A question of the Raupenhelm. Yes. That helmet.

[grant]

So, as I get my stuff organized, I have come across an interesting unit. The Baden Dragoons. Swell looking lot they are. But here's the problem. I am happy to use the plastic Perry Dragoons as the base for the unit, but the helmet is completely wrong. So, I was thinking of taking the Raupenhelm from the Cuirassier box and cutting them down slightly to make them appropriate for the Baden unit.

Any thoughts?
I want the unit to look like this (although obviously with a lot more enthusiasm. I don't think this fellow has much left in him).


The Perry helmets look like this (on the left, with the fuzzy plumy-thing):


These are the Dragoons:

[Comte Michel]

The raupenhelm as worn by Bavarians etc is quite tall. You might get close by starting with the French carabinier helmet, cutting off the metal crest then re-attaching the caterpillar and trimming the 'tail' end to fit. You would have to smooth off the front part of the helmet and attach a small oval plate and chains - you can see them clearly in your photo of the Baden dragoon. Might be better to make the helmet shell itself from green stuff, because really the carabinier helmets are too short.

Assuming that the Baden helmets are the same as the Bavarians, just above the peak there is a horizontal metal band bearing the regimental name (I think, I can check my references later). You can see the band in your pic. Confirmed, it does carry the regimental name.

There is a version of the raupenhelm where the caterpillar comes further forward into the oval plate, hard to describe, but the pictures for plates 205 and 206 in Military Uniforms of the World (Blandford Press) show it. I think the version in your pic is the better known, and easier to model.

Ospreys Napoleon's German Allies (4) Bavaria has some very good photos of actual helmets.

I have to confess to a personal love of raupenhelms. Those and the carabinier and lancer types with the caterpillar crests have always been my favourite Napoleonic uniforms.

[Comte Michel]

Oh and another thought, the shabraque is pointed unilke the French heavy cavalry one which is square. You could maybe do some clever chopping and add the sheepskin and the square pack off a dragoon to the French hussar officer horse.

[grant]

Thanks Comte, I will have an interesting with this project!
I think the shabraque will be minor in the bigger picture of things, the helmet will be a good chunk of time to make it look close.

Tonight is games night, so work begins in earnest this weekend.

[grant]

How much closer is this helmet? Smoot the front, add the plate and the regimental band could be painted?

[Comte Michel]

In shape I think the Carabinier is still marginally closer, and the size of the caterpillar is about right. The Austrian caterpillar is a bit small. The biggest problem is the shape of the helmet shell, it's taller than you might think. Here are some scans to illustrate:

raup3.jpg (61.03 KiB) Viewed 571 times

Photo of a cavalry officers helmet.

raup2.jpg (44.1 KiB) Viewed 571 times

Drawing of same.

raup1.jpg (65.71 KiB) Viewed 571 times

Other ranks helmet, infantry but it shows the shape very well - note that officers had larger plumes and crests. Some pictures show this version of the helmet with the plate over the front of the crest.

[grant]

I see what you mean. That dome is dramatically taller than I thought! Thanks for your work on that. I believe tha carabinier with green stuff will have to be it. Luckily I will only need about 10 of them, so a good weekend or two should do it.

Here we go...

[Comte Michel]

You're very welcome. Good luck with the build.

[Greystreak]

What about converting Victrix Early Russian Dragoons (1805-08)? Sculpted by Paul Hicks, horses by E-Bob--expensive but worth it?

[grant]

A good idea, but too expensive! I have lots of boxes of Perry, so will just work with the super-affordable plastics.