Ruritanian Tropical Uniform - The 4th Infantry

Ruritanians either retain their temperate weather uniform or adapt to the hotter climate.

These Ruritanians retain the spiked helmet, showing the distinct Herman influence. (AIP Prussians yet to have bases painted).

              Conversions from Airfix and Matchbox Germans with metal backpacks. One has had the rifle removed to make room for a flag pole. The helmets have been cut off and replaced with putty hats.

            This one is made from AIP with a spare Timpo cowboy head (scalped last range) with putty hat.

Increasingly, the broad brimmed hat, usually turned up at one side (the side has varied with regiments but the right side is becoming more popular and suited to the Hermanic style military drill. In fact, the broad brimmed hat has already found favor back home, notably among the rifle regiments. The usual grey uniform is not too out of place for the tropics, although some reformer advocates have suggested either off white or khaki drill. The light blue trousers also retain favor in a number of regiments. The light blue facing color of the infantry has a distinct Confederate states of Amerigo influence, although the regimental trim is another layer of color, in the case of the fourth, bright pink.

Actually, having seen the figures close up in the photos I can see  few places where I need to tidy up the paintwor - some plastic showing through on boots, eyes needing tidying up and black undercoat showing through where i don't want it to.  The black undercoat has the advantage of already coloring the equipment and serving as black underlining under the bottom of the coat. Obviously it is not so good for light colors going over the top but works well with grey uniforms and horses.