starting a diorama of an Apache attack on a cavalry trooper and a scout, I am combining two Master Box kits, so far they are pretty good, lots of detail in the figures.




I modified them just enough to be looking and shooting at each other.

That looks super cool. Very dynamic.

I sense another masterpiece is on the way!
VR, Russ

I noticed a "crossed sabre insignia" on the hat of the trooper. I would be very careful of having that on the hat.Also avoid a yellow scarf on the soldiers. You probably would not be doing those but I had to comment on this topic.

painting on the mounted Apache started

Ok, I'll say it before somebody jumps on the colors of the trim and Corporal's stripes-- some might suspect those are artillery colors on that uniform, but of course it's more likely to be a captured tunic from the Indian Scouts, an auxiliary of the US Army in the West, who also used the red color. I know, I know, not politically correct on any count, but history is history, and that's what happened. Nice work so far Doug, I'm really looking forward to the rest of this one-- not your typical Armorama vignette.
VR, Russ

No actually I was thinking the color on my monitor was off and it was actually Dragoon orange.

The piping on the cuffs mark it as a post war 1870s coat ? The sack coat of the 1860s had no piping only the shell jackets, whereas there was a 1870s sack coat with piping. So it probably is one from a scout.

Fantastic work and what a refreshing change from tracked metal monsters.

Very dynamic.

I have just ordered my boxes.

Paul

The Apache Scouts got white and red for the Full Dress Uniform sometime in the late 1880's-1890's. Red was the branch color for the Artillery. For the life of me I can't remember what color the Army had for the Scouts in this time period..... I remember from photos that they were using the Cav color when the NCO's had the blouses on. You normally dont see any blouses before the mid 1880's. They normally looked just like the hostile Apaches except for red head scarfs. And that too was in the 80's. I don't have my books anymore to look up for you! To kill an Apache NCO and wear his jacket?? The Scouts were the most effective soldiers we ever put into the field. Why not just have a captured jacket from an enlisted trooper, of any branch.

You know there's not really anything here that screams a specific decade between 1870-1890 that couldn't be changed between a file and a paint brush.

I agree. The figures reflect what era we are talking about. i.e. The type of McClellan Saddle, the width of the carbine sling, the type of cartridge belt and the style of hat. etc. It is great seeing a Apache Wars diorama. Looking forward to seeing it painted.

a little more progress on the mounted Apache


got his pants and saddle painted

just got the saddle blanket and his boots done also

Very nice. Great detail on a 1/32 figure!

An excellent choice of subject matter and we'll executed

more work on the mounted man

on to the dead horse and the ground work


lots tans and dark browns

painting is a little tricky with the horse on the ground so here it is so far.

I am going to give you data that you may not want to hear.There was no special insignia/color for Scouts until 1890. So just a standard enlisted blouse is OK. You could say that the enlisted blouse was taken from an artillery enlisted man he killed etc.
I have seen photos of Apache Scouts with NCO rank on their blouses. But they would have a yellow or an Infantry color. Light Blue for early periods and after about 1884 white for Infantry as a branch color. I was in Arizona military history museum work for 35 years, I emailed a fried who has written on Army uniforms of this period and asked him the question. I am not trying to be picky. I figured you would ant to know. I paint figures too.

Sorry about the typo! It's late in Arizona.

Infantry was white 1886 to 1903. See osprey MAA US Army 1890-1920.

started painting the scout

scout is pretty much done

cavalry trooper behind the horse

more on the trooper