1:72 Bengal Lancers from Strelets

 The figures are from the Strelets set 57 "Bengal Lancers. The figures are suitable for the last decades of the 19th century and the start of the 20th, a period that saw the Indian Army cavalry serve in Afghanistan and China as well as their native India. The Indian army was an excellent and very proud fighting machine, and the various regiments often known collectively as the Bengal Lancers won many battle honours and much admiration from both their commanders and the wider public, while several feature films added to the perceived romance of the corps.

Strelets do sets from interesting periods but the level of sculpting, moldmaking and casting is far behind those of the more popular companies.

I plan to paint these soon (these have already been primed grey) so here's a rough guide I paraphrased from the forums I frequent when other modelers asked about uniform references:

A few painting notes for some of the more striking Bengal Lancer units:

10th Bengal Cavalry

• dark blue coat (kurta)
• red waist sash
• dark blue and white turban with gold and white stripes and red peak
• black boots
• brown belts and equipment.

1st Skinner's Horse

• gold coat with dark gray fur cuffs and collar and silver mail on shoulders
• red waist sash with black and yellow stripes near the ends
• red turban with black and yellow stripes and yellow peak
• white breeches
• blue puttees
• black shoes, black belts and equipment

18th Bengal Lancers

• red coat with blue waist sash
• gold trim at collar and piping
• silver mail on shoulders
• blue turban with white and gold stripes and red peak
• white breeches
• black boots, brown belts and equipment.

Lances were buff or bamboo colored and pennons were red over white.