Medieval Conversions in Progress.

You can probably see a handgunner in progress. The bottom part is Timpo Action pack ACW Federal sergeant with Airfix WW2 German with rifle removed and match stick section combined with paintbrush cover and fuse wire lighter mechanism. Putty has been added to the helmet in the down position to cover the upper face. The chest has been coated with two part expoxy (Araldite)
 to make it look like a breast plate.
The other figure I'll leave for you to guess but if you have been paying attention to recent posts you will know. More will be revealed.

CONVERSIONS CONTINUED
The gunner has had chain mail added to shoulders and paper bands around the gun barrel. The other figure you probably worked out by now is The Hound from Game of Thrones. The Roman bear or lion head headdress has been trimmed down a little with round ears replaced by pointy ones and teeth added. The hound requires a scabbard over his back and a sword in his hand. The Hound stood six foot seven inches high so I chose a big figure although, with size comparison to the gunner it looks like he is approaching his big brother's height of over seven foot. The mountain may be a future project.

The paintbrush covers come in various 'calibres' but my choice is a fairly big one. The size of the historical handguns varied.

The hound, by the way was made from a cheapo made in China knight, a made in China road worker head - you have to find a large one as a 54mm one will be too small - and the upper helmet was cut from a Hat Roman light infantryman.

The bases for both are plastic ones that came out of a child's boxed game which I picked up at a charity shop, called an opportunity shop in Australia or op shop.

I like to utilize a wide range of figures, especially in my medieval and Western armies or factions. You can make a decent army entirely from cheapo figures for less than fifty cents a figure, even twenty cents a figure if you don't employ much green Stuff. The cheapo figures vary considerably in quality but there are plenty that are reasonably well sculpted. I don't limit myself to them as there are so many nice plastic and metal figures that do cost more but if I was really limited in cash I know I could. As it happens I have two or three large boxes of medieval assorted figures ready to go under the knife, or at least the paint brush. I take some liberties with scale as the smallest figures in my medieval army look like little boys compared to the biggest.

Figures in 1/32 scale I'd like to do in the future: The Hound, without his helmet, with a roast or unroasted chicken in one hand  - you have to have seen the series. The Hound with roast chicken heraldry on his shield instead of three hounds! Tyrian, 'The Imp' with battle axe is another who comes to mind. Jamie Lannister in gold armour is another - although my Sigvald character comes close, 'The Mountain' is another obvious choice. Outside of Game of Thrones Elric from the Stormbringer fantasy novels would be a nice choice with his albino skin and hair colouring and bat wings on his helmet.

The gunner and The Hound should be painted by next week.

 

 

 

 

The original sword was too bendy. Sword and scabbard are made from hammered brass rube from the hobby shop. It was lightly shaped on the grinding wheel and with a file. Green stuff was used for the sword guard.

 

Here The Hound is nearly complete. The figure had a belt added, cut from adhesive label and coated with PVA. The figure was undercoated with Games Workshop black spray. I find this is a good undercoat for steel, dark colours and neutral colours. I leave black lines between the plates. The figure also had awash of GW Devlan Mud but might add a black wash as the armour is depicted in the TV series as dark and dirty. The shield was given a second undercoat of white as black is not a good undercoat for yellow. I still have to finish the face, shield and base, The opposing soldier is a Tim-me figure marked 'Made in Germany'.