Cameron of Erracht Tartan - 19th Century

[Renato]

All,

I am about to start a 79th New York Voluntary Infantry project and the tartan reference is the same of 79th Cameron Highlanders.

I searched the web for references but I struggle to understand if the 19th Centrury patterns were the same as the modern Cameron of Erracht tartan patters that are available these days.

Any suggestion for proper references are very welcome!!!

Ciao
Renato

 

[Richard Baxter]

Hi Renato,

You might like to try the Scottish Register of Tartans:

The Scottish Register of Tartans (tartanregister.gov.uk)

This has the definitive patterns of all registered tartans. Cameron of Erracht is here:

Search Results - The Scottish Register of Tartans (tartanregister.gov.uk)

Hope that this helps.

Richard

 

[arj]

Have a look at this pdf item:-
https://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/The_Original_Cameron_of_Erracht_Cloth.pdf
Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Renato]

Seems like the perfect answer! Thks!

 

[DEL]

The whole subject of authentic / original tartans is a minefield full of myth and misinformation.
The term 'ancient' is often a 20th C. interpretation of what an old tartan might have looked like.
The special collections section of the Mitchell Library in Glasgow holds the Cockburn Collection that
includes an original sample of 1810 -20 Cameron of Erracht sett.
Given that its 200 years old it might be a bit faded though.
Might be worth sending an email, and they might be able to send a digital image.

[email protected]

D

 

[housecarl]

This may help, and this.
Or this.

 

[F Troop]

I'm working on the same unit....75mm by Zone miniatures. Here are a couple of pics that might help View attachment 439051

Reenactors impression

 

[F Troop]

 

[F Troop]

I found a picture of an original 79th kilt but it's copyrighted so I don't want to post it. The second pic is much closer to the original with maybe a bit more emphasis on the red stripes....a bit more in thickness. The first pic is a reenactor's impression, but it looks more akin to a Stuart than Cameron.

 

[Renato]

I found a picture of an original 79th kilt but it's copyrighted so I don't want to post it. The second pic is much closer to the original with maybe a bit more emphasis on the red stripes....a bit more in thickness. The first pic is a reenactor's impression, but it looks more akin to a Stuart than Cameron.

Thks! Yes the reenactor's tartan does not look even close......I am on 54mm from MMA, will be hard to replicate the tartan withut making a mess of red stripes......

 

[Richard Baxter]

Another source of info could be the Cameron Highlanders Museum, which is at Fort George just to the east of Inverness, and about 30 minutes from where I live. Here is their website:

The Highlanders' Museum | Queen’s Own Highlanders Collection (thehighlandersmuseum.com)

They have a research department who might be willing to help you.

Richard.

 

[arj]

While I have no further information for you, I can offer my procedure for painting this tartan, which I used for a 65mm David Grieve figure last year.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Renato]

While I have no further information for you, I can offer my procedure for painting this tartan, which I used for a 65mm David Grieve figure last year.

Cheers,
Andrew

Well, I have my drill but any additional techincal suggestion is always very welcome!!! in this hobby, we never stop learning feel free to share!

 

[Renato]

This may help, and this.
Or this.

This is very helpful! The 79th New York Highlanders apparently have the tartan pleated by the sett (like civilian kilts) and not by the stripe as your bagpiper (that rightly has the military pleating), but this simply means I will replicate the front pattern on the back.

 

[Scotty]

In Bill Horan's book he does the Cameron tartan, that might be worth a look.
Scotty.

 

[F Troop]

FYI - the 79th NY kilts were not made according to British army standards. They were made by local tailors and the pleats were box pleats across the back (about 12), not knife pleats that you see on British Highland kilts. As noted above, the 79th NY sett was not pleated to the stripe.