Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Adventures in the Far East => Topic started by: Freelancer on 23 July 2016, 08:29:25 AM
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Mr Saturday's Shadow Empire army has prompted me to post my own progress shots of the ancient Chinese army I am working on. I am likewise painting in units playable with Dragon Rampant, only I am planning to multi-base most units so they can eventually build to a Hail Caesar sized army. All my figures are Watchful I's range. I have been hunting for an ancient Chinese range in 28mm, and as John Jenkins doesn't look like getting 28mm back into production I opted for Watchful I's new range. I was pleasantly surprised with the figures. They are very crisp sculpts and scale well with comparable ranges such as Perry Miniatures. I believe they are 3D printed, so are quite realistically proportioned which makes them look a bit slender next to other ranges, so I am unlikely to be using other companies figures in this army.
I started with the skirmishers with repeating crossbows
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC02989_zpspx9npkhn.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC02989_zpspx9npkhn.jpg.html)
and a Perry Samurai range for scale
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC02990_zps4mnc0bws.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC02990_zps4mnc0bws.jpg.html)
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Next is Huang Guigu and her command chariot
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC02986_zps91ayblfh.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC02986_zps91ayblfh.jpg.html)
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC02987_zpskz2tbxov.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC02987_zpskz2tbxov.jpg.html)
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Lovely stuff and the figures do look rather good :)
cheers
James
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Very nicely done. These are first I have seen painted other than on their site. Huang Guigu looks smashing. The figures are lovely but I doubt I will paint mine as I have too many JJD already and they really do not mix.
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Nice work in a subtle palette. I look forward to seeing your army grow.
LB
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Huang Guigu in her chariot is a standout, the rest aren't too shabby either.
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first time I see a female 28mm asian miniatures that looks like a real Chinese girl...
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I really like these figures and you're doing a fantastic job painting them, looking forward to seeing more
Cheers
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They didn't have repeater crossbows in ancient China, did they?
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If I remember what I read many years ago, i think they did have repeater crossbows, although i might be wrong
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They didn't have repeater crossbows in ancient China, did they?
I understand Watchful I's figures are for the Chinese Warring States period (475 and 221 BC). The earliest archaeological discovery for a repeating crossbow was an example excavated in Hubei province and dated to around 400BC. The excavated site belonged to the Chu State of the Warring States period. So, yes - I think that repeating crossbows are plausible for these figures.
Historical plausibility aside - they are great looking figures. Nicely painted too Freelancer. Look forward to seeing more.
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Thanks for the positive comments peoples. I have a for more units to get photos of but am waiting on a few basing supplies to finish them off ( I am not really a work in progress photos kind of guy).
As for repeating crossbows, historical concensus is that the ancient Chinese invented them. The oldest evidence predates the Qin dynasty (terracotta army), and they were known to be used widely in the Han Dynasty. The weapon continued to be used in pretty much the same form across a wide time period.
In order for the ratchet arm to draw back the string quickly the bow arms are relatively low tension, so the projectiles don't have the same range or power as a traditional european crossbow. But with a firing rate of 15 bolts in 10 seconds and being relatively easy to make and operate ( Yr 7 students at my school make them), they are great as skirmishing weapon or to arm untrained levy troops with.
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I stand gratefully corrected. I thought the things were Sung weapons,
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Some units of heavy infantry
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC02994_zpshlahabnm.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC02994_zpshlahabnm.jpg.html)
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and some archers..
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC02996_zpsarmf8k0m.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC02996_zpsarmf8k0m.jpg.html)
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Very nice and inspiring 8) 8) 8)
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Great stuff :)
Looking forward to seeing them all together 8)
cheers
James
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Coming along nicely 8) 8) 8)
Keep up the good work Freelancer :)
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and now some cavalry..
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC02991_zpsoxdgtuvg.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC02991_zpsoxdgtuvg.jpg.html)
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Wow, fantastic work. The heavy infantry in particular are very impressive. I took a look at Watchful I myself, and even ordered some terracotta warriors with crossbows, but they don't sit well with the JDD minis which are quite tall, so they ended up taking a backseat to some of the lovely Renegade Miniatures warring states range. Indeed, if you are interested in the crossbowmen drop me a PM.
That said, I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the Watchful I Xing Tian. That headless behemoth is going in the army as soon as he's released.
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I also picked up Watchful i's chinese building. It was a very nice kit, with a mix of lasercut mdf, brownboard and resin (roof and base).
The walls need a highlight of brighter red, and the doors need some weathering, but here it is.
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC03000_zpsfyifeyk6.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC03000_zpsfyifeyk6.jpg.html)
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Love your work on the building :-* :-* It had been on my radar but your painting convinced me that I will need to buy one.
LB
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These look so great :o :o
I am quite happy to see these pictures and your comments. A friend and I have an eye on these for some time now, but still have no idea where to get them in Europe :(
Postage and customs (money and time) did prevent us from ordering in the US directly.
cheers Thomas
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Yeah it cost a bit to buy these. I figured I would buy a full army (+ building), to avoid being hit with big postage multiple times. As far as I know Joe makes and sells them from his home town, without a distributor.
