"Elite Miniatures Russian Dragoons and Cuirass" Topic

Just received a bunch of 1808-1815 Russian cavalry from Elite 28mm and something is strange. The crossbelts on the Dragoons and Cuirassiers are arranged over both shoulders in an infantry-style "X" arrangement, instead of simply being a single crossbelt over the left shoulder, like in most pictures. The cartridge pouches are attached to the right shoulder belt (back left side of the figure), while it looks like the musket/carbine is hanging on the left shoulder belt. Is this non-regulation arrangement usual, or is Elite taking liberties in their sculpts?

Greetings form the centre of France,

First of all I have loads of Elite figures – e.g. my entire Peninsula war British and Portuguese armies are Elite – and their uniforms are 100% accurate.

However, I agree that this sounds odd as I cannot find any illustration of "cross" belts like this on the internet and other manufacturers have only a single belt.

I'd ask the man himself at Elite Miniatures.

Cheers,

Paul

I think its correct up to 1812. The belt is a carbine belt that was withdrawn in 1812. Page 3 of Osprey Russian cavalry has a small b&w print of cuirassier with both belts. Also the color plate B shows chevalier guard with double crossbelts.

Auvergne:

I like the figures, too, but the discrepancy here is distracting.

Ashenduke:

Aren't both those figures in the Osprey book wearing the Pavel era uniform, though? The Elite Cuirassiers are wearing Cuirasses with brush helmets. And I've never seen a dragoon with the crossed belts at all… either the gun and cartridge pouch were both on a single crossbelt on the left shoulder, only the cartridge pouch is worn (again, over the LEFT shoulder), or there are no belts at all*.

*- actually there is a Cuirassier that looks like he's wearing a pair of Crossbelts in the Haythornthwaite "Uniforms of the retreat from Moscow" book, but nothing in the description about it.

Those wacky Russians!

When two crossbelts are worn by cavalry, they ARE crossed, with the cartridge pouch belt going over the right shoulder, and that belt is Russian "red" leather (brown leather stained with red dye, like the infantry musket slings), so that the cartridge pouch is on the left hip.

But like I said – those wacky Russians. When there is no carbine and carbine belt, they wear the cartridge pouch the other way – over the left shoulder.

Go figure.

Widowson:

Wacky indeed. Thanks for the reply. That's certainly different info than any source I've seen. Where does it come from?