I am, not for the first time, looking for resources for a War of the Worlds invasion game set in the original period, the end of the nineteenth century. Granted, it's not likely to be a very fair fight... 

Nonetheless, I'm here to ask advice on British troops of the period - a period I am especially ignorant of! I'm guessing Crimean War minis would be best, since those for the various Colonial wars would be uniformed for a warmer climate, but would the troops stationed in Britain 1890 look like those in the Crimea? Same uniforms, colours & equipment? If not, what should I be buying?

I have asked this before, possibly even here, and if so I apologise, but I've lost the old replies...

I would go for the British in the Sudan range. Probably wearing Khaki but would look nicer in red tunics

Really? The only Brits I see in that range are in Pith helmets or other odd headgear - most of the codes in the army packs come from the Zulu range.

In the 1890s most regular British infantry wore a helmet very like those worn by police officers today - either white or dark blue (dark green for the Rifles) - with or without a spike on the top. The helmet was also worn in tropical climes. So the pith helmet would be correct.

Hmm... very useful. thanks. As for colours, either khaki, as mentioned before, or the same as the Zulu/Sudan war uniforms?

Yep. The uniforms don't seem to have changed much in the last years of the 19th century.

Khaki was not officially adopted for Home Service wear until 1902 - so for the 1890s it should be red with a very dark blue helmet, like the police.

Thanks.

...hmm... a Dour Puritan advocating bright red instead of khaki? 

And the New Model Army wore?

Quote from: Dour Puritan on 01 July 2013, 08:32:54 PM
And the New Model Army wore?

I have no idea... (I do know who/what they were, but I've no idea what they looked like)

New Model Army - Ollie et al - wore madder (dark red) as it was second cheapest, and lots of royalists already wore the cheapest - undyed cloth.

British Army started as it meant to go on, equipped as cheap as possible.

IanS 

Hence the oldest military quote no doubt going back to the Sumerians

"Always remember your equipment has been supplied by the lowest bidder for the contract"

The WW2 Home Guard (BA161 &162?) figures in the side cap- they paint up well as Victorian era soldiers. 

Scottish regiments would ofcoures have the kilt - or trews- and their disctinctive headgear.   The three regiments of guards would have the bearskin, not sure when the Broderick was introduced.  I have images of  Royal Artillery 1890 in the "pill box" hat.

Thanks to all.

They'll all die horribly, of course... 

From all those articles in Military Modelling I read in the 1980's a lot of Volunteer units wore grey.

The Franco Prussian War range and the like would probably provide a fair few suitable figures too.