The pipes come in three versions which seem
to all be from hollow-cast moulds. Now, there is a rule of thumb with these paint-simplified
Tartans which - as plastics collectors - I guess we take from Britains catalogues,
but it goes back to the hollow-cast era, which seems to consist of two main
parties - The Black Watch and the Gordon Highlanders.
Above we have Black Watch 1st, 2nd and 5th
figure, with something equating to the Britains Gordon's at the 4th stand. The
3rd figure is probably supposed to be a Gordon also, but the pale yellow, being
almost a whitish hue, could pass for another tartan.
The Black Watch pipers actually wear Royal
Stewart tartan for both kilt and plaid (the over-shoulder cloth), the soldiery
wear the darker 'Regimental' tartan, which Britains
did as a plain, darker (than the Gordon's) matt-green. If you get a bit of blue
in the mix it's probably the Cameron Highlanders (the Sculptures UK figure we saw the other day?).
Two Black Watch on the left and three
Gordons on the right. The Drum Major has an extra-long gold-painted
dress-makers pin with the pin-head set into the little slot in his hand, for a
staff/mace, I meant to put one in and photograph it before I posted these but
forgot, I'll try and do it for the end of the (this!) 'Highlander season' . . .
or next time we look at them - thematically by pose - but you can see how it
should look, I'm sure.
I've seen these in an all-gold finish too, presumably as touristy items?
2 comments:
Britain's used to represent the Argyle & Sutherland sett with pale greenish yellow stripes, they also have the white hackle so the fellow with the pale stripe might be meant to be one of those.
Cheers Ross - I did wonder! There seems to be some proper yellow and some of the paler stuff 'meant' if you know what I mean, so that would make sense!
H
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