Inspired by a conversation with fellow designer Marc Copplestone and a re-reading of The Great War in England in 1897 by William Le Queux, we introduced an extension to our earlier toy soldier range, LITTLE BRITONS. So called because they are little (42mm) and mostly British Home Service types, they are, of course, also an homage to those big ‘Britain’s’ hollow cast toy soldiers from the beginning of the 20th century and made famous in H G Wells’s book Little Wars, celebrating its centenary next year (2013).
So what do we have?
As I have said, mostly classic British Home Service types, English, Highland and Lowland dress plus some Foreign Service and Indian Army troops. Also a few European styles that will allow one to make Austrian, French, Russian or Prussian troops, if not more.
The miniatures follow the same basic format as the old Shiny Toy Soldier range being a torso with a choice of head and arm or arms where appropriate, including the old STS heads, arms and equipment. I have, though, decided to make the cavalry horse and riders as one piece (with a choice of arm and head plus a Holstered Carbine and Sword in Scabbard ) in a more ‘Britain’s’ style.
Within the HEADS section I have included head types that will allow you to create a number of the experimental uniforms trialled by the French Army during the early years of the 20th century.
The ‘Detaille’ uniform.
The Detaille uniform was designed by the renowned painter Edouard Detaille. A formal style kepi was proposed in the classic red and blue but with a black leather top made to stop water gathering on it in the rain. This was to be worn with a blue grey overcoat and red trousers with dark blue leggings. Equipment was to be black leather or khaki drill canvas ‘Mills’ pattern. The most unusual aspect of this uniform was the black leather ‘Bourguignotte’ helmet which had a brass crest chin scales and edging on the front and rear peak. Although the uniform itself was practical enough, the helmet proved uncomfortable and impractical in use.
The ’Reseda’ uniform.
The Reseda trial uniform was of a grey-green material not unlike the German Field-Grey uniform made famous at the start of the Great War. Emphasis was made on the tunic as the main item of wear rather than the more traditional overcoat. The tunics had red cuff flaps and for dress wear red epaulettes. The trousers had a red stripe on the seam and puttees were to be worn in the field. The helmet, looking very similar to the later Adrian helmet, was also covered in grey-green material with red piping. It also sported a bronze crest and chin scales. To add to this rather none-French look it was also decided that the equipment should be natural tan leather. Needless to say this rather innovative uniform was unpopular with both politicians and the public, even the addition of red trousers and red epaulettes on the greatcoat failed to make it French enough and it was rejected. The 1906 trial uniform.
The 1906 trial uniform had an overcoat, puttees and trousers made of beige-blue cloth with a Spanish style kepi also made of the same coloured cloth. The colour is quite close to the Horizon Blue that was eventually chosen for the French army during the Great War. A helmet was also trialled, similar to the British Wolseley design. Sadly, this innovative design was set aside for various political reasons.
The 1902 Trial Artillery Helmet.
This helmet made of burnished steel with brass fittings had a relatively successful trial and was still in use by some units well into 1915.
BODIES
BRITAIN AND COMMONWEALTH
The following bodies cover the most common types of uniform for the late Victorian/early Edwardian British and Commonwealth army.
The Home Service bodies can also be used for many other European and World armies.
The Highland bodies can be used for the London Scottish and a number of Commonwealth ‘Highland’ units as well as the more traditional Scottish regiments.
The Lowland bodies cover The Highland Light Infantry, The Royal Scots, The Royal Scot Fusiliers and The Cameronians-Scottish Rifles.
