The Indian Army Special Interest Group within the British Model Soldier Society is concerned with all aspects of the service of the British and Indian Armies in the Indian sub-continent, and includes studies of unit histories, uniform information, and the depiction of the soldiers in model form. Models are of interest whether they are the so-called "connoisseur" figures or those of the "toy" style. The co-ordinator for this group is Dr. Mike Thomas (e-mail: MDTCymru@aol.com).

The group publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Chota Sepoy, the aims of which are to provide a means of exchanging useful information of the British Indian Army (including the Indian States Forces, British forces serving in India, and the enemy forces they encountered); publishing information which would be too specific for the main BMSS Bulletin magazine; provide a conduit for members of the group to ask questions and for the answers to be published and circulated; and provide a way for members to advertise any wants they may have.

Contents of recent issues of the Chota Sepoy have included:

Volume 5 No. 2, December 2001

Governor's Bodyguard, Bombay, NCO c. 1900, by Brian Parker
Some notes on dress in India pre-1939, Part 2, by E Roche-Kelly
The eveolution of the artillery in India, Part 1, by Erik Blomquist
Colours of the Indian Army
An officer of the 4th Cavalry, c. 1912, by Chris Dolton
Notes on Indian Army ranks, by John Cox
Enquire Within Section: questions and answers

Volume 5 No. 1, September 2001

Uniforms of the Pakistani Pipe Band present at the Coronation, 1953, by Russel Gammage
Governor-General's Bodyguard native officer, c. 1870, by Brian Parker
Major General Sir Harry Tombs, VC, KCB, part 1, by John Cox
Some notes on dress in India pre-1939, Part 1, by E Roche-Kelly
Colours of the 2nd Madras European Regiment, by John Cox
Indian Army VCs
Enquire Within Section: questions and answers

Volume 4: 2000-2001

Issue no. 1

30th Punjabis, Part 2, by Tony Chown
The Army of Indore, Artillery Officer, 1897, by Brian Parker
Colours of the Indian Army Regiments, 1884, Part 2
Indian Army Mess Dress, Part 1, by Mike Creese and Mike Thomas
The trousers worn by Skinner's Horse, by Frank Rozendaal
The Mysore War, Part 1, by John Cox
The many head-dresses of Gurkha Regiments, by W.Y. Carman
'Hard Headed', an end piece by John Cox

Issue no. 2

The Mysore Wars, Part 2, by John Cox
Colours of Indian Army Regiments, 1890, Part 3
'Field Firing 1900', by John Cox
Indian Army Mess Dress, Part 2, by Mike Creese and Mike Thomas
2nd Battalion, 3th Punjabis, by Tony Chown
Notes on Indian Army Staff uniforms from official regulations
French Regiments in India, Regiment de Pondicherry, 1772-6
Regiments in the modern Indian Army and the Internet, by Mike Thomas
Enquire within section - Questions and Answers

Issue no. 3

The Indian Military Historical Society, by Tony McClenaghan
The Moppity-Mops, by Chris Dolton
'Roberts in India', Book review by Mike Creese
3rd Battn. QMO 10th Baluch Regiment, Major, Mess dress, c. 1935, by Brian Parker
The Guides and Khaki, by John Cox
Indian Army Mess Dress, Part 3, by Mike Creese and Mike Thomas
Indian Army Contingent in Australia and New Zealand, 1900
Enquire Within section - Questions and Answers

Issue no. 4

Indian Army Uniforms, 1897, by John Regan
3rd Madras European Regiment, by John Cox
Two for your bookshelf - Book reviews by Michael Creese
The Hodson Memorial
Head-dress of the Indian Army Infantry, by Major V.J.C. Youde
16th Light Cavalry, 1938. Indian officer in hot weather mess dress, by Brian Parker
Enquire within section - Questions and Answers