Welcome to the Strelets Forum. Please feel free to discuss any aspect of 1/72 scale plastic figures, not simply Strelets. If you have any questions about our products then we will answer them here.
In medicine if the doctor prescribes a drug for a use not generally approved, it's called off label.
So taking aspirin for something other than pain would be an example.
I use the Strelets French Guards Chasseures set 277 as two different US Army units that had similar uniforms.
The 2nd Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, 1887 to 1941 and
1st City Troop of Cleveland, Ohio, 1887 to 1881 when they became an Ohio National Guard unit maintaining their historic identity until 1942.
I use these troops as part of my War of the Worlds troops to oppose the Martian invasions of 1898, 1918, and 1938.
Based on the book the War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells for a turn of the century invasion, All Quiet on the Martian Front books for a WWI era invasion and on the Orson Wells radio play from October 30, 1938 War of the Worlds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzC3Fg_rRJM&t=4s
What Off Label uses do you make of Strelets troops?
I too have been using some Strelets troops off label Mike. I’ve been using some of the ACW Union sets and modified Foreign Legion sets for 1877 Russians. The French men require some converting, but the Union infantry can really be used as is. Just a simple paint conversion. I also plan on using the Crimean War Sardinians as Romanian Chasseurs. I was initially gonna go to another scale for this project but I realized that part of the beauty of 1/72 scale is the possibility of conversions.
Many years ago (more than I realized until I thought of it), I was doing a story I shared on several forums online about a detachment of Napoleon's troops trailing the main body and under almost constant attack from Russian Militia and Cossacks. There were a number of mounted Cossacks from several makers available and I used them all. Finding Cossacks on foot was a bit of a challenge. I used Strelets' Crimean War and WWI Cossacks. With very little effort they painted up well to fit the bill. Thankfully at this scale a bit of paint covers a LOT.
I painted Strelets' Crimean War Zoauves have stood in well as ACW units, greatly enhancing my units for both sides. I would still like some Louisiana Tigers without headswaps.
Their Boers also made great Rebel guerillas with a minimum of effort and paint, mainly the rifles.
Of course, when I was still doing Medieval figures I've used their sets for various purposes; a paint job renders their military orders sets into any orders you want - as well as "generic" knights depending on the era.
The joy for me of not painting troops over the years (I started painting my 1/72 figures in the 80s trying to match a then-new company's figures with my old stuff from my childhood) was the fact that one was only limited by imagination when you used them. WW2 US figures in green could be used in the Pacific, Europe, or Africa. Once I paint them I identify them as early war (pre-1944), late war, Northern Europe of the Pacific. Even by unit patch (as an old All American 82nd Abn) it always upsets me to see folks paint their WW2 paratroopers with the wrong patch of the 101st. :wink:
And what about the Angels of the 11th Abn in the Pacific?
One is limited only by the imagination.
That, and sentimentality, is why I've painted relatively few of my 1/32 scale figures - though I've been painting some.
But even in painting, one is only limited by imagination.
One of the reasons I enjoy your site so much, Mike.
Now that Wayne mentions it, also I used the Crimean War Cossacks on foot for 1812! The sailors from the same set could double as Germans constructing WW1 trenches.
My project on the Pacific War 1879 - 1883 has drawn on Strelets ACW and Boers ranges.
A paint job on the excellent Strelets 'Gettesburg' union sets can easily represent Chilean, Peruvian and some of the Bolivian troops.
Used the Boers for one of the volunteer Bolivian units, mounted and on foot, also a few of the 1877 Russian infantry have joined the Peruvian army.
Also have Hat ACW and a few Colonial British eg machine guns, signalers, officers in Pith helmets, Italeri French Foriegn Legion (with the neck covers and tropical dress) and ACW artillery
Its one of the more colourful late 19th century conflicts (from a wargaming point of view) and number of accessible sources eg the Osprey Armies of Pacific War 1879 - 1883. Units in blue and red, white, green, grey, yellow and red. For example Bolivia had its regular units in the colours of its flag - red, yellow and green, militia in greys with coloured facing - all look great on the table).
A lot of the French Crimean figures can be used for the French Army in the opening months of WW1. I've mixed them with EWM metal figures with some success.