Del Prado Royal Fusiliers Staff Captain 1942: An Infantry Officer in Desert Dress

Del Prado · Second World War · British Army, 1942

Shorts, a peaked cap and dark glasses give this Royal Fusiliers captain a memorable desert-army appearance. The figure represents an infantry officer on staff duties, adding headquarters work to the twentieth-century infantry collection.

Regiment and appointment

The Royal Fusiliers were a British infantry regiment with a history dating to 1685. The more specific Del Prado identification describes this figure as a staff captain in 1942. A staff appointment and a regimental identity can coexist: the officer’s work need not be the direct command of a rifle platoon.

That distinction explains why the model looks different from a heavily equipped infantryman. It also gives a useful collecting theme. An army included the people organising its movements and supplies as well as those carrying weapons at the front.

A light uniform and informal outline

The reference photograph shows a peaked cap, short-sleeved shirt, shorts, long socks and boots. The face has dark glasses, and one hand holds a rounded item below the waist. Equipment at the belt adds detail without filling the torso with straps.

The open outline around the knees and arms is part of the sculpt’s character. A front photograph can make the lower legs look fragile, so inspect how they meet the boots and base before judging condition. The sunglasses and cap are useful recognition cues in a mixed lot.

Checking a small command figure

Look at the cap peak, glasses, projecting hand and the object it holds. Ask for a side view to reveal repairs hidden behind the arm. Check the knees, socks and base corners for chipped paint.

The captain works well beside a British infantry subject in fuller field equipment. Give the two enough space that the different outlines remain clear. A simple headquarters label can explain his appointment without inventing a named officer or placing him at an undocumented meeting with a famous commander.

A staff officer also offers a useful change of pace in a row of action figures. Place him at the edge of the group, where the open space around his shorts and arms can be seen. The contrast between his light clothing and a fully equipped soldier supplies the visual interest without needing additional scenery.

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