1:72 British Dragoons Sampler

British dragoons 1:72, a sampler set from HäT

A set of unpainted plastic figures in 1:72 scale from the brand HäT. The sampler box combines the sprues of two different sets, so you get British heavy dragoons and light dragoons side by side. In all it contains sixteen mounted figures in eight poses of riders and two poses of horses. That composition is exactly what makes sense in a set labeled as a sampler: it was not there for building one large unit, but so that a collector could compare the two kinds of cavalry and complement one with the other.

The real subject

In the Napoleonic Wars the British cavalry was divided into heavy and light. Heavy dragoons had more powerful horses and a crested helmet, and they were committed to a decisive charge against a close formation. Light dragoons rode lighter horses, wore a shako and, besides fighting, carried out reconnaissance, outpost duty and the pursuit of a retreating enemy. On the Iberian Peninsula both kinds served alongside each other.

Building and painting tips

The riders are fitted onto the horses, and it pays to dry-fit the joint and if need be to pare down the inner side of the thighs. Soft plastic holds better with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) or epoxy. Wash the figures beforehand in soapy water and coat them with a primer for plastic, otherwise the paint cracks at the bends. The horses come into their own if you add a darker glaze in the folds and a lighter touch along the back over the basic brown coat.

Who the set is for

• for collectors of Napoleonic cavalry in a small scale
• for tabletop games where a smaller mounted unit is enough
• for comparing two kinds of British cavalry in one set
• for adding mounted figures to an existing formation

The figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.