Imperial Dragoon Uniforms, 1870

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Jim Patrick

A Fixture
Joined
Dec 21, 2003
Messages
2,022
Location
El Paso TX
All of this recent talk about the Franco-Prussian War got my interest stirred up. I have the excellent Poste Militaire Trumpeter (70mm) sculpted by none other than Derek Hanson. I threw the box away long ago ( :( ) but I do have the Euro Modelismo title on overhead lighting. I looked at raul Latorre's rendering when I realized something. I have NOTHING on this subject. My question is this: Are there different color uniforms I can paint this figure? Also, does it have to be the Imperial Dragoons or can it be painted to represent any dragoon reg't. Could you guys point me in the right direction as far as uniform plates and books with this info.?

Thanks, Jim Patrick
 
Hello,

Here is a link with uniform plates, including N III's Guard:

http://www.grosser-generalstab.de/lh/lh.html

The most straightforward modification for your dragoon would be to convert it to a regular trooper, with green tunic, white plastron and red trousers. You should remove the musician's lace. Unless you do a superior NCO or an officer, a carbine and carbine belt would be needed, though.

That somewhat outdated style of uniform was not much used - the Guard's Lancers come to mind, but that would call for a lot of changes, too (see the web I have mentioned). The line dragoons wore a very different uniform.

Take a look around and let us know...

Dani
 
Daniel and Alex to the rescue! Many, MANY thanks for those terrific sites. I just spent a few hours looking through all of them. Wow. These sites gave me the answers I was looking for. I'm actually thinking of bumping this figure up as far as the to do list. It's something a little different from what I normally do as far as scale goes and I have never painted a figure from this era. Yes Daniel, it appear I will have to paint this figure as is. I'm not brave enough to try any major conversion yet. Plus, this will give me a chance to practise on my whites. Oh the dredd!

Thanks again guys, Jim Patrick
 
Jim,
Johan asked me to post these photos into the planet for you. (gonna have to teach him to use photobucket and kitpic.

DRAGON.jpg


DragonImpca1870.jpg
 
Thank you Johan and Guy for the posting. These references are EXACTLY what I need. Now does anyone know where I can find some extra time on the internet? :lol: All these figures and not enough time to paint them all!

Thanks again,
Jim Patrick
 
Just one more little advice, Jim: if you're going to do a dragoon of the franco prussian war, make sure he has a chassepot rifle; the rifle as in the picture is, I believe, more likely the weapon used during the Italian campaign of 1859 (battles of Solferino and Magenta). Check other references though, because the Guard units were among the first to experiment with needle rifles ...

Success,

Johan
 
Johan, judging by the uniform sculpted on the figure, I'm probably going to leave it as a Trumpeter of the Gaurd. It appears to me ( :( ) to be a bit too much to convert this to a regular Dragoon or even a Trooper of the Gaurd. Besides, putty is not my buddy ! Bill Chilstrom is supposed to help me with that. More to follow at the end of the summer. Also, would a Dragoon Trumpeter carry a rifle then? I'm not sure about this so any info you have can only help.

Thanks,
Jim Patrick
 
Also, would a Dragoon Trumpeter carry a rifle then? I'm not sure about this so any info you have can only help.

No, the 70mm Derek Hansen Trumpeter is fine as it is. One thing I would personally add is the "houpette" on top of the helmet - that isn't there in the kit, and really there's no reason that it shouldn't be there. I suggest taking one from any Metal Modeles French dragoon kit, I have the figure myself (still unpainted) and have tried that, it looks good (no, it's not too small - the metal modeles part is somewhat overscale) and adds a lot of character to a figure that is already great as it is - adding that small houpette gives it really that "dragoon" look. Try it, you'll see what I mean.

Best wishes,

Johan
 
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