stuck a lancer's head on an infantryman's body.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Sgtminiman]

Hi,

Thanks got the updates it's been really useful it looks like I will have to file off the buttons and do them as Lancers I have found a foot Lancers band from Ducal on eBay at the moment.
I'm just painting them for pleasure and then will sell on to finance the next project after I finish some Fort Henry Figures I'm painting. Thanks for the link to that site for the uniforms that will be most helpful.

 

[johnnybach]

Hi,

Thanks got the updates it's been really useful it looks like I will have to file off the buttons and do them as Lancers I have found a foot Lancers band from Ducal on eBay at the moment.
I'm just painting them for pleasure and then will sell on to finance the next project after I finish some Fort Henry Figures I'm painting. Thanks for the link to that site for the uniforms that will be most helpful.

Check out the whole of that site - as it may also be useful for similar projects in the future. jb

 

[Sgtminiman]

Hi guys,

Thought you might like to see the band virtually finished just another coat of vanish to go on to cover up a few bits of touching up.

http://pho.to/AiQD5

Regards

Gary