The following instructions are designed to help your 12" action figure wear his kilt properly. These instructions are for the modern small kilt. This is a lot like the trick with wrapping a towel around your waist you probably learned from your dad when he let you watch him shave, except the kilt is easier (or the trick with wrapping your hair in a towel girls learn from their moms, except the kilt is waaaay easier than that). The point is, if you see it done once, you'll always get it right. It's easy.

Lay the kilt face down on a surface. Yes, the Scots really used to lay their kilts on the floor and then lie down on top of the kilt to get dressed.

Now lay your figure on the kilt, with the top of the kilt at about his belly button. Kilts are worn a bit higher on the body than pants. The bottom of the kilt should be right at the figure's knees.

Now wrap the left edge of the kilt, from your perspective, across the figure's front. From the figure's point of view, his right leg will now be covered with the kilt. Hold this portion in place.

Wrap the remaining edge of the kilt, the right side from your point of view, across the figure's middle. From the figure's point of view, the front of the kilt will overlap across his midsection from left to right.

Adjust the kilt so that the flat front panel is centered across the figure's front. Secure the kilt with a belt and Ach! Ye've got yerself a wee Scotsman.

Traditionally, the kilt is worn with a loose-fitting shirt that resembles a long-sleeved polo with laces instead of buttons at the collar. Footwear would consist of a simple black or brown leather shoe or heavy boots with calf-length hose rolled at the top. A small knife is often tucked in the right sock. Because the kilt has no pockets, Highlanders developed the sporran, a leather or fur pouch hung from the belt at the front of the kilt. The sporran also helps keep the front of the kilt from flapping open.

The closest thing I've found to a Jacobite shirt is sold by Circle Home Productions. I don't know whether they sell it seperately, but several of their 18th century figures seem to wear a decent facsimile of the traditional Highland shirt. For shoes, I'd recommend the shoes Ñ not the boots Ñ of Civil War sets in Formative's Soldiers of the World line. For belts, socks and daggers, go to Cotswold Collectibles. They make three good belts for wee kilts: Their plain black leather belt, their U.S. Civil War officer's belt, and their reproduction Vintage Life Guards belt. They make excellent calf-length socks with a roll at the top; use white or tan khaki with your figures. Plaid or argyle socks would also be appropriate, but I don't know of anybody who makes them for 12" figures. And Cotswold makes two German ceremonial daggers that are suitable for use as dirks with your 1:6 Highlander. As for sporrans, you're on your own. Nobody makes these, and I'm still playing around with modifying various Barbie accessories to fit the bill.