HIRIART Inspired by Britains (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

Make that Berkshires.

 

[johnnybach]

You had me scratching my head for a while with that Britains Band - Set 2093, Band of the Royal Berkshire Regiment - produced around the time of the 1953 Coronation - which makes them 60 years old. This pic is from Andrew Rose book "The Collectors All Colour Guide to Toy Soldiers (1985) - and has quite a bit of useful information about it at the bottom of the page. A very sought after set too.

Hiriart have done their usual nice job on this Britains set, Mike, though the make-up of the set is slightly different. The Britains set had 25 members - but I'm sure that could be easily rectified with "A Special Order"?

 

[ucla1967]

Thanks for the information Jb. Now I know the Britain's set number and its' origin. I have never had a problem with ordering extra figures. I do it all the time. I would write the order thusly, "THE ROYAL BERKSHIRE BAND (19 figures) plus six extra musicians." I do this regularly for nine figure sets that have an officer, bugler, and seven men. I just add "plus two extra men." The 49 Hiriart sets I am scheduled to receive this month includes a 50th box which will have ten assorted extra figures from five different sets.

 

[ucla1967]

JB, while Hiriart foot bands usually have 19 figures, the mounted bands have nine, including a drum horse. Here is an example of a catalog set, 1340 HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY BAND, STATE DRESS, where a collector ordered six extra muscians. I am sure that Britains also made a version of this set, but I don't have a photo of it to compare.

 

[johnnybach]

Hi again Mike - I've done my best to squeeze in most of the figures in Britains Mounted Band of the Life Guards (Set 101) which is again from Andrew Rose's book mentioned earlier. Incidentally - if you don't already have the book - it is available at very reasonable prices (used) from Amazon Books. I have seen it for as low as one penny (plus postage). Marvelous book - loads of info on Britains sets like these, and highly recommended. (my scanner just chopped a bit of text and half the kettle-drummer).

The set pictured is from the 1930's - but in the 1950's a Director of Music - in Regimental dress was added - and it looks as if that's what Hiriart have attempted to reproduce with the set you have shown.

I have a few pieces of the Household Cavalry in my own collection - such as these two kettle-drummers from both Regiments - which I bought and painted from a UK castings provider , Asset Miniatures. I have been trying to talk them into making a band - but no joy at present. They are really nice - so I'll keep trying.

 

[ucla1967]

JB, thanks again for the information. I do have that book by Andrew Rose; it is one of my favorites. I guess I am just too lazy to research my sources before I post the photos. I really like your two Asset Miniatures kettle drummers---great job as usual.

 

[ucla1967]

Vintage Britains offered many sets representing various Latin American armies and military schools. As might be expected, Hiriart from Uruguay, is carrying on in that tradition. Hiriart set 1295 ACADEMIA MILITAR, VENEZUELA is an example; here compared to Britains ROAN set 2098 Venezuelan Military Cadets. The main difference is that the Hiriart figures have a Prussian style helmet while the Britains have more modern, soft caps.

 

[ucla1967]

This is Hiriart's set 1311 JAPANESE INFANTRY, 1904 compared to Britains set 134 which had eight men, but no officer, mounted or otherwise. The original Britains set had light blue tunics, but was later produced for a short period of time in the correct dark blue tunics.

 

[ucla1967]

This is Hiriart set 1105 THE 4TH HUSSARS compared to Britains pre-war set 8.

 

[ucla1967]

Here is Hiriart set 1049 GURKHA RIFLES compared to Britains ROAN set 197 version.

 

[ucla1967]

I found a better photo on eBay of Britains set 19 The West Indies Regiment which shows the entire seven figure set. Hiriart's version also has the mounted officer, but has eight figures including a sergeant with a swagger stick and bugler that the Britains set doesn't have.

 

[ucla1967]

I also had Hiriart make me a version of set 1126 THE WEST INDIA REGIMENT as a 19 figure band. I don't know if Britains every made one.

 

[ucla1967]

Britains ROAN set 2071 The Royal Marines at present arms was also done by Hiriart as set 1082 THE ROYAL MARINES which comes with an officer, drummer, and seven men. The attached photo shows a special 18 figure colour party double set version of Hiriart's set 1082.

 

[johnnybach]

I also had Hiriart make me a version of set 1126 THE WEST INDIA REGIMENT as a 19 figure band. I don't know if Britains every made one.

I don't know of one done by Britains either Mike. Ducal did a nice one - and Marlborough and there could be others. The Hiriart is a nice one though. It's on my list as one to do for myself, one day - as Dorset Soldiers does a castings version to paint yourself - and you can have as many as you like in it^&grin

 

[ucla1967]

I don't know of one done by Britains either Mike. Ducal did a nice one - and Marlborough and there could be others. The Hiriart is a nice one though. It's on my list as one to do for myself, one day - as Dorset Soldiers does a castings version to paint yourself - and you can have as many as you like in it^&grin

Thanks JB. I have seen the Ducal version, which I believe had 12 figures in two boxes, but you are right, it is a nice one. I don't believe I ever saw the Marlborough band.

 

[johnnybach]

It's a bit of a small picture - but well worth a peek - Enjoy! - jb^&grin

http://www.marlboroughtoysoldiers.com/diamond.html

 

[ucla1967]

It's a bit of a small picture - but well worth a peek - Enjoy! - jb^&grin

http://www.marlboroughtoysoldiers.com/diamond.html

Thanks JB. You are right, it was worth a peek. Nice set. I notice that they did theirs with a European officer band leader rather than a native sergeant band leader, as in the Hiriart version, but both have 19 figures.

 

[johnnybach]

Yes - I very often "collect" all the different version pics that I can find of a Band subject like this into a file, when I'm thinking of painting up a castings version of them. I know that this one is available in castings form from Dorset Soldiers, and know Giles Brown (owner) so well now, that when I'm ready to start on painting one, I can discuss with him EXACTLY what form it can take. So I can choose what time period, number and type of instruments, leader etc that I could have. The Hiriart version is also safely stored away too - I may add - so thanks for the pic Mike. jb

 

[ucla1967]

Britains produced many sets representing Latin American units. Since Hiriart is based in Uruguay, their equivalent sets tend to be more accurate, as one might expect. Here is a prime example with Britains set 216 ARGENTINE INFANTRY compared to Hiriart's set 1135 GRANADEROS de SAN MARTIN a PIE. Hiriart's set comes with an officer, flag bearer, drummer, and six men. It appears that they represent the same unit, but Hiriart is more specific in their description while Britains is rather generic. Hiirart also makes this as a mounted set (1134), but I don't have a photo of the Britains equivalent, if there is one.

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Mike - Nice Hiriart set that one. Yes - Britains did do a Cavalry set as well. Here are the two typical sets - set 216 for the Infantry - and set 217 for the Cavalry version, which had three troopers with lances and an officer with drawn sword. Lots more detail and extras with the Hiriart set - as you rightly say. Nice broad red stripe down the trouser legs really brightens them up - and doesn't appear on either of Britains sets. Would be nice to collect all of them for a display, I think. jb