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Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: Rob_bresnen on January 20, 2013, 05:26:17 PM
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Force on Force gives rules for civilian mobs, which I thought looked like a fun element to add to a battle, but as my campaign is set in a fictional West African country called Zugando, I had a certain problem: Namely, a chronic lack of suitable civilian models, especially African looking ones.
This is kind of the look I was going for...
(http://imageshack.us/a/img542/5647/8ffc9cdc18894d898b2aedd.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img526/1433/nigeria112297148620x350.jpg)
After an exhaustive internet search, I decided to make my own, using various plastic kits available on the market. Having already acquired some plastic Studio Miniatures Zombies and Wargames Factory Zombie Vixens, I needed something that looked a bit more African. That was when I hit on the idea of using Perry Miniatures colonial-era Africans. After an appeal on this forum I managed to get ten off Just John. Just John was intrigued what I was planing to do with his plastic Africans, and so I would post some pictures on this forum.
These are some of my, as yet unpainted, models. I will post the finished ones as and when I complete them. I also plan on repeating the proses to make some general civilians. I think you will agree that theses kits are really versatile. I know I am no sculptor, but a bit of GS and a bit of pro-create stuck to a mini can be a great start. I plan to cover up a multitude of sins with a nice paint job. :D
(http://imageshack.us/a/img818/765/dscf7976iy.jpg)
Here is my favourite- Flag Burner. Basic model is Perry Miniatures. I cut away the loin cloth and added baggy trousers- hair was added with liquid Green Stuff (LGS). Next is a model by Wargames Foundry- Charismatic Preacher. The only change was to add an afro hair style.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img18/4959/dscf7975e.jpg)
This was an easy one- a Mahdist right out of the box. I though he looked to old-fashioned, but in the photos I found on line, a lot of West Africans still wear traditional garb. I just cut the weapons away from his hands and added GS sandals.
His buddy- Bomber Jacket, is a Studio Miniatures Zombie, with hands and a head off the Perry Africans. A GS afro finished the job. Perry heads and studio heads are not the same at the neck, so a bit of shaving and filling was required.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img132/1645/dscf7971.jpg)
Flag Waver is a Perry Mahdist with the spear changed for a flag, and his loin cloth cut away. I used pro-create to add some shorts, and LGS to add some trainers.
Angry Lady is a Zombie Vixen (the least zombiefied out of the bunch) I cut her hands off and added different hands of the same kit, and repositioned the raised arm
(http://imageshack.us/a/img19/7900/dscf7974w.jpg)
Angry Stick Man is a Mahdist. I added a a Tee-shirt with GS, and extended his sarong. I also added an Afro in GS. Fist Waving Stick Man is another Studio Miniatures zombie with a Mahdist head and arms. I used Green stuff to add short sleeves and LGS to fill in the tears in his clothing.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img145/9536/dscf7977y.jpg)
Finally Traditional Placard Man is a Mahdist, with his weapon removed. He has a GS sleeve on one arm. Western Placard Man is a Studio Miniatures Zombie- again he has Mahdist head and arms, and has had GS sleeves made. I really like this one- it looks like he has just come form the office to join in a riot.
Hope you like them- I am interested in feed back.
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I really like what you've done here and it's something I would never have thought of (not that that is in any way limited to just this of course).
I'm not sure about the 'Fuzzy Wuzzy' head personally, but everything else works for me. With the amount of plastic about at the moment, some cross-swapping of bits and limbs looks likely to reap dividends.
So a 'Well done!' from me. :)
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To be honest I used the fuzzy wuzzy head because I had used up all the others. I am not to sure about it either. I might look about for an alternative.
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Really like your conversion' s - wish I had that sort of ability!
The short dress in the right hand woman in the third picture may be need to be lengthened to fit in with cultural norms!
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Well Rob I have to say I'm impressed. A great use of all those different bits and pieces.
Looking forward to seeing them painted up now.
John
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Really like your conversion' s - wish I had that sort of ability!
The short dress in the right hand woman in the third picture may be need to be lengthened to fit in with cultural norms!
