Hi all,

I'm looking for some WW2 Indian infantry. So not the original inhabitants of North America but infantry from India as part of British/Commonwealth forces

They used British style uniforms which are widely available so especially head sets would be usefull. Does anyone know if these are available in 1/35? A quick search with google didn't give much results...

Also actual pictures of Indian soldiers during WWII in the Italian theatre of war would be most welcome, as they seem very hard to find on the internet.

Hope you can help me out here!

Martin

Hi Martin,

The simple answer is no, there are no "British" or "German" Indian WW2 troops available in plastic 1/35 scale. In fact, I don't even recall seeing them in resin or white metal.

I'm on my way to the inlaws now, but I'll have a look at my ww2 resources later to see what the Commonwealth Indians wore - I would imagine BD's or KD's like the rest of the troops, similar to Ghurkas, except maybe with a turban ? If so one of the "many" Commonwealth kits should suffice with a head and insignia change .

Chat later

Rudi

p.s. don't you think it's sad how the minority groups, who played such an important role in ww1 and 2, are sufficiently represented not only in modelling, but given their due in history?

You are truly staring into the void, the biggest gap in range of WW2 figures is Indian Army troops.

The only Indian soldier I can remember seeing is one of the Indian volunteers serving with the Afrika Korps and modelled by Verlinden.

http://www.historexagents.com/shop/hxproductdetail.php?ProductCode=1392

And even he's in German uniform!

But apart from Sikhs, Indian troops would have worn steel helmets in action and would have been dressed in the same way as British troops - if it wasn't for the kukris, who would know that these were Gurkhas?



Found in the Imperial War Museum's Italian Campaign collection 4700-39.

David

Hi Martin,

Osprey's Montgomery's Desert Army has several pictures of Indian troops. PM me your email address and I'll send you some scans.

Basically except for the KD paggri it appears Indian troops wore the same uniform as other British troops.

I think the soldier David refers to would be a member of the German Free Indian's - basically captured Indian's convinced to fight against the British.

Rudi

Martin,

Me again

I had a look through Squadron's head sets for Warriors sets, and the only head with a turban I could find was from the Afghan Warriors Head Set



HTH

Rudi

Hi all,

First of all, thanks for the replies. And yes, there's a big gap here, both in modelling and in most general books, movies etc. Lot's of allied troops are being forgotten while they played an important part in WW2 history, sometimes at a terrible price.

Maybe even more a reason for us to try to fill the gap by being creative

Rudi, check your PM

Martin

Hey Martin
I know they are tankers, but it gives a good study of the turban!



Brad

Wow! Bradley,that pic is exactly what I am lookin' for. I am also trying to figure out how to put together Indian troops from WW2 so I got a set of the Afghan heads and decide how to carve and build them up, Trying to lay the ground work for a dio at Tobruk-Knights Crossing.
Many thanks again!
Rick

Hey Rick
Happy to inadvertently help
Make sure you have plenty of pics of the upcoming diorama...
Brad

Alrighty guys, Im not too sure but im guessing your looking for desert style Indian troops .. ? My Grandfather was in the British Indian Army and say active service with the 46th Infantry "Black Cat Division" in Burma and the Middle East (Iraq and Iran). I've been looking also and I found two sets for you. I've used both sets and they are highly recommend !

Asian Jungle Theatre
1:35th Dragon Red Devils - Arnhem '44
Paint the berets black and give the figures a base coat of olive drab then top off with a coat of field drab ... colour is DEAD ON !

Desert Theatre
1:35th Dragon British Infantry El Alamein
note: Only the SIKH troops had the turbans NOT all of them ! Most of them had the standard bowl style British helmets. Paint them in a sand/tan colour

hope this helps !

If you building an Asian jungle diorama you may want to also pick up the Italeri Chevy 15 CWT

There is this coming up sometime in 2009, from Dragon:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/133996#1115420

Indian troops tended to wear older versions of the British Uniform and webbing especially in the Desert.

Sherman tank crews of the Scinde Horse Regiment, part of the Indian 31st Armoured Division in Iraq. In the foreground, a party of Sikhs is being given instruction on stripping and cleaning a Browning gun, by a Viceroy's Commissioned Officer.


DESCRIPTION:

Indian troops parade with anti-tank weapons - a Boys anti-tank rifle and 'Molotov cocktails', 6 October 1940.

If you pm your email to me I have some other stuff that might be useful

i saw a post here somewhere of a set realeased by dragon that has some british soldiers and an indian soldier. sorry i cant remember excactly there but i know it exists...there was a picture of the box

That would be the link I posted on Monday.

lol