Saturday, March 4, 2017

Going Medieval


Here's more Lego minifigs I've worked on of late.  The Middle Ages is one of the best periods for these with plenty of equipment, stock Lego minifigs and affordable Chinese clones, and of course castle sets for the builders.  

I'm still working on this and that, the longer term idea is two warring armies, one high Middle Ages and the other Renaissance.  Naturally firearms and artillery say advantage Renaissance but a wizard or two helping out the knights should balance things nicely.

Unless otherwise indicated, these are my own painted MOC's.  First up, some archers.  The initial impulse was to go with BrickWarrior longbows but the stock Lego bows (frowning figure in the green tunic) are about as good and a lot cheaper.  Spotting with a Sharpie pen for the chainmail look was tedious but worth it.




And some traditional knights at the top and below, sporting Brickwarriors arms and bascinets. I modded the horse with some barding.  Doing things like this probably doesn't endear me to Lego purists but where's the fun in just buying stock figures ?   Well, to each his own.  One nod to tradition here is the yellow skin although my preference is for "fleshies" which I use for everything else.  



Moving on to the Renaissance guys, here's a hand painted officer, reviewing the Imperial crossbowmen at the bottom. The crossbow figures are a good example of the stock minifigs, in this case the Chinese Enlighten brand.   The small buckler held by the formation leader is from BrickWarriors.



And a man at arms. He also sports BrickWarriors arms and armor. I was shooting for the look of the knights in the Triumph of Maximilian engravings.  I'm not sure adding the legs was worth the effort but he did turn out fairly well I think.


I've also completed some 18th Century figures, photographed and ready to post but saving for the next one.  And I'm cleaning up some unfinished business with the flats as well, more about that before long.

10 comments:

  1. I Love these!

    That chainmail effect is spot on. So is the 16thC knight. But it all looks good.

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  2. Wonderful figures full of character. I can't wait to see the 18th century ones too.
    Alan
    P.s some battle reports would be great in the future

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    1. Thanks, Alan. Glad you like them. Not many made yet in the 18th Century vein but they're turning out rather well I think.

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  3. These are magnificent - I'm very impressed - they have a gallant, cheerful brio which is an example to all wargamers and collectors everywhere. Mind you, some tosser on TMP or similar will complain because you have not textured the bases...

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    1. Thanks much. Yes, they are toys but the appeal grows in time.

      Regarding flocked bases, I've never been keen on that practice. And with these minifigs, toy soldiers and flats, there is no reason to ever do it again. One has to wonder at what point elaborate base texturing begins to distract attention from the figures rather than enhancing it.

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    3. Sorry - I'll try again with brain connected...

      Since I regularly get singled out for contempt for not flocking my bases, I am always happy to snipe back! I think it quite appropriate for toy soldiers to be presented as toys - if anyone wishes to pretend they are diorama exhibits that's their privilege. I have never felt that toy soldiers on plain bases are in any way more ridiculous than toy soldiers who drag a hearthrug of tat around with them!

      In my opinion, textured bases are often a distraction, and can spoil a decent model, but - of course - that's only my opinion etc etc .......

      :-)

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  4. Your knights look wonderful. I must show your blog to my children who play with Lego all day. And yes, a battle report would be great. Cheers, Karl

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    1. Thank you, Karl. I hope your children will like the figures.

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