Russian Watchtower and timber house

As a break from painting figures, decided to reduce my store of card etc. Have converted an earlier medieval siege tower into a Russian watchtower, and also constructed a timber cottage for my Eastern European games. MGB

Completed Khazars, Muscovites, and Tartars (Asiatic conversions no.4)

Here are s few photos of the Asiatic figures restored and integrated. My Muscovite Boyar horse archers have gained four recruits, and two more added to my Tartar horde. Rather pleased with my new Khazar heavy cavalry unit. Still to design their banner, something suitably Jewish such as a Hanukkah Menorah, an emblem which has been found on some relics from the Khazarian period. This unit will also serve as Tartar nobles. Finally, an ornamental bannerman for my Medieval Muscovites. Well thats twelve completed, six more are being exchanged for others, leaving eight more to be restored. MGB

Asiatic Conversion Project No3 (First to be Revamped)

Here is a photo of the revamped Hun Cavalry unit, using the 25mm castings. As previously mentioned, these smaller castings will not be included in my 28mm collection. MGB

Asiatic Conversion Project No2 (those horses)

The figures have just arrived. Ordered on Saturday, they turned up on Tuesday morning. My initial reaction is this was a great purchase. The breakdown is as follows, twenty riders and nineteen horses being 28mm, while six riders and seven horses are 25mm, and won't be integrated. The 28mm castings are in good condition, none were heavily coated in varnish so I see no need for paint stripping to reveal the original detail. There was even a Muscovite horse archer from TAG which was painted in the same style as my own. The paintwork on the others will be simple to upgrade, while their horses were full of character, even one or two painted in WW2 drab brown (lol), so their integration is looking good. Lets look at the cost. I have conservatively valued the riders at £1.25, while the horses are £1.75 each, this gives a total of £58.25, for a cost of £27 including delivery. Concerning the horses, I have already removed their bases. The 25mm will provide a small unit of Huns, which I will upgrade and eventually swap for others. Six 28mm figures with barded horses will form a Khazar unit, to occasionally serve with my Tartar horde of light horse archers. Note, five non-barded horses have 'cruppers'; a leather strap that is tight around the horse's tail. This dates them to post 1600AD, so I might integrate them into my later Muscovites (1600-1700), or my 18th century collections, or just file the cruppers away, hardly difficult. Heres some more photos for your interest, the last photo showing the rejected 25mm castings, which WILL make a nice unit, but not in my collection. MGB

ASIATIC CONVERSION PROJECT No1

Have just ordered from my friend Ian Hinds a bag of figures described as 'various Asiatic cavalry'. Costing £27.00 delivered, it comprises twenty-six mounted figures. These castings are from several manufacturers but are mostly old Essex miniatures. The Asiatic 'types' include Mongols, Ottomans, Goths, Byzantines, Burtas, Muscovites, Khazars, and no doubt others. The standard of painting is not great, and design/scale differences are evident, but I'm not complaining at that price. Many figures still have casting flash, many weapons will need to be drilled out and replaced. All will need to be rebased, removed from their present mounts, swapped about or given others. Then I must decide whether to paint strip or revamp the artwork. I admit, some may end up in the casting pot, while others will be given new heads, or converted with Milliput. This will be a fun project, with the pleasure gained in restoring miniatures to what they should look like. Here are some photos of this recent purchase. I'm not expecting to raise any new units but I hope at least twenty-three castings will be drafted into my Muscovite, Tartar, and Ottoman armies. Wish me luck, I will upload occasionally on how this project develops. MGB