LBB01 Home Service Marching LBB02 Home Service Firing LBB03 Home Service Charging LBB04 Home Service on Guard LBB05 Home Service Running at the Trail LBB06 Home Service at the Trail LBB07 Home Service Full Kit LBB08 Home Service Kneeling Firing LBB09 Home Service Kneeling at the Ready LBB10 Home Service Kneeling NCO/ Crew LBB11 Foreign Service at the Trail LBB12 Foreign Service Kneeling at the Ready LBB13 Foreign Service Kneeling NCO/ Crew LBB14 Highlander Marching LBB15 Highlander Firing LBB16 Highlander Charging LBB17 Highlander Kneeling Firing LBB18 Highlander Kneeling at the Ready LBB19 Highlander Kneeling NCO/Crew LBB20 Lowland Scots at the Trail LBB21 Officer Home Service LBB22 Officer Kneeling (requires both arms) LBB23 Highland Officer LBB24 Lowland Officer LBB25 Sailor LBB26 Indian Army LBB27 Ghurkha LBB28 Home Service Casualty LBB29 Home Service Seated LBB30 Boy Scout
FRANCE
These bodies cover the most common of the French uniform styles
LBB31 French Infantry LBB32 French Zouave LBB33 French Officer
OTHER COUNTRIES
These bodies cover those armies following the Russo-Prussian style of Jack boots and rolled greatcoat.
LBB34 Russian/Prussian Marching/At the Trail LBB35 Russia/Prussian Charging
CAVALRY AND MOUNTED
The cavalry bodies are all dressed in tunic and cavalry boots thus allowing for the many variations of British, Commonwealth, European and World uniform types.
LBC01 Cavalry Trotting LBC02 Cavalry Galloping LBC03 Limber Horse LBC04 Limber Horse Rider
HEADS
BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH
LBH01 Bearskin LBH02 Home Service LBH03 Highland Bonnet LBH04 Foreign Service LBH05 Light Infantry Shako LBH06 Rifle Regiment LBH07 Fusilier LBH08 Hussar LBH09 Household Cavalry LBH10 Lancer LBH11 Wolseley LBH12 Indian Army LBH13 Service Dress Cap LBH14 Ghurkha/Pill Box LBH15 Glengarry LBH16 Broderick Cap LBH17 Tam O Shanter LBH18 Slouch Hat LBH19 Sennit Straw Hat LBH20 Generals Hat LBH21 Lemon Squeezer LBH22 Bare Head
FRANCE
These heads allow you to create the most common of French troop types plus a number of the more experimental uniforms from the turn of the 20th century.
LBH23 1912 Detaille Trial Helmet LBH24 Cavalry Shako LBH25 Fez LBH26 Formal Kepi LBH27 1902 Trial Artillery Helmet LBH28 1906 Trial Kepi LBH29 1912 Reseda Trial Helmet LBH30 1906 Trial Helmet LBH31 Dragoon/Cuirassier Helmet LBH32 Shako LBH33 Kepi
OTHER COUNTRIES
LBH34 German Full Dress Pickelhaube LBH35 Cossack
ARMS Unless stated otherwise all are right arms
LBA01 Sword Thrusting LBA02 Sword at Slope LBA03 Pistol LBA04 Rifle at the Trail LBA05 Shouldered Rifle LBA06 Raised LBA07 Empty LBA08 Binoculars LBA09 Map in left hand LBA10 Slung Rifle LBA11 Trumpet LBA12 Whip LBA13 Binoculars in both hands LBA14 French, Shouldered Rifle LBA15 French, Rifle at Trail LBA16 Cavalry Carbine LBA17 Lance, Slung LBA18 Lance, Couched LBA19 Lance, Upright LBA20 Flag
ARTILLERY
LBG01 4.7inch Howitzer LBG02 Limber
EQUIPMENT
LBE01 Sword in Scabbard LBE02 Holstered Carbine
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Little Wars by H. G. Wells The Great War in England 1897 by William Le Queux The collector’s all colour guide to Toy Soldiers by Andrew Rose British Infantry Uniforms since 1666 by Michael Barthorp The Thin Red Line by D.S.V.&B.K.Fosten Vanished Armies by A. E. Haswell Miller The French Army in the First World War-to battle 1914 by Laurent Mirouze and Stephane Dekerle
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