More October Conversions & Repairs as Australian Footballer Donate Arms to Zulus, Egyptians are Painted & Sailor Makeover

 It is often the case that I am not happy with an existing figure until I change it.  So here is a selection of Zulu alterations, sailor era change, ancient Egyptian paintwork and griffins.

  First up are Zulus and a sailor. The sailor is a Toyway remould of a Lone Star sailor. I did not have these as a boy but I like Lone Star. The thing is the Lone Star sailors are WW2 era but I wanted Victorian or early Edwardian sailors so I cut down the ammo pouches only to decide the new ones were too high up so I entirely cut them off and replaced them with Green Stuff ones. Pouches, gaiters and straps were brown leather rather than buff.
  The Lone Star figures are in t-shirts. The British navy by end of 19th century allowed sailors to do deck work in white t-shirts. However, I haven't seen pictures of sailors in battle readiness so clothed. I decided to add long sleeves. I also cut down the t-shirt but could have done more so as the sailor ended up looking like the circus strongman as the built up arms appeared to show very big upper arm muscles. I cut it back further. I also lengthened the gaiters. I'll be adding a bayonet cut down from matchstick. This sailor has signal flags but I'll be converting other sailors for a later post.

 
  

                                  I need to finishing painting the eyes and the ammo pouches.

  As for the metal Zulus, I don't know the brand but some of them had lost arms, mainly shield arms. One Zulu had lost both arms and head. I found  the donor arms and a head from some cake decoration Australian footballer figures. I have absolutely no interest in football - I actually loathe it - but I did buy the footballers with the vague idea I might make them into something else.

  To avoid needing to make a shield and weapon I made one Zulu into a casualty who has dropped both. he has been shot in the chest. The Martini-Henry rifles made a small entry wound and a large exit one. Presumably there would be a lot of blood coming out. I extended the ostrich feathers to support the transplanted head, which has added putty headdress and thicker lips. (MY drill bit refused to drill into the metal).

  At left are some unchanged metal Zulus. At far right is a Zulu with wooden shield cut from an oval craft piece.

  These Zulus have new shields, the nearest being a wooden one with brass central pole. The other one has a metal shield arm from another (lost)figure. I need to paint the shield minor details.

                The YouTube, in the background, showed a documentary about alien civilisations!               

  Here are the painted Egyptians (from Red Indians). The curved edged weapons are shaved down from plastic dental flossers. The ancient Egyptian headdresses could have green, red or black stripes. Blue was reserved for royalty or at least nobles. I might yet make shields for the close combat Egyptians. I still need to add texture to bases. These figures will be part of bigger units.

                                            The bowman has a fuse-wire bow string replacing the original over-thick plastic one. (I used to use human hair for this).

 This plastic AIP Zulu was missing a weapon so I made one from brass rod. I need to add the putty end which will be round to make a Zulu club.

  Chimeras converted into Griffins: I cut off some of the facial and head detail (which was goat-like) and added putty beaks. These are from a 'dragon' series of cheap figures from the clearance shop.

                                                        Initial converting of the sailor...

        Footballers make the sacrifice - no more Grand Finals for them. I might, one day, make the remainder into 18th century highlanders