The wonderful thing about our North Star 1672 range is that the figures will do for many different nations armies in the period 1665-1680. This is
because it is a time just before uniforms, and the figures are all dressed in the fashions common amongst soldiers throughout Western Europe.
because it is a time just before uniforms, and the figures are all dressed in the fashions common amongst soldiers throughout Western Europe.
This of course includes Britain.
The years covered by our range is called the Restoration Period in
Britain as it was the time the monarchy, represented by Charles II,
was restored after the English Civil War.
It was also the genesis of the British Army. Britain, tired of soldiers
and war, had disbanded much of it’s forces after the Civil War and
Oliver Cromwell’s reign. With the return of Charles II to England in
1660, the units still under arms swore allegiance to the King and
became the senior units of the British Army.
Some of the infantry regiments:
Coldstream Guards
Grenadier Guards
Scots Guards
1st Regiment (Royal Scots)
2nd Regiment (The Queen’s)
3rd Regiment (The Buffs)
st
The years covered by our range is called the Restoration Period in
Britain as it was the time the monarchy, represented by Charles II,
was restored after the English Civil War.
It was also the genesis of the British Army. Britain, tired of soldiers
and war, had disbanded much of it’s forces after the Civil War and
Oliver Cromwell’s reign. With the return of Charles II to England in
1660, the units still under arms swore allegiance to the King and
became the senior units of the British Army.
Some of the infantry regiments:
Coldstream Guards
Grenadier Guards
Scots Guards
1st Regiment (Royal Scots)
2nd Regiment (The Queen’s)
3rd Regiment (The Buffs)
st
Colour.
As for other painting details, the “Congo nappy”
loincloths were normally reddish brown or salmon pink,
but some richer men could wear red, white and black
striped versions. The long Bushongo style kilts worn by
some of the chief figures could be checked in the same
colours, red with a yellow border, or even bright pink
overall. Other kilts would be made of grass, either in its
natural straw colour or, more likely, dyed red or black.
Chiefs could also wear leopard skin aprons as insignia
of rank. Feathers came in a variety of colours, with red,
reddish brown, black, and barred brown and white
especially popular. The Cannibal Chief’s splendid drum
might have been left in its natural reddish brown wood
colour, but would probably have been painted in the
usual palette of red, white and black. These are just a
few ideas for inspiration, and I have to admit that so
little is known of some of the tribes of the region that
there is plenty of room for imagination and creativity.
For more information on the subject see my Foundry
book, “Armies of Central Africa”.
loincloths were normally reddish brown or salmon pink,
but some richer men could wear red, white and black
striped versions. The long Bushongo style kilts worn by
some of the chief figures could be checked in the same
colours, red with a yellow border, or even bright pink
overall. Other kilts would be made of grass, either in its
natural straw colour or, more likely, dyed red or black.
Chiefs could also wear leopard skin aprons as insignia
of rank. Feathers came in a variety of colours, with red,
reddish brown, black, and barred brown and white
especially popular. The Cannibal Chief’s splendid drum
might have been left in its natural reddish brown wood
colour, but would probably have been painted in the
usual palette of red, white and black. These are just a
few ideas for inspiration, and I have to admit that so
little is known of some of the tribes of the region that
there is plenty of room for imagination and creativity.
For more information on the subject see my Foundry
book, “Armies of Central Africa”.
