On the colonial front I'm working on an Italian Besaglieri/African service ca. 1896 at the moment. He is looking good although some of the uniform details, such as belt buckles and style of straps on the back are proving elusive. I've made the Vetterli rifle carried by the Italians.

I really like the rifle for the Italians. I will try and do some research for your buckles. I will put your Irish in the April issue, as Feb is almost done. As I said I am not sure I would consider it Colonial, but the readership may and it is up to them for this. I think I would pit your Irish against my soon to arrive Foundry Don't Panic Captain Mainwaring WWII figures. Should be quite a laugh.

I like your Irish particularly the gent firing the pistol, unfortunately it didn't print well enough to publish.

I had the same idea about the Irish and Dad's Army. The only problem is that I just couldn't allow anyone to shoot at some of the characters e.g. Godfrey the medic.

I'm making another IRA man now, with another on the blocks. I'm also putting the finishing touches to an RIC Auxilary.

My Italian backstrap question is still a problem. I've put a request out on the colonial list but no answers have come back. maybe no one knows the answer!

If you want I can send the IRA and Black and Tanjpegs as separate images.

Thanks for looking into the Italian equipment problem for me. The backstrap mystery is really beginning to annoy me. However I have asked many people, including putting a request out on the Colonial List, and hope that someone can come up with an answer.

Leoplodo Nuti and Ruggero Romano [my Italian contacts] are both coming around to the conclusion that it was a 'U' shaped strap around the back of the neck. Leoplodo is going to contact the Besaglieri museum in Rome to confirm this.

If a definite answer can't be found then I'll have to just take a punt and make what I think is most likely, which at the moment seems to be the 'U' shaped strap.

I have finally finished the mounted figure of one armed General William Loring [Loring Pasha] in the Uniform of an Egyptian General. He should be in the mold soon and available by March along with more weapons: double barrelled elephant gun, Pennsylvania flintlock Rifle, early bolt action rifle [looks like a Lebel], Italian rifle, spears, revolvers with cast on hands, broad bladed assegais.

Hold the presses, there was no U shaped strap Unless you mean that it went around the neck see below.

The following information is from Gian Carlo Stella's "Battaglia Di Adua, 1 March 1896. 1991 Ermanno Albertelli Editore, Parma Italy.

From the photographs I noted the following

1. Work parties wore no webbing, they only carried canteen and ditty bags. These bags crossed front and back, the canteen was on the right back hip while the bag was on left side, however, this could be reversed. The only buckles noticeable are in the middle to upper chest area, small and silver on the crossing straps.

2. Webbing, no buckles except those in black, as was the webbing. Webbing in front connects by ring and closing hook just above ammo box each front side. Ditty bag is always on left side, first the bayonet attached to web belt, then bag, then canteen, if it was on the left side, some carry the canteen on the right side. If wearing a pack it has its own straps with no visible buckles, simply over the shoulders and under the arms. Apparently, there is no indication in any drawing or photograph that the web connects in the back, it just goes around the neck. I guess that could be your U shaped strap.

You are a marvel. Thanks for the information. I bit the bullet on the weekend and pressed ahead regardless [in the best traditions] and made a loop around the back of the neck. My Italian progresses well, he is wearing all the appropriate gear and should look very nice when finished.

I thought you might like to see the first of Cannon Fodder Miniature's Anglo-Irish War 1919-1921 Greg Blake [CFM]