Below is a (very)basic identification guide for the Britains Ltd. British Army figures in Review Order that were produced post-war between 1946-66. This page features the Guards, Line Regiments, Fusiliers and a list of sets that were produced between 1893-1966. Subsequent pages deal with Britains Highlanders, and Cavalry. See label section for various Britains box label styles here. Inspiration for this guide was derived from the great Joe Wallis's book, Regiments of All Nations(note:there will be periodic additions to this guide).

Britains Ltd. Set List 1893-1966

Is it a Britains? Look for the Britains identification marks-usually on the underside of the bases or horses/animals.

Left: typical prewar flesh tone(#1601;Leicestershire Regt.)

(Britains stopped painting in mustaches after 1939)

Right: typical postwar flesh tone(#36; Royal Sussex)

Top: Pre and postwar(left figure) Soudanese Inf.(#116) showing prewar painting details;prewar painting is normally more detailed, finer than postwar painting.
Below: Prewar(left)1st Life Guard(#1) with painted reins, stirrup; postwar Royal Horse Guard(#2) unpainted reins.  *Note: if your mounted figure's horse has painted in reins, esp. Household Cavalry ones, this is a very strong indicator that it was made prewar. However, not all prewar horses have their reins painted.  Likewise, the postwar Hunting series horses also had painted in reins(a special thanks to Rich F. for this clarification suggestion). 

The Guards

Left: Coldstream Guard

Right: Grenadier Guard(plume on left)

Left : Irish Guard(plume on right)

Right: Scots Guard(no plume)

Welsh Guard(plume on left)

Yellow facings(cuffs, collars): marching Middlesex(#76) or Royal Norfolk(#73)

Blue Facings:marching Royal Sussex(#s36, 1323)

Firing Royal West Surrey(#2086)

Not Pictured: standing, kneeling Somerset Light Infantry(green helmets, #17)

Others not pictured: Buff facings: Royal East Kent(#56) standing on guard

White facings: Loyal North Lancashire(#2125)standing and kneeling

Marching Royal Welch w/goat mascot(#74), and Royal Fusiliers(#1323)-no mascot

Click here to view the numerical list of sets that Britains placed inside its

shiny red boxes during the 50s.

*(Advertising slogan from Britains Ltd. pre-war catalogs. Some genuine Britains figures have no copyright stamp on their base because of a casting flaw)

Next page: Britains Highlanders

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Published by Geoffrey Duin

©Copyright 2006