FIW British Uniforms

[Suetonius Paullinus]

I'd be grateful for any advice, hints, links, mistakes to be avoided etc..
IO produced some info on the offices' buttons, swords, etc. Is there anything else?
The first hurdle for me seems the colour of their gaiters, some say black (winter?) others white. I happen to like the ocre version best, could this be acceptable or is it pure fantasy?



And here (ignore the moron in jeans, he was flogged later on):



Please share your wisdom, I overspent my budget for this month already and don't want to buy the unavoidable Osprey. Yet.

Thanks for your help

Cheers

SP

[Suetonius Paullinus]

[quote="grant"]I will likely paint mine the leather colour.
quote]

That's what I wanted to hear, Sir!

Cheers

SP

[Invisible officer]

The new FIW box includes regulars in the European theatre style dress. So does the artwork. It was worn so in the colonies but rarely on campaign in the woods.

Braddock ordered his men to change a lot. The sergeant would loose his halberd but retain his sword, all waist and shoulderbelts are altered or discarded. The OR left the sword at depot. The catridge box was worn at a waist belt in front like the Grenadiers did. Woolen red breeches and waistcoatts got replaced by linnen.
The brown gaiters worn by his men are not leather but brown canvas.

later campaigns are done in even more reduced uniform. Cutting the tricorn to caps, Muskets are shortened locally. For longer expeditiuons the old catridge box was worn in addition to the waistbelt one for more amo. Add hatches for woodwork.

[Cubster]

At the horrible risk of decrying anything that IO has provided you with (he puts the tin hat on and cowers under the dining room table), bear in mind that officers did have a fair amount of leeway and sometimes wore their own swords, which may not have strictly fitted regimental requirements.

As in the Napoleonics stuff, some patches, individual variety and general mufti here and there must surely enhance the look of the unit and stay within acceptable historical accuracy. A (British) soldier is usually a first rate scavenger and thief and will 'acquire' whatever he feels he needs to get the job done and stay comfy and officers often turned a blind eye to small breaches (or maybe small breeches) of regulations.

[Suetonius Paullinus]

Great stuff guys, keep it coming!!
Kinda wish they'd be plastics now, easier to convert

Cheers

SP

[Invisible officer]

Officers ever wore their own sword. But each regiment had a certain pattern and the colonel had a sharp eye. "young man, what do you think you wear?" No good idea to joke with the rights of the boss. The royal warrants are very clear about the metal colours and that each regiment had a pattern for all officers, chosen by the CO.

The real gentleman officer owned more than one sword:
1. The heavy military smallsword or spadroon for full dress occasions. Long blade, elegant arm. But not ideal in the woods.
1a. Grenadier Officer a sword with a sabre blade.
2. A hanger or hunting sword for campaign. Short, deadly.
3. A mourning sword
4. A light smallsword for going out at the home base.
5. A duelling sword

It took some years before the introduction of a sword pattern for all line infantry officers. 1786 still vague about hilt form and 1796 unmistakable. . In 86 still hilt in button colour, from 96 on gilt for all.

[Suetonius Paullinus]

I watched the BBC documentary a while ago and bought the Snow book afterwards.
Never bothered to actually read it until now.
Must say I enjoy it quite a bit so far, seems well researched. Good buy.

Cheers

SP

[Invisible officer]

Why not go for the classics? Parkman's Montcalm and Wolfe is still worth to be read.

And: Betrayals, Fort William Henry & the "Massacre" by Ian K. Steele. A very good look behind the myth.

[Suetonius Paullinus]

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll shall add them to the list
I'm testing some colours on a Front Rank WSS mini at the moment but it's getting rather hot in my conservatory, kinda greenhouse-like. Well, guess I better move elsewhere

Cheers

SP

[Suetonius Paullinus]

Okay, this is my tester for the colours I'll be using:



Do you think the Anglo Dutch War ships from Tumbling Dice would be appropriate the period?



Cheers

SP