Depends on the setting (urban/rural/etc.)
http://www.krachtvancultuur.nl/en/current/2006/march/kigezindoto.html
http://freeuganda.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/african-modern-woman/
http://yayemarieba.blogspot.com/2007/07/okay-brace-yourselves-gentlemen-meet.html
http://www.ventures-africa.com/2012/03/epitome-of-modern-woman-meet-10-inspiring-african-women-under-40-from-10-countries/
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=modern+african+women&hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&sa=X&tbo=d&rls=en&biw=1279&bih=593&tbm=isch&tbnid=WXKtmgrgvvdB_M:&imgrefurl=http://www.afwny.com/2011/10/19/african-businesswomen-in-the-modern-world/&docid=Qj5bBCMr567cvM&imgurl=http://www.afwny.com/media01/2011/10/313348_658105903517_18603682_34714398_231176730_n.jpg&w=637&h=960&ei=I0P8UMveDoe6qgH5_YDQDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=446&vpy=191&dur=2478&hovh=276&hovw=183&tx=97&ty=131&sig=112697623071031554035&page=3&tbnh=149&tbnw=100&start=59&ndsp=36&ved=1t:429,r:79,s:0,i:327
http://www.afwny.com/2011/10/19/african-businesswomen-in-the-modern-world/
http://www.clairenadine.com/photo/158/gorgeous-african-women/
Not saying these are "average" - whatever that means - but simply there is a lot of room in Africa for variance of fashion/dress.
Or she could be the cause for the mob even...
Gracias,
Glenn
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Nice work Rob.
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Great work, Rob, very imaginative!
Lets see if I can convert my Studio zombies as well as you have managed.
They look great!
:-*
Looking forward to seeing them with a lick of paint....
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Nice work 8)
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Depends on the setting (urban/rural/etc.)
http://www.krachtvancultuur.nl/en/current/2006/march/kigezindoto.html
http://freeuganda.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/african-modern-woman/
http://yayemarieba.blogspot.com/2007/07/okay-brace-yourselves-gentlemen-meet.html
http://www.ventures-africa.com/2012/03/epitome-of-modern-woman-meet-10-inspiring-african-women-under-40-from-10-countries/
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=modern+african+women&hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&sa=X&tbo=d&rls=en&biw=1279&bih=593&tbm=isch&tbnid=WXKtmgrgvvdB_M:&imgrefurl=http://www.afwny.com/2011/10/19/african-businesswomen-in-the-modern-world/&docid=Qj5bBCMr567cvM&imgurl=http://www.afwny.com/media01/2011/10/313348_658105903517_18603682_34714398_231176730_n.jpg&w=637&h=960&ei=I0P8UMveDoe6qgH5_YDQDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=446&vpy=191&dur=2478&hovh=276&hovw=183&tx=97&ty=131&sig=112697623071031554035&page=3&tbnh=149&tbnw=100&start=59&ndsp=36&ved=1t:429,r:79,s:0,i:327
http://www.afwny.com/2011/10/19/african-businesswomen-in-the-modern-world/
http://www.clairenadine.com/photo/158/gorgeous-african-women/
Not saying these are "average" - whatever that means - but simply there is a lot of room in Africa for variance of fashion/dress.
Or she could be the cause for the mob even...
Gracias,
Glenn
The funny thing being that most of those links show Afro-American, Afro Caribbean women or a selection of GQ type fashion model shots. Hardly representative, though it is fair to say that the range of fashions in Africa runs a wide gamut.
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For sure - (I had like 5 minutes to search for images before I left to go home) these are not largely "African" completely. That word has been so stretched (like "Indian Culture" in the USA) to the point it means whatever the writer wants it to mean. If you are setting up a "generic Africa" setting instead of a specific setting it could be normal, unusual, or even aberrant to have a dress of that length/style on a person in a crowd.
Just started researching a West African country (split between religious, tribal, and ethnic tensions - wait that is most of Africa,) and there is a wide range of dress (outside of "traditional" clothing) in some of the larger cities.
I guess it depends on how strong the influences of "Fashion" have infiltrated a locale.
