"WIP Russian Guard Cossacks Sho Boki 18 mm" Topic

Before I varnish those, now is still the opportunity to correct errors.
I am not sure about the colour of the cartridge pouch belt, some sources indicate Russian leather – instead of white I used, the same for the cartridge pouch box, I went for the conventional black with attached ramrod rolled in white strap, here as they look like at the moment

Hi VonW…

Leonov, Popov and Kibovskii are showing a reddish leather cartridge pouch and belt for enlisted/ncos and a dark blue/silver belt and pouch, with badge for staff officers and up.

These look great--I don't know that I'd change them.

Very pretty, but can they fight?

Crikey they are good.

Summerfield is the chap you need.

But, as one who knows almost nothing about these folk, but did research them to escort the Tsar's carriage in 28mm…they look great.

Remember the scale of these faces…with eyebrows and even eyelashes!

I suspect von W is unlikely to be far wrong in uniformology. He is one of the "survivors" on this forum, who can offer expert opinion. I think many others have been lost…. to aggressive responses…or being unduly sensitive maybe?

My version..

Red leather belt and box are mostly shown for Guard Cossack troopers. I even don't find the evidence of white belt. Ordinary (not Guard) cossacks are shown with black belt and box.
I painted my Guard Cossacks with black box but I don't remember, why. Maybe from Sauerweid painting, you send to me.

I could dig through other references, but this is certainly the most comprehensive and well-researched that I've come across.

link

Ok – thanks so far, it seems Russian leather belts and cartridge pouches

They should do well on the table

yes I forgot about the Sauerweid print, here it is

OK – I repaint the cartridge pouch belt for sure, for the box, I am still undecided

Terrific brushwork on the Cossacks! How would you rate the facial features against AB?

Well I know what I would say about facial features, as one who has only worked in 28mm….

Until I did four carriages in 15/18mm with AB and Eureka figures in attendance. I could not believe the quality of the castings I was seeing.

But if my 28mm figs had facial features like those I see above, I would be fairly chuffed. I do not favour the whites of eyes, homicidal maniac, look…..even in the horses, let alone the riders!

Two questions to any reviewer. Are these instantly recognisable/identifiable? Could you immediately dismiss them as any one scale?

facial features of Sho are pretty good, you will notice the bigger heads than AB – the troopers faces – easy to paint, the officer and trumpeter – more difficult – the end result – very worthwile.

There I did AB Russian staff as well – you can compare when I will put them up along with Sho's staff.

AB is certainly more consistent – with all those years of experience while Sho is at the beginning of his career

I agree entirely. My text may have been cryptic, if so apologies. I think these faeces (what a marvellous typo error, I meant faces!) are superbly cast and painted.

I continue to be impressed by what is available in 15/18mm scale, esp as the poses tend to be less "heroic" than 28mm.

Of course the question was about the cartridge belt and pouch and whether red leather or white. I looked at this for my Tsar's carriage and was surprised that often that belt is shown over the right shoulder, as in Sho Boki's figures…and in reddish brown leather. White belt over the left shoulder holds a firearm ranging from a musket/carbine to a pistol.

Now none of these are primary sources, but just see the variety of impressions. Mt St Jean and various commercially available models on the Internet;

thanks – so the cartrige box – brown as well.
will be re painted

LP&K show the cartridge belt over the left shoulder for troopers and over the right for yos for the period 1812-1814 (appears to be the dates of the sculpts)

From 1814, the box and straps are black.

AS a note, for the 1812-1814 Life Guard Black Sea sotnia, there is only a black cartridge box and belt, and no white belt, as for the Kazaki.

thanks again for all the valuable information