I remember asking for this a very long time ago, and got the answer, that baccus still wasn't into 20th century .. Well, really a long time ago...

I'm thinking about the same substitutes. But the french kepi are not the same as the japanese, perhaps you have file them a bit down? But what about artillery? 

The initial Japanese blue headgear was quite unique in that it was a peaked cap with quite a tall crown with a very, very narrow overhanging brim at the top. The khaki uniform had a slightly shallower crown with a slightly wider overhang more like the normal type of peaked cap. You might get away with WWI British, even for the blue uniform. What about FPW Chasseurs d'Afrique for Japanese cavalry in blue and red uniform. The Japanese artillery were the last to change to khaki, some not doing so at all until after the war.  

I am returning to this old thread rather than starting a new one on RJW proxies. 

dourpuritan

Thank you for the tip on the WW1 French Chassuers as Japanese cavalry. Looking at the figures, I feel the kepi is too distinct to work for Japanese. The Japanese cap is more dutch boy looking (see Ritta Nakanishi’s Japanese Military Uniforms 1841-1929). While the top part of the BEF cap is a little wider than I would prefer, it is distinct as a cap and not a kepi. 

In my mind, the headgear and the packs are the most distinct/noticeable parts of any 6mm figure. Get those two things close and paint will cover the rest. 

In terms of artillery pieces, the issue are the field guns. I agree that many of the heavy guns you mentioned would work, as well as the FPW and other earlier period’s siege guns. I am thinking the ACW Parrott guns might work for the Russians. The Japanese will need to suffer with any of the single trail breechloaders as the Type 31 Arisaka was a very unique gun. The main thing is that the guns on both sides lack shields. 

Both armies wore a mix of their prewar and khaki uniforms throughout the war. There are pictuers of Jaapnese artillerymen in khaki during Liao-yang. The first khaki uniforms were actually dyed summer uniforms for both armies that was start right after the Yalu. It wasn't unusual for the wool Japanese blue and Russian Green uniforms to be mixed with the khaki as the khaki was ususlly cotton and not very warm.

Certainly it will be trial and error, with the small size of the figures covering most sins. 

v/r  Jeff

I'm afraid the only other suggestion I have is to move up to 10mm where Pendraken have a new and incredibly comprehensive RJW range including early, summer and winter uniforms for both sides, plus some of the Chinese involved.

dourpusitan

Thank you for the suggesstioni. I had previoulsy looked at the 10mm figures but didn't wish to begin another figure scale. I also prefer the look of the 6mm figures when fighting large battles. I have also considered the 2mm figures, but those are a bit too small for my gaming taste.

Maybe.... 

v/r  Jeff

Hi Jeff. I have some examples of the early WW1 BEF figures. Will take some high quality close-ups and post here for you.

Robert

Robert

Thank you. I look forward to seeing them.

v/r  Jeff

Here you are, Jeff. I used a wash and then dotted in a few highlight colours:

Robert

Robert

Thank you for posting the pictures. They are nice figures. The kit is very good for BEF, a little much for Japanese. They cerainly can work. I will need to look around a bit more before fully committing to thse figures for Japanese.

Again thank you. 

v/r  Jeff

Dourpuritan wrote in the 1866 Saxon thread...

Snap, working out my proxies yesterday, mainly Nap Prussians, WWI Russians and French, and a wee bit of filing.

Agree with the WW1 Russians with a wee bit of modeling for a standard bearer. For Japanese I am opting for FPW Imperial Inf in Tunics Skirmish (FPF 07). I feel the kepi in those figures look closer to the Japanese cap than the Nap Prussians after seeing the Prussian Reserve inf figures I used for Saxons. Going with WWI French Chasseurs for cavalry. I haven't yet made a final decision on artillery (the guns, the figures will be FPF 19) but need to ask Peter about some details on possible guns.

v/r  Jeff