1:72 British Royal Marines Light Infantry (Boxer Rebellion 1900)

British light infantry of the Royal Marines 1900, 1:72 scale, Red Box

A figure set dated to the year 1900. These are light infantry of the Marines, that is a unit that works differently in a scene from a line infantry set: it advances in a loose formation, makes use of the terrain and does not hold a close order.

What the set captures

The dress of light infantry: a tunic, trousers, a head covering, a belt and carried equipment, a rifle as the main weapon. In a scene the figures are set out singly or in pairs behind cover, not in a rank. That has a practical consequence for building a diorama: you need terrain features that the poses can lean on, otherwise the formation looks disorderly.

Painting: contrast between the dress and the equipment

The biggest mistake with military figures in a small scale is a monochrome result: the dress, the belt, the pouches and the head covering all end up in one tone and the whole figure is only a colored outline from a meter away. Divide the figure into three color layers, then: the dress itself, the carried equipment, and skin or metal. Keep a noticeable difference in tone and saturation between the layers, say a subdued dress against lighter straps and against dark metal. A difference that looks exaggerated from close up is just right from a distance. Only then apply a wash, which will unify all three layers, and finally a matte varnish; a sheen takes more away from the readability of a small figure than an imprecisely painted detail.

Who the set is for

• Builders of colonial dioramas in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who combine several units in one scene
• Collectors of historical figure sets
• Modelers who want to practice the color division of a small figure

The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and terrain features are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.