Hello all,

I'm on the precipice of starting a new project, the core effort of which will be a small British force dated around the 1860s/1870s - this should give sufficient coverage for a number of alti-history scenarios such as interventions in the American Civil and Franco-Prussian wars, Japan, and Italy, as well as some real conflicts such as the Ashanti wars and Abyssinian expedition. I understand uniform did change a little over this period though from what I have seen of the slates, it was not to such a degree to be noticable at 6mm scale.

My issue currently is which minis in question to use; 

I have been comparing Napoleonics, Colonials, and even FPW Republican French from their images on the store page, and I can't quite decide which would fit best, if at all! I'd be open to a little conversion if needs be but I'm not too dextrous with a knife - Id much prefer to 'convert by paint' wherever possible.

Has anyone else attempted a similar project, or have any input on which minis they would reccommend?

Maybe Austrian risorgimento-period infantry have the right mid-height shako?

But for Ashanti or Abyssinia, won't you need colonials in pith helmet?

The Risorgimento Austrian line infantry, and gun crews look good. The Piedmontese artillery pieces, having single trails, also look good as do the light dragoons. Lancers, hussars and heavy dragoons can just be Prussians painted in British uniforms. There were also some home service militia units in grey uniforms with kepis which could be sourced from Union infantry. The 1860s and 70s are pretty easy to do. The difficulty comes with the later home service helmet having a spike, but the pith helmet lacking the spike. Another alternative is to trim down shakos to create the pork pie field cap.

I like the sentence: I'm on the precipice of starting a new project... LOL l'audace... toujours l'audace!