Gracias,
Glenn
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Oh well if the criteria for 'African' was that broad I'd have posted random images of my wife in various outfits. Not sure it would be a reliable guide to contemporary costume on the African continent mind you. :)
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The point remains though, that there is a very wide range of styles that can be found, to a greater or lesser extent, wherever you go in Africa.
Even within regions, the incidence of 'traditional dress' varies with location (as it does anywhere actually). As a general rule of thumb though, the more urban the location, the more 'Western' the clothing.
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Nice conversions there! I got hold of a box of Perry Mahdists to do exactly the same , but lost the bottle to attempt it...
You've just given me my mojo back ! :D
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Cool. post pictures of them when you are done. :P
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Great work on the conversions. Isn't 10 models just a tip of the ice-berg for a mob though? ;)
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Great work on the conversions. Isn't 10 models just a tip of the ice-berg for a mob though? ;)
Yep but it's a good start for a fairly disorderly queue'.
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Yep but it's a good start for a fairly disorderly queue'.
Just the start? People nowadays seem ready to kill if there's only two or three people in the queue in front of them. :?
Terry Pratchett's view of the mob was as an amorphous entity, sure there's only ten now, but blink and look again and there'll be thirty or so. Current best guess is that they divide like amoeba... maybe.
;)
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Here's a few Work In Progress shots of my African Uion troops before I spray them up.
I was going for soemthing like this...
(http://imageshack.us/a/img706/5971/nigerianarmyhome.jpg)
the trouble is there doesn't seem to be any generic 28mm AK47 wielding troops with Kevlar helmets and body armour on.
I began by getting some TAG Russians, as these had the right weapons and had some body armour on. Then I chopped off their heads, taking care to not damage the weapons. Then I clipped off the hood from the back of the neck and used a file to smooth the area over.
I used the head from a WW2 German steel helmet with canvas cover from west wind (20 heads for £4) available as part of their separate heads system.
Finally I used 'Pro-create' epoxy resin to add back plates to their armour and cover up where I clipped off the hood, to fill in their necks and to generally neaten everything up a bit.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img20/5011/dscf8159r.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img89/4071/dscf8162cfx.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img716/3159/dscf8157h.jpg)
This is how they start out- an unconverted TAG Russian with AK47 and woolly hat
(http://imageshack.us/a/img855/145/dscf8158v.jpg)
And after my 'treatment' Note the hood has been clipped away and a back-plate added to the body armour, inspired by the one in the photo above.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img194/9075/dscf8163u.jpg)
This one is a squad leader- I used the head of a West Wind French resistance fighter to make him stand out.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img822/42/dscf8165m.jpg)
I am rather pleased with this one- Squad Assault weapon giving it a bit of a 'Rambo'
(http://imageshack.us/a/img545/2447/dscf8164p.jpg)
A more sensible machine gunner firing form pone- It was a bit more tricky to get the angle of the new head right.
There you go- I hope you like them. All I have got to do now is decide if I want to paint them with sky blue UN helmets or in normal camo. I think blue would look more striking, but then again, camo might make the figures more versatile in scenarios (rather than just as Peace Keepers). what do you think?
PS- I have painted the first four of my Angry Mob and as soon as I get a chance I will post some pictures here- so keep checking.
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Great work on the conversions, now lets see them painted :-* The camo scheme will be similar to what's seen in the photo?
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The AU conversions look great!
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The AU conversions look great!
Thank you. I was hoping it would work, but they came out better than I thought. They were not as much work as my angry mob.
Great work on the conversions, now lets see them painted :-* The camo scheme will be similar to what's seen in the photo?
Yes. Basically I am using Nigerian forces as a model for my AU, but without calling them Nigerian (I might have to come up with another Imagi-nation), so I will base by camo on the Nigerians.
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excellent conversions, maybe they could be cast off for sale?
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Looking great so far Rob. Can't wait to see some painted up.
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excellent conversions, maybe they could be cast off for sale?
Uh, wouldn't that be piracy? The bodies and head are both from existing ranges.
