Recently, Resicast released a set of 4 LRDG figures, one of which came with a Wolseley helmet. To follow on from these releases they have now produced a set of 5 heads with Wolseley helmets that should be of interested to many modellers.
The set was mastered by Gerard Detroeye.
The Set
The set comes packed in the standard Resicast format for small items, packed in double zip bags with a paper insert. The insert has an image of the items, product and manufacturers details
The heads/helmets are cast in a light grey resin and were free from damage. A sharp modelling knife/saw will be required to remove the pour plugs and a light file to remove the edges on the helmets.
The set contains 5 separate heads and 5 separate helmets. The helmets are very nicely done and look the part of the real item. The heads are a nice mixture, one comes with goggles, another with goggles and a dust mask in the form of a bandanna, the other 3 are open faced, showing a variety of expressions ranging from happy, inquiring to stern.
The detail on the faces is very well done, and these should paint up very well.
Conclusion
A very useful resource for modellers, the Wolseley was worn widely by British troops abroad during the 1930s and early part of WW2.
The quality and detail is excellent and these offer a nice finishing alternative for any figures in N Africa or the Far East.
Another quality product from Resicast.
SUMMARY
Highs: A very useful set of heads and helmets offering a distinctive finish option.Lows: None.Verdict: Highly recommended.
Our Thanks to Resicast! This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.
About Alan McNeilly (AlanL) FROM: ENGLAND - EAST ANGLIA, UNITED KINGDOM
Greying slightly, but young at heart. I've been teaching adults off and on for most of my life. Left the services in 85 and first started modelling in about 87 for a few years. Then I had a long spell when I didn't build anything (too busy) and really just got started again during the summer of ...
Good review Alan Thanks.
The Wolseley Helmet was worn as far back as the Mahdist War (Not sure if many model this in 1/35 ) by Kitchener's men and also suitable for WW1 troops- would make a nice addition to the crew of a Rolls Royce Armoured car
Hi pat,
There were a lot of different styles of helmet around in the 19ht century. The Pity Helmet was the main stay being more pointed at the top and for military use had a spike for cavalry and infantry or a ball for artillery attached on to it. These were worn until about 1902. With the introduction of Khaki Service Dress a new helmet was introduced more akin to what we see here. The Old style Pity Helmet was worn until 1914 as formal dress and is still used today by band and drums of various regiments.
There were various civilian types that crop up too and military versions made from straw appeared during WW1. I think I'd attribute this type to the late 20/30s onwards, there are examples of similar civilian styles form the 1900s If you want to go pre-WW2 then check your references.
These and similar types could be found all over the world.
Cheers
Al
Hi Alan
It's a fascinating topic and though I haven't got photos of them I think my uncle Tim might have worn one in his army days in India in the 30s and my Grandfather may have worn one in Mesopotania in WW1.
Although most of the photos showing the wolseley being worn are from the 20s and 30s there are some showing it during and even before WW1. Officer's helmets were most likely private purchase items which would account for the slight differences in shape in some photos.
2nd Battalion the Gloucestershire Regiment in Macedonia 1916-1918the surrender of the city of Jerusalem to the British Army 1917Winston 1898 Sudan
Here's what Stuart Bates (Author of The Wolseley Helmet in Pictures: From Omdurman to El Alamein ) has to say
This looks like a great set and even better that the helmets are seperate from the heads
I found a great pic of British soldiers and a light truck in Palestine in 1938. What type of truck is that do you know? Is it too much to hope it couldbe modelled using one of the new Mirror model kits
Hi Pat thanks for the WW1 pic, I knew they had them but couldn't find a decent pic to compare.
The truck looks s like the CS8 which plus models have a kit of. I would like to dream that MM will do a plastic version of that sometime in the future.
Thanks for broadening the topic.
The early helmets seem to have a cross over cloth band around them though which these don't show. Units patches and insignia were stitched to this form what I've seen.
Cheers
Al
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