British Light Infantry Uniforms

[Jim Patrick]

I'm eyeballing my next figure and I think it might be this one.
My reference isn't all that great on light infantry uniforms. My question is this. Can I paint him as a different reg't.? The collar and cuffs call to be painted white (43rd Light Infantry) but I really want to do something different. Would the breast plate (not sure exactly what it's called, the plate on the belt going across the chest) need to be changed? If so, does anyone make brass plates to replace this? I'm not exactlt crazy about the idea of scratch building the plate with my limited skills. The pelisse is seperate and I have no intention on using it with the figure. It really is a nice figure but I can't seem to find much out there on the net (I also don't own the Osprey titles on Wellington's Infantry) using both google and google image searches.

Thanks for any and all help,
Jim Patrick

 

[garyjd]

Jim, If you can't find the info on the net the Osprey books are the way to go, they are very well done.~Gary

 

[Johan]

Jim, the British army of the Napoleonic period happens to be one of my favourite subjects.
That figure as it is represents an officer of the 43rd Light Infantry. The uniform with pelisse is correct for that subject. The 43rd LI were in the Peninsular War (Spain) as part of the Light Division, and also ... in the USA; I believe they took part in the battle of New Orleans, but I may be mistaken there, check your refs. Anyway, I'm sure they also fought in the later stages of the 1812 war in America, that would make a very interesting setting for this figure.

Hussar pelisses were worn by British officers of the 43rd and possibly other regiments (?) because in those days young officers thought it was "cool" to look like a hussar ... Hussar dress was very much the fashion around 1815, and the British were wild about hussar dress. Although I personally have the impression that by 1815 you'd see less hussars in the French Army (uniform too expensive maybe), the British were by then eagerly copying the french style - hence fe. they changed four of their Light Dragoon regiments into hussars, with more to follow after 1815.

If you leave off the pelisse then you can paint him as an officer of the 52nd "Oxfordshire" Light Infantry. In that case you would have to change the numbers to 52 (of course) and paint the facings buff instead of white (and I think turnbacks of the coats were also buff in case of buff-faced regiments). John Colborne's 52nd was instrumental in defeating the undefeatable Imperial Guard at Waterloo, and fyi. their descendants the 52nd "ox and bucks" were the glider-borne troops who secured Pegasus Bridge on june 6th 1944 in Normandy !

Hope this helps,


Johan

 

[Jim Patrick]

Thanks Gary and Johan I went out today and bought the osprey Wellington's Peninsula Reg'ts. 2 (#400). Pretty good info in there so thanks again Gary. I decided to make him an officer of the 51st (2nd York, West Riding) Light Infantry. A very minor conversion at best. All I need to do is remove the 43 from the brest plate and add the tassel going around his cap. I'm basing this on the same book plate E #3. The officer in question doesn't have a cross belt but I'll assume that, with this being a private purchase, this paticular officer bought one. Besides, I like the look of "grass green" along with the white and gold trim.

Jim Patrick

 

[Johan]

Jim, in that Osprey book you mention, is there any info or an ill. of the uniform of the 28th (North Gloucestershire) regt. of Foot ? I would be very interested to know.

(The 28th is thought to have had French calfskin knapsacks, and I'd like to find out about that strange uniform detail for sure ... )

Thanks,

Johan

 

[Jim Patrick]

Johan, sorry, but there is no info. on the 28th. The only units covered are the 43rd, 52nd, 51st, 68th and the 85th.

Jim Patrick

 

[Johan]

OK, thanks Jim
Success with the figure, and hey, go have a look at the Cranston Fine arts website, they do have a print of a painting by B. Palmer of the 51st at Waterloo.

http://www.cranston-military-prints.co.uk/...FOUR/G4PIC3.HTM