Bit late now but Rob if you want alternate heads, Nic Robson has kindly sold me the various kevlar helmeted heads from the Eureka swoppit SWAT range in the past. I did something similar and converted the ZANLA figures to a platoon of modern African regulars.
Nice work btw.
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ere is the first batch of the Angry African Mob. The pictures are a bit rough, as the lighting was poor, but they should give you the idea.
Following C+C in this thread I managed to find a head to swap over with the 'fuzzy' head, and I also added a good hem to the lady's dress for modesty. I hope you approve.
I know the signs look a bit crude, but that was actually the look I was going for- referencing some pictures of placards I have found on the net.
EDIT_ Not sure why these pictures are so huge. My painting looks really rough when a 28mm figure is blown up to 28cm! >:( Please humour me an try to imagine what they look like really tiny, and grouped together. ;)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img694/4218/dscf8178v.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img831/9823/dscf8179o.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img89/4708/dscf8185r.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img850/7140/dscf8186q.jpg)
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They look good!
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I think they look fine too! :)
You can reduce the size of the pics using the 'edit post' function and just change the size of the photos if you like though.
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Thank you. That's a bit better.
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Fine bunch of demonstrators you got there, they look good individually and surely look great as a mob too.
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They look great all coloured in, mate.
:-*
Need any more?
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Here's a finished shot of my AU/ Nigerian Peace Keepers.
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/3052/dscf8207x.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/812/dscf8207x.jpg/)
There are more over on my Blog.
http://fourcoloursupers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/force-on-force-african-union-troops-in.html
Commenst very welcome.
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Very fine job on them, I think the machinegunner and rpg are my favourites of the lot. How many more will you need still? And what about vehicles?
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I think another 11 (section leader, plus two fire teams of 10) and a Platoon command section (LT, Sgt and Medic). I might add a HMG or light mortar too, if I can find a suitable model.
As for vehicals, well I have just picked up a couple of the die-cast James Bond T-55 MBT on eBay, and am bidding on another. These will be jolly hand as they are used by the Nigerians and the Finns ;) . I also have a Saracen APC from Britannia Miniatures off a fellow LAFer quite cheep, and I believe the Nigerians still use some of those too. Other than that they will have to go by trucks. I have a Solido Unimog they can use.
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Nice list of vehicles, so lots of painting to do on that front. And plans for another section and command section sound good... wouldn't Russian/Soviet mortar team do the trick, with the headswaps that you have already shown to work like a treat.
T-55s have been long scrapped over here.... there might still be few odd engineer and/or bridgelayer variants around. It's all about Leo2s nowadays.
But if you were to make that what-if scenario set on the 1960s, then I would have a perfect starting point to that scenario... a historically accurate moment, that would have caused a big event if one phone call wasn't made.... Did that peak your interest perhaps? :D
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Apparently, according to Wiki (that well know source of accurate data) you still have 70 T-55 still in use. I presume they are in some sort of storage/moth-balled state, or else perform some kind of secondary role, as the Leo2 is a MUCH better tank.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equipment_of_the_Finnish_Army#Main_Battle_Tanks
I am also keen to get a Leopard 2 in the right scale. SIKU make one but they are expensive.
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We have seven of AA tanks using Marksmen AA system that are built on Polish T-55M chassis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marksman_anti-aircraft_system) and then there are the engineer T-55Ms but rest of the T-55M are mothballed, I guess they are trying to sell them to Vietnam.
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Apparently so. Quick google found this on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m68zJi6GywM
First T-54 tanks arrived to Finland in 1960.
Training for T-55 series of tanks ended in 2002 but T-54/55 is still present as the chassic of Marksman SPAAG and engineering vehicles. There is still unknown number of T-55M tanks operational/storage as the FDF lists them to operate in motorized units with KMT-5 mine clearing device or bulldozer blades.
Needless to say, I am sure they might be pressed back into service if the Finns got invaded...But that's another story/thread.
Cool Finnish rock music on the video- any idea who is is?
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Band is Airut (Herald/Harbringer), song is Sadonkorjuu (Harvest).
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Cheers.