Actually, they were poured a couple of years ago, but are just now being armed and dressed.
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| Homecast original Turkish infantry to fight the French. |
The unprimed figure is there as an example of the original casting from nearly 20 years ago with his too thin bow. The shield and quiver were separate and the intention was to do some as archers, some with arquebus and others with shield and scimitar or spear. The three painted figures in the back were all that were painted and they have now been updated with muskets apart from the chap with sword and buckler.
I'm still undecided as to how uniform to make them. Obviously they are all dressed alike (having come from the same mould) but the colours might vary or I might give them uniform coats or do them all in blue trousers for ease in sorting should I do a second unit. Opinions on the question welcomed.
It is quite surprising at the variation of arms and looks you can get with the one pose.
ReplyDeleteI started converting toy soldiers into display models and making mini-diorams several years before I began wargaming. Those skills still comes in handy when I'm not in a rush to build big units quickly..
Deletego with a 'theme', so the blue pants may be 'consistent' but given a different highlight layer then the coats can be all different.
ReplyDeletealso with these troops you could do the striped pantaloons?
I'm struggling to find infantry in any colour of pants than blue or white. In any event, given the deep and somewhat irregular folds I sculpted in to these, there is no way I'm going to try for stripes! Maybe on the sleeves though, that could work.
DeleteNon uniform look would be a nice contrast with their opponents.
ReplyDeleteNot that all my French Rev troops are particularly uniform! But yes certainly not tooo uniform and of course the Mamluke cavalry will have to all be rather individual. Good thing I'm going to aim at sieges and built up areas and amphibious ops where there will be more infantry than cavalry, converting more than 2 dozen individual Mamlukes would drive me nuts!
DeleteSome nice weapon converts there, Ross. Don't rule out replacing heads with norman-style helmets or fifteenth century salets, with miliput turbans wrapped round, for added variation. You can also add additional turban-cloth to cover much of the face too. I remember doing similar jobs with my 28mm Saracens, and Ottoman azabs.
ReplyDeleteMichael
Thanks Michael, I may use some of my Saxon and Viking moulds to give some of the Mamluke cavalry helmets. I hadn't though of that option.
DeleteI've never seen pictures of Turkish infantry of the era wearing helmets though so I'll probably save myself the effort if I try to coax any more castings out of this mould. (if I can find it again!)
Ross Mac,
ReplyDeleteIt’s a nicely generic figure that will be suitable for a variety of different armies. When I first saw them, I thought that they might be suitable for Chinese/Mongol armies … or even Boxers! Giving them different weapons and making minor adjustments to their poses will produce a real army of individuals.
I look forward to seeing how these figures turn out.
All the best,
Bob
Thanks Bob. Alas the mould was one of my first, back when I was experimenting and self learning how to do it and the mould is crumbling. I think the castings on hand are all there will be. Might be enough for a second unit.
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