Guards Colour Party
Airfix 1:76 Scale Figure Review
Airfix sculpted the Guards Colour Party in bearskin caps without Hackles, which is how they are worn by the Scots Guards and the Danish Royal Life Guards.
Contents
40 Figures in 4 Poses – 23 mm equal 175 cm Height
- Guards Officer, parading (1)
- Guards Colour Bearer, parading (1)
- Guardsman with L1A1 Assault Rifle, “Slope – Arms!”, parading (36)
- Guards Sentry with L1A1 Assault Rifle, “Present – Arms!” (2)
- Sentry Box (2)
Evaluation
Excellent choice of subject, the Guards Colour Party in unique in this scale. Many promising conversions only require a simple head swap, replacing the bearskin cap with a service cap, Pickelhaube, kepi, shako or kolpak.
The box cover shows Guardsmen wearing the “deep blue” trousers with red piping introduced in 1844, but there is no painting guide to suggest a suitable Humbrol Authentic Colour. Humbrol HM10 »Navy Blue« may be a good choice.
Apart from the round cuffs, these guardsmen are sculpted without any distinctive uniform details which might limit their use to one particular regiment. It is much easier to paint buttons and piping on free-hand, rather than being compelled to colour in any sculpted, and typically oversized renditions of same.
The rifle is so indistinct, that the Airfix guardsmen may be used for the entire period from 1837 to the present day.
The prominent ejector pin mark on the right shoulder of the marching guardsman makes him look like a steadfast tin soldier who has had a separate right arm soldered in place rather crudely.
Good casting quality, but some flash and mould lines need to be removed prior to painting. While the »English Red« colour of the 2024 re-issues is a much better choice than the pink or pale yellow plastic of earlier releases, it still does not match »British Scarlet«.
Historical Employment
- Scots Guards
- Danish Royal Life Guards
Possible Conversions
- Grenadier Guards, white Hackle on left
- Coldstream Guards, red Hackle on right
- Irish Guards, blue Hackle on right
- Welsh Guards, white-green-white Hackle on left
- The Royal Regiment of Canada, red Hackle on left
- Governor General‘s Foot Guards, red Hackle on left
- Royal Swedish Guards in Pickelhaube Helmets
The Airfix Guards Colour Party, first released in the late 1960, has been re-released in 2024. They are still a must-have for wargamers and miniature collectors alike.