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Revell

Set 02578

British Life Guards

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All figures are supplied unpainted    (Numbers of each pose in brackets)
Stats
Date Released 1994
Contents 17 mounted figures and 17 horses
Poses 7 poses, 7 horse poses
Material Plastic (Medium Consistency)
Colours Light Grey
Average Height 24 mm (= 1.73 m)

Review

With the apparent Revell strategy of depicting elite forces for their Napoleonic range, the closest thing they found in the British cavalry was the Household Cavalry, which was made up of the two regiments of Life Guards plus, in all but name, the Royal Horse Guards. Luckily for Revell both these bodies wore virtually identical uniforms except for the colours, so this set could just as easily represent either type.

There are a healthy seven figure poses, with the usual sword waving ones being supplemented by a very nice trumpeter, resting his instrument on his knee, and an excellent officer. The figure of a man about to draw his sword is an unusual pose but well done, as is the full-on charging figure, who is better posed than any of the equivalent figures from Italeri.

The generous seven horse poses include charging, walking and standing examples which so many cavalry sets fail to provide. The horse with both left legs in touch with the ground but both right legs in the air looks rather awkward, but in general these are well done.

The Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards wore the same basic uniform as the rest of the British heavy cavalry, with the main distinctive element being the helmet with woollen crest. This was only introduced in 1814, placing this set very firmly in the 1815 Waterloo campaign and nowhere else. This helmet and all other elements of the uniform are accurately modelled here, and the swords and carbines are also correct. Officially the officer should have a sword with half-basket hilt rather than the standard issue he carries here, but officers were allowed considerable descretion in their uniform and weapons.

Detail is good without being as crisp as some, and the general standard of sculpting is up to the normal Revell high standard. This is a good looking and accurate set which neatly fills an important gap in the British Napoleonic ranks.


Ratings

Historical Accuracy 10
Pose Quality 10
Pose Number 8
Sculpting 9
Mould 10

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