Thanks for the positive comments. I need to get back to painting the rest of them.
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OK, its been a while since I updated this. I got tied up on other projects, but the Christmas holidays freed me up to finish painting the whole army (2 Divisions of a Hail Caesar Army)
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC03291_zpsl7wqkkun.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC03291_zpsl7wqkkun.jpg.html)
I painted it up as a Warring States Hann army, but also plan to use it as a later Han Dynasty force. Despite some differences in armour design I was pleased to see the cavalry in Red Cliff had the same helmet designs as the Qin terracotta army. So it is a slightly fantasy Han army.
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Close ups of Infantry
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC03293_zpsx0ccy8jf.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC03293_zpsx0ccy8jf.jpg.html)
Cavalry
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC03294_zpsglhy1prz.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC03294_zpsglhy1prz.jpg.html)
Command
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC03292_zpsxprkumvo.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC03292_zpsxprkumvo.jpg.html)
and for some Romance of the Three Kingdoms action Guan Yu and Zhang Fei
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/Adamgehling/DSC03295_zpsp2dugwn9.jpg) (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Adamgehling/media/DSC03295_zpsp2dugwn9.jpg.html)
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They look very stunning, and slightly elegant for some reason.
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Great stuff, that range looks beautiful and your paintjobs are icing on the cake. :-*
They look very stunning, and slightly elegant for some reason.
I think its the digital sculpting, they are more realistically proportioned!
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Great work and I love the flag :-* :-*
LB
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Splendid! :-*
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I like that very much, even better with the "3 Kingdoms" touch ;)
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Beautiful work and lovely figures to boot.
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Nice. I really like the heavy infantry with the big mantlets. They are also from Watchful I? I don't see them on the website.
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Nice. I really like the heavy infantry with the big mantlets. They are also from Watchful I? I don't see them on the website.
Yes, I do offer the mantlets. They are sold separately in a pack of 10. Here is the link for the website. http://www.watchfulistudio.com/store/p56/Shield_Pack_%2810%29.html
Hope that helps. :)
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Yes, thanks!
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Brilliant show - the 3 Kingdoms characters are a nice touch 8) 8) 8)
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Lovely work and minis.
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I took advantage of the fact that Eureka Miniatures have inherited the "lost" John Jenkins Warring States Chinese range. They haven't put the range on their store page yet, so I visited Nic's shop and picked up some light infantry and chariots to add to my army.
(https://i.ibb.co/ypCL689/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VxGXgv1)
>
(https://i.ibb.co/9shNsxz/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4P27Pb9)
(https://i.ibb.co/KqwYsRp/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4TdcS9n)
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Glad these are (or will be) available again and I like what you’ve done with them :)
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These figures are great and a much needed boost to the Chinese ranges ,some of which look very stumpy and misshapen
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Good to see these have found a home and eventually will be up on the Eureka web page.
Is the Watchful Eye range still available, I thought I heard they were out of business, but the link seems to work
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Scheltrum had some of the Watchful Studios range at shows in the UK. The Scheultrum website is now down- they have a blog which seems to have no photos of any of their ranges.
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Fireforge are selling some Watchful I Chinese. They are on sale at the moment and are not the full range. I am not sure what is happening with Watchful Studios, the website is full of information on "next projects", but nothing seems to be coming out. Its been that way for a few years now.
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Ainsty castings has the range on their website.
https://www.ainstycastings.co.uk/product-category/watchful-i-studio/ (https://www.ainstycastings.co.uk/product-category/watchful-i-studio/)
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I took advantage of the fact that Eureka Miniatures have inherited the "lost" John Jenkins Warring States Chinese range. They haven't put the range on their store page yet, so I visited Nic's shop and picked up some light infantry and chariots to add to my army.
Nice work, and glad to see that the John Jenkins range is going to become available once again. Any news about the Terrorcotta zombies or Communist "party" packs?
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You might have to shoot Nic an email about that. I know he said the Terrorcotta zombies were the most popular of Jenkins' range, but I don't know whether he has the molds and masters yet. It was suggested that Jenkins has decided it is time to leave Hong Kong, and passed on all his 28mm molds to Eureka.
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Amongst the Jenkins collection I found this Royal Leader miniature to represent King Xuanhui of Han
(https://i.ibb.co/mRfmKC7/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9pQJ09j)
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And some models for Ruses - Fire ox and some flaming monkeys!
(https://i.ibb.co/vc2dvHz/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sgL1J23)
(https://i.ibb.co/HYD6Ld5/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BjVbHN0)
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Great fun :)
(Not for the animals obviously lol)
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That ox looks plausibly Asian and more active than the usual draught oxen - who is the manufacturer?
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Its a Eureka miniatures Outback Bullock
They have a variety of livestock miniatures and even do water buffalo https://www.eurekamin.com.au/index.php?cPath=87_126_131&sort=3a
(https://www.eurekamin.com.au/index.php?cPath=87_126_131&sort=3a)
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(https://i.ibb.co/MkN6N3W/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8g8c8ST)
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