Austrian Artillery Teams 1866

[Hertsblue]

I have asked Techno to convert figures for the ridden horses of the Austrian gun-teams. However, one set of prints that I have shows the artillery (and I assume the riders would wear the same uniform) wearing a double-breasted tunic and a tall-crowned shako. Another source, the famous painting of the "Battery of Death" at Chlum, shows them wearing single-breasted jackets and a low-crowned shako with a plume.

So, the questions are:

a) which version is correct? (The existing limber riders wear the high-crowned shako, whilst the gun-crews wear the other)

b) does anyone have, or know where to find, a decent picture that Techno can copy? and,

c) which existing horse and rider figure would be suitable for conversion? 

[mollinary]

My starter for ten. I believe, up to a point, both are!   But it is a bit tricky when I don't know which prints you have.   The single breasted tunic and shako with the drooping plume is the uniform of the Austrian artillery for 1866.  However, many wore, like the infantry, the greatcoat on campaign. That coat is the same  greyish colour the infantry wear, and is double breasted.  Also on campaign a black shako cover was worn over the shako.  I am on less firm ground here, but I believe the plume may have been detachable, although I have seen prints (Teuber and Ottenfeld, I think) which would lead one to believe that the artillery had a special cover which incorporated the plume.  Rochling's "Storming of the Battery of the Dead" shows most of the gunners wearing the greatcoat, although an officers brown tunic can be seen beneath one overcoat, and another wounded gunner is shown wearing the tunic only.

Good luck!

Mollinary

[mollinary]

Hertsblue,

Had another look around on the net to see if there was an image which would help.  On the good old grosser generalstab site, in the Knotel and Lezius cigarette cards, there is the set of ones for the wars of unification 1864-1871. On the very last page is an Austrian Kanonier for the war of 1864 against Denmark. Uniform is identical to the one for 1866, and the kanonier is shown sitting astride a wurst seat, in the greatcoat, with the shako in a waterproof cover and the falling plume attached to the left hand side.  Pretty good image I think.


Mollinary

[Hertsblue]

Mollinary,

These are the two best illustrations of 1866 Austrian artillery uniforms I can find. Speaking for myself I'd rather have the figures in plain uniform rather than greatcoats. Therefore, unless you have any observations to the contrary, I shall give Techno the go-ahead once we've found a suitable figure for conversion.

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN0560.jpg

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/AustriansfromFuncken.jpg

[mollinary]

Fine with me.  Bear in mind that the figure in your first picture is an officer.

Mollinary