"95th rifles in flat hat? " Topic

The Italeri 1/32nd figures of the 95th rifles depict several in a sort of flat cap forage cap with a peak and a bobble. I think it is called a Tam O'Shanter.

Is this correct? I've never seen such headwear ascribed to the rifles and I'm wondering if some head swaps are required.

The Italeri box art shows the greatcoats grey (I seem to recall they were usually white), and the painting instructions on the back of the box give colours for a figure who isn't actually included (an officer). They also depict them in Portuguese style cacadore gaiters, so I have my doubts about the accuracy…

I did a quick google on 95th rifles headwear and this page came up, hope it helps link

I don't think the Sharpe series are a very good source; you'd better look here: 2nd95thrifles.myfastforum.org/index.php

The figure, and Sean Bean, is wearing a forage cap. Through the 1800s, and into the 1940s, the British Army has had a on and off love affair with Scottish headwear for undress caps. What do you mean be "cacadore style gaiters"? Is it that the figure has his trousers tucked into the gaiter tops? I can't find a pic. of the those figures. The british gaiters are usually calf high give or take. As far as I know British greatcoats were grey.

If you look here you can just about see the figure on the right has notched gaiter tops:

link

The back of the box shows on the left a figure not actually included. The right hand figure sports the notched gaiters.

Here are the figures themselves; note the headgear of the two middle in the bottom row.

The actual figures inside the box look correct to me, the cap aside that is. It's the box art that's dodgy.

This re-enactor is wearinbg the white coat:

link

This re-enactor is wearing the white coat:

You sure that's a greatcoat and not a blanket?

Blue moon has 18mm 95th rifles in shako and that same fatigue cap. Green cap. Mine painted up well.

From Caldwell and Cooper's Rifle Green at Waterloo Page:117.

-Foraging Caps- "The Foraging cap to be made of black cloth, edged and lettered white, to be worn in a leather case above the pouch; they are to be worn from taptoo to sunrise, and then neatly returned to their cases."

Paul :)

British Greatcoats were definitely grey in the Napoleonic Wars, the reenactor's got a blanket rolled on top of his pack.

So, the source I have that says riflemen's greatcoats were white (and only riflemen's) is Haythornthwaite's Uniforms of Waterloo, which shows a white greatcoat roll atop the backpack and the text comment is "Equipment was black leather, and the greatcoats were, unusually, white".

The elderly Hinchliffe Handbook and the Airfix 54mm figure – all three of the same era really – also say white. I'm aware other greatcoats were grey but has anyone recanted or explained where the "white myth" came from?

Are the black forage caps mentioned above the same things as these?

Again from Caldwell and Cooper:

"The greatcoats for the Rifle Corps are to be of dark grey cloth, double breasted and with three rows of buttons, a falling collar, cuffs with slits and four small buttons.
The collar and cuffs of dark green cloth.
The pocket to be open in the plait and the buttons similar to the large size of the full dress coat."

Paul :)