"federales, VIII Battalion of Mexicali?" Topic

Hi all, looking for figures in 1/72 to represent the federales of the VIII Battalion of Mexicali, who fought against the Magonista insurrection in baja, 1911. Any suggestions? Affordable minis prefered, but excited for any thoughts or suggestions. Heres the only photo if them ive seen:

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Kepis and bandoliers together is a tough one.

Shell Hole Scenics has a 20mm Mex Rev range. You could convert the federal infantry in flat cap; at least they already have peaks on their headgear. Alternatively, you might be able to find some separate heads in saumur kepi for head swaps.

Early War Miniatures also has a 20mm Mex Rev range, but its federal infantry are depicted in the 1898 pattern full-dress, double-breasted tunic, which was only worn in the field in the cooler months. They wear the same headgear as the SHS figures.

Thanks! I actually have a couple packs of ewm federal infantry on the way already. Is there anything useful in plastic? Im pretty handy with the knife, if i can find a set with bandoliers and something large enough on their heads that i could whittle them down to kepis, might be the most affordable and easiest route to take.

There isn't really anything for regular federales other than maybe the Hat WW1 Australian Light Horse, but they're probably more useful as 1915 Constitutionalists, and they're not available dismounted. Hat also does dismounted Aussie Camel Corps, but IMO the look isn't quite right.

The original Strelets Boers, mounted and dismounted, actually make better revolutionaries/federal irregulars than Boers. The more recent pack, labelled 'Boer Infantry', although more accurate for Boers can also be used in these roles.

Thats funny, i have a pack of those new boers i mostly used as spanish and Mexican revolutionaries, and i saved a couple srpues. Ill take a look again, and look into the older packs you mentioned.

Whichever plastic Boers you use Makhno, converting some of the hats into sombreros will of course help to Mexicanise your armies.

Would these regulars have some members bring along a sombrero? The best conversion fodder i found in my rejects pile were these guys in shorts from HaTs askari bunch. I just cut the hats into kepis, and added putty to turn their shorts into long pants. They only have 1 bandolier instead of the crossed bandoliers as in the photo, but otherwise theyre pretty close, though i only had 4 left anyway. Actually just used a couple of them the other day to cut up as partially buried corpses in a destroyed trench section…)

Heres another question, what color do you think their uniforms were? Seems to be a very light color based on the black and white photo.

Pardon my ignorance, ive just only begun to venture into the Mexican revolution. I need to pick up a uniforms book. Thanks for all your thoughts, Henry!

Tumbling Dice do figures with kepi and bandoliers
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Makhno, I suggest that you search the TMP message boards using Mexican Revolution as the key words. You'll find lots of information, including a guide to how to assemble and paint the various armies, which I contributed.

There's an Osprey book, a booklet called 'Notes on the Mexican Army 1900 -1920', available from OMM, and a Caliver Books publication on the subject has just been published – although, not having yet seen it, I can't vouch for its quality or accuracy, and the author has been cagey when asked in TMP threads for details of its contents.

That book also costs £40.00 GBP too :)