Cuirassier Update. . .

Here's a photo update of the first squadron of Anspach-Beyreuth Kuirassiere. Only a few touch-ups to do this evening, and they're done!

Next, we have a close-up of the squadron captain and his senior NCO. Note the silver lace for both figures, denoting their big-wig status in the squadron. Hmmm, I think there's a pun or some play on words there.

Here's the revamped regimental staff, who now have silver lace instead of gold in keeping with my attempt to paint them as representatives of an actual Austrian regiment of cavalry. Only the English trumpeter figure gives them away. Much as I like my work on the red sleeve chevrons, I might paint them out with white, since Austrian cuirassier trumpeters of the SYW period apparently had very plain coats with little to no decoration.

The squadron of cuirassiers I have been working on is just about finished. Last evening, I painted the white/silver lace -- yes, I switched from yellow/gold -- on the saddlecloths of the troopers, NCO, and captain of said squadron. I also added a few small bronze metallic bits, for instance a buckle on the shoulder strap from which the carbine hangs, the visible right shoulder straps on the cuirasses, and the baskets that protect the right hand on the sword hilts.

Before quitting for the night, to play several hands of Gin with the fetching Grand Duchess (who won quickly, something I attributed to poor shuffling of the deck), I also went back to Colonel von Heide, his standard bearer, and trumpeter, and redid their lace in silver/white. And, to use a British idiom that I've picked up from my stepfather, right smart they look too. So, the first squadron of the Anspach-Beyreuth Cuirassiers is just about finished save for a few touch-ups this evening.

So, why the change in lace color? Well, as you might remember, I have chosen to paint this regiment to resemble, more or less, an actual Austrian regiment of the Seven Years War era. My reading on the Anspach-Beyreuth regiment has shown that that body of troops had white metal buttons (pewter or nickel?) and corresponding lace, hence my decision to change oars midstream and (re-) paint that particular feature in with white/gold paint, depending on whether the figure involved was an officer or trooper. My, that was a lengthy and cumbersome sentence! What would my composition students say?

Disregarding my poor writing style for a moment, there is one question I'd like to ask those of you who are more knowledgeable about Austrian cavalry uniforms of the SYW period. I have painted silver lace on one of the trooper figures' hats and saddlecloths, to identify him as an NCO. Is this correct? Or would sergeants in the Austrian heavy cavalry have had lacing in the same color as the enlisted men? My Osprey Men-at-Arms book on the subject does not seem to contain this particular tidbit of information. Please leave a comment if you know the correct answer since I'd like to make sure that this particular detail is correct.


P.S.

Thanks to David von Linienblatt of "Not-by-Appointment", who replied to my request. Apparently, senior NCOs in the Austrian service had metallic lace like their officers while junior NCOs had non-metallic lace and, of course, the poor troopers had no lace at all. Thank you very much for your help David!