1:72 Sikhs (Boxer Uprising)

Sikh units 1900, figures 1:72 (Red Box)

A figure set in 1:72 scale from the maker Red Box. According to the name it depicts Sikh soldiers from the time of the Boxer Uprising, that is members of the Indian units of the British colonial army deployed in China around 1900. It is not a model of equipment but figures for dioramas and for the gaming table.

Clothing and armament

The characteristic feature of these figures is the turban as a head covering, which sets them apart from the other sets of the same line. The clothing matches the field uniform of colonial infantry at the turn of the century: a simple tunic and trousers, simple canvas equipment with pouches and a belt. The armament consists of a repeating rifle with a bayonet, that is the standard infantry weapon of the time. In a scene this is a foot unit that completes a mixed formation of several national contingents.

Painting tips

Figures at this scale are painted with a brush. Before painting, wash them in lukewarm water with detergent and let them dry, then apply a primer with good adhesion, and on soft plastic optionally a flexible one. The base area is the khaki field uniform, on which a dark wash into the folds and lighter drybrushing on the raised areas work well. Paint the turban as a separate area so that it stays readable even from a distance. Set the leather items of the equipment and the stock of the rifle apart in brown shades, and the metal parts only need to be suggested with a dark metal without a pronounced sheen.

Who the set is for

• Builders of dioramas from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in 1:72 scale
• Modelers putting together a mixed scene of several contingents
• Players and collectors looking for infantry in colonial clothing
• Modelers who paint small figures with a brush

The figures are supplied unpainted. Paints, glue and a base are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.