In 1812 the French-style shako was introduced for the light dragoons. It had a black-within-white frontal cockade, regimental loop and button, traditional white over red plume and top band and chin scales in the button colour.

In fact, back in the dim dark ages, I remember using the Airfix French Infantry Officer as a British Light Dragoon. Unfortunately it took a large number of French infantry boxes to get a unit!

The tunics were also changed from a dolman to a short-skirted double-breasted tunic in dark blue with facings shown on the collar, lapels, cuffs, turnbacks and piping around the pocket. The tunic was in a completely lancer-style fashion with the coloured lapels folded back in imitation of Napoleon’s Polish Lancers.

The men even wore a waist belt or sash with two dark blue stripes on a backing colour, and in the small of the back they had the “waterfall” of the lancers. White breeches or grey overalls were worn on campaign with twin stripes in the facing colour

I also had a number of assorted painted hussars left over from who knows where but I put these together to form an adhoc unit. I really like some of the horse poses

Tomorrow the Union Brigade!