BSAP DOG TEAMS.

British South African Police Dog Team.

Scratch building BSAP 28mm figures

While we wait for manufacturers to come out with new figures I thought I would try my hand at scratch building a BSAP Dog Team.

The Dog Teams were used to apprehend villains and also to track down villains and so they were soon employed in hunting down terrorists. In some cases flown forward in helicopters to get on to the fresh trail.

Dog Teams were used by many branches of the Rhodesian Defence forces in follow up operations.

Dog Teams were also used by the Rhodesian Engineers to seek out Land Mines and were very successful.

Using my box of Perry Miniatures 8^th Army 28mm figures I decided to make a batch of BSAP figures.

BSAP Figures.

The Dog Handler

The dog handler was made from these figures as described but given an Uzi sub machinegun. (I had spares from my Underfire Miniatures 28mm Selous Scouts figures), Early in the war handlers would carry a sterling Sub Machinegun.

The Dogs.

I bought a pack of Dogs from Crooked Dice which also had a military handler. German Shepherds were perfect for the BSAP but I gave a tail to the Rottweiler and tried to make look more like a Labrador.

Other figures would make up the command element, flank guards and support group bringing up the rear.

I purchased peaked cap heads from Gripping Beast WW1 range, (Woodbine Design Company heads). I also purchased WWI French Legionnaire cork hats for the early BSAP African constables cork hats which were worn in the very early years of the war. All I did was snip off the top of the cork helmet.

Also I sent off for a number of 28mm FN weapons packs from WWW.THEASSAULTGROUP.COM.

In this case I ordered FN assault rifles for my figures. Also spare water bottles.

Thus the Perry figures 28mm plastic miniatures gave me BSAP in shorts and I added peaked cap heads, 44 ammo pouches and FN rifles. Trimmed off the 303s, and webbing where necessary.

For the BSAP figures I cut off back straps and some water bottles and 44 ammo pouches. I scraped off the gaiters leaving socks. I also cut off the bayonet. In some cases I kept the water bottle but trimmed the cap and straps to make it look like an ammo pouch. BSAP in Patrol Order would also wear leather leggings which were highly polished.

Even towards the end of the war the BSAP in Patrol Order would have a 44 ammo pouch on their hip to carry FN magazines.

I attached one 44 ammo pouch from the box set to some of the figures.

The peaked cap heads and FN rifles were attached using Rapide epoxy glue.

Colours as per my previous post on the BSAP.

As the war continued the BSAP would also wear Riot Uniform and not much later camouflage uniforms were issued for follow ups in the bush.

BSAP early part of the war.

BSAP Dog Teams in Riot Gear early part of the war. This would soon change as camouflage came available.

Crooked Dice pack of dogs

Perry Miniatures 28mm 8th Army figures.

An Army Dog Team.

An Army Dog teams but BSAP Dog Teams would have also worn camouflage later in the war.

EARLY BUSH WAR UNIFORMS 1965-67.

Early Rhodesian Bush War uniforms. 1965 – 1967.

It can be seen from the evidence that the Rhodesian army in 1965 was still equipped along British lines with old O.D. uniforms, as was the rest of the Federation forces.

The Bush War started with the Rhodesian Forces armed with the SLR, 303 Bren Gun, Sterling Sub Machinegun and later the FN MAG.

I decided to buy some Eureka 28mm Australians for the Vietnam war which look very similar and painted them accordingly. In fact these figures could represent RR, RLI, and even the RAR.

Note RRR members in light Khaki trousers, green shirt, floppy hat, gaiters and boots with 44 pattern webbing. Two ammo pouches and metal water bottles. It seems RRR were still wearing this uniform as late as 1969.

It was found that the old uniform especially the light khaki combat jackets and shirts showed up clearly at night and this was a great disadvantage during night operations. The metal water bottles also made noise and squeaked when opened.

The new Rhodesian disruptive pattern was issued initially in two shades, which the greener shade finally taking over. The new camouflage was issued from about 1967 and still being issued until about 1969/70 as all units received the new camouflage. This uniform was initialy combat trousers with old green shirt, with later a camouflage combat shirt added and later camouflage combat jackets. The combat cap was in the new camouflage pattern but camouflage floppy hats were usually made by battalion tailors. I believe this new Rhodesian camouflage scheme was based on the old British camouflage smock but with a different pattern.

The Figures.

In a previous article I used the 28mm British Army Aden Figures from Eureka which were also perfect for this early period.

For this articleI have added 100NAM01a Command Section Australian Infantry but I cut out the LAWs carried by some of the figures.

I also added two WWII Australian Bren Gunners from the 100WWT064 Australian Inf slouch hat Bren Gunners. I clipped the slouch hats to make the jungle hat and added modelling putty to cover the jungle boots..

On the change over to the new camouflage an individual with the new combat cap.

RBW – 20MM MODELS FROM DAVID MICHAEL FREEMANTLE.

Just arrived in the post from Australia from David Michael Freemantle all in 20mm scale.

Muppet Low loader with 4 Eland 90 Armoured Cars. Rhodesian Armoured Cars Regiment.

Also a pair of RL GS Big Daddy trucks with mine proofing and the mine protected bucket.

Contact is freemantledavid@yahoo.com.au

David Freemantle models produce high quality 3D Printed models of the Rhodesian Bush War and Arab Israeli War 1948, 1956 and 1967 in 1/72 and 28mm scales.. Prices are good too.

Muppet Low loader and Eland 90s

BTR 152.

Bedford RLs

Eland 90