Galloping Along

Twenty years ago I would not have thought of  painting figures that were not shaded, highlighted,  and as detailed, historically accurate, and least toy like, as possible. I certainly went to great lengths to avoid having horses all marching or worse, galloping, in step.

Well,  I am older, wiser and less mature now but really in a way, this toyish look is accuracy or rather honesty of a different sort.  It is what they are in this context.

Oberhilse Hussars of the Republic, often incorrectly referred to as Guard Hussars. 

I didn't plan this in advance though. It was while I was sorting through horse parts from the Zinnbrigade 1815 English (sic)  Dragoon Horse molds and doing the usual mash up trying to get 6 different horse poses from the 2 rears with 2 tail positions each and 4 fronts, that it struck me that these were toy soldiers. German flats came with such varied and animated horses and many plastic soldier sets included at least 2 or 3 variations in horse poses, but what about the Britain's horsemen used in Little Wars?

A quick bit of research showed that there were a number of horse poses each of which came with a different body. The addition of a head and change of arms produced a new type of cavalrymen. Initially at least sets included 1 pose of trooper and horse and often a different pose of officer, often on a rearing horse, usually painted white as a Grey. (most white horses being technically grey). A few sets such as the Lifeguards later came with 2 trooper poses.  So it was that I was amused to see if I could duplicate this and re-sorted my pieces to get 5 identical horses for the Hussars and a rearing-ish one for the officer. (actually he's just out of step but when I  pull up on the front he looks like he's rearing, doesn't seem to want to stay up with both front legs in the air though and I don't want to add a supporting bush.)

I had already undercoated the officer's horse in burnt umber when I remembered the different colour thing. Rather than lay on enough light grey and white paint to cover the dark brown I painted him Black. Britain's also seemed to have painted most trooper horses as Bays but without the black points on leg and nose or perhaps they were chestnuts with very,very dark tails that just look black. After hemming and hawing I followed suit and painted them mid-brown with black main and tail.

  At least I'm having fun and don't they look dashing? and sooooo well disciplined! I bet the horses would make the charge even without riders. Bugler! Sound Charge!