New Cavalry for my Britains "B"s

    About the same time I found the last lot of Britains "B" series figures, there were two lots of cavalry, which said they were Britains "B". I'm not sure that is true; they seem smaller than the  Britains. However after thinking about it, as I am going for a toy soldier look, the difference in scale might not be a problem. Either way, they are nice figures.

The cavalry figures compared to one of the new infantry figures.

The useable figures from the lots. There were several broken figures.

The figures I was really interested in; the lancers.

4 nice hussar figures.

5 dragoon figures; I have at least another of these figures.

New Semi Round Cavalry and Painted Peter Laing Homecasts

     Besides Peter Laing figures, another interest of mine are 30mm semi round figures from the late 1800s-early 1900s.  Recently there were two lots on Ebay, one of three lancers and the other of three what appears to be mounted infantry. They came in the mail yesterday and was money well spent.

    While deciding to paint recent homecasts in the toy soldier style, it became obvious that my original search for Peter Laings has gone off course.  My main interest was to get a collection of Victorian Parade figures to have table top battles which would look like the pictures in "Little Wars", even if the rules themselves weren't used. With the help of Ian Dury I have acquired several of the parade figures (more than I expected to ever get once the search started) and what's more, he gave or traded many of these figures to me; a most kind act. One of the figures I haven't been able to get was a marching guardsmen figure. For now I will try to convert a home cast British Infantryman with spiked helmet into a guardsman. Below is a shot of an experimental figure. It still needs some work but it will fill a gap for now.  I also completed a mold of the Victorian Parade Rifleman Officer and Bugler in one day; hopefully it will be put to the test today.

    Last is some Marching Germans painted as New York State Militia from the 1880s. Inspiration for these figures wwas a company call McLoughlin Bros. who produced toy soldiers and used German style toy soldiers and painted them as American soldiers. Of course American spiked helmets of the time were more of the British style than Germanic. Still, I think they make good looking "toy soldiers", not military miniatures.

Peter Laing New York State Militia

Another Militia unit forming, marching in review by a formed unit.

Two of the semi round figures recently purchased. The figures I believe are a little smaller than 30mm but of course look the part to support 30mm infantry.

Another shot, showing the mounted infantryman. 

The first sample of a converted Guardsman. For my needs they will have to do.

15mm Peter Laing U.S.Cavalry and Indians Miniatures

In my last posting I used some Peter Laing U.S. cavalry and indian figures that I bought pre-painted. The paint job is better than I can do and deserves to be seen up close. I also mentioned to Ian Dury that I would show a couple of photos of some unpainted cavalry in kepis.

M3010 Cavalry (képi) horse walking

M3011 Cavalry (képi) horse charging

M3005 Cavalry (hat) trumpeter

Two of the painted cavalrymen.  M3002 Cavalry (hat) horse charging and M3001 cavalry  (hat) horse walking.

M3006 Mounted Indian scout.

M3008 Indian with rifle, charging.

M3007 indian with bow, charging.

Two painted chiefs in full war bonnets. The painter seemed to have  divided the figures by color coding  the feathers .  M3009 Indian with spear, charging? If anyone knows differently, please let me know.

F323 Indian, rifle trail.  In catalog in comes in under "Suitable items from other ranges"

M3007 Indian with bow, firing.

F3008 Indian, war bonnet with tomahawk.

As you can see,  nicely painted figures that I will leave alone! I showed this figure because of the extra detail in the pants.