Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Adventures in the Far East => Topic started by: Vanvlak on April 09, 2016, 02:52:23 PM
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As mentioned in other posts, I'm trying to wind down my buying; and my plans to get a large ancient Chinese army have been scrapped in favour of a smaller project - a warband, not more than 20 models, based on The Water Margin (or Bandits of the Marsh). This is one of my last new projects requiring purchases, so I've no hurry with this.
I am NOT modelling all 108 of the heroes, and am picking and choosing the ones I prefer, either because of their character, or their name (ugly son in law) or their appearance.
I'm going to tackle these one by one, beginning with Li Kui, the Black Whirlwind.
This is him as presented on film (possibly):
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/yanie/likui.jpg)
And as used in an ad:
(http://adsoftheworld.com/sites/default/files/styles/media_retina/public/images/YANGHE-Kui-Li.jpg?itok=fP0URynp)
Any suggestions for a 28mm scale Li Kui?
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If you don't mind doing some conversion work you could have a shot at this guy (http://www.bushido-thegame.com/catalog/manu-buto-bodyguard).
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West Wind
(http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/image/cache/catalog/figures/Samurai/fujiwara_-500x350.JPG)
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If you don't mind doing some conversion work you could have a shot at this guy (http://www.bushido-thegame.com/catalog/manu-buto-bodyguard).
Nice - but I am no good at sculpting hair, and that seems to be an essential identifier of this chap.
West Wind
Very nice - I'd have to see how to modify the mallet into an axe, and add a second axe in his left hand - or at his feet - as he'salways portrayed with 2 axes.
Thanks guys.
Any more?
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Northstar's "Sensei W/ Katana and Wakizashi" comes with bushy beard and would be easily convertable. Downside: also has eye patch and may not be available individually. Upper left of this picture (http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=5453).
Zenit Miniatures "Duellista". I can't tell if he has a beard from this picture (http://shop.zenitminiatures.es/product.php?id_product=259) or just a moustache.
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Very nice - I'd have to see how to modify the mallet into an axe, and add a second axe in his left hand - or at his feet - as he'salways portrayed with 2 axes.
If it helps, the mallet hand is separate (if I recall correctly), so it should be a relatively simple conversion job. He's a big guy, so I'd look to the GW Marauders or similar for appropriate hands and axes - that should also net you a second similar (if not identical) axe for the left hand.
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Northstar's "Sensei W/ Katana and Wakizashi" comes with bushy beard and would be easily convertable. Downside: also has eye patch and may not be available individually. Upper left of this picture (http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=5453).
Zenit Miniatures "Duellista". I can't tell if he has a beard from this picture (http://shop.zenitminiatures.es/product.php?id_product=259) or just a moustache.
Thanks - will take a peak.
@Smith: that's good news - he now seems an even more likely candidate. And as I need other characters, the other suggestions might still be used.
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Guild of Harmony has a few pieces. This is Sebastian Archer's range...
http://guildofharmony.com
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Now it makes sense ;)
cheers
James
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Now it makes sense ;)
cheers
James
It does, doesn't it?
I've taken it to the extreme however - with a good deal of flooding, a location closer to the sea, and a transposition of the Bandits story a few centuries later than the original setting, just in time to see off a few Waku and the spearhead of a Japanese invasion....
UPDATE: I still have not purchase my Li Kui, which is good as in the meantime the story expanded in an unexpected direction (James' cryptic comment will be explained in good time) and have bought some Japanese (to invade) and some Korean allies. As they are Perry and similar-sized miniatures I am closer to 25mm than 28mm, so I am now in search of 25mm Chinese.
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West Wind
(http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/image/cache/catalog/figures/Samurai/fujiwara_-500x350.JPG)
And I just ordered him - thanks Joroas.
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so I am now in search of 25mm Chinese.
I used Forlorn Hope's Ming Chinese (https://www.forlornhopegames.com/index.php/category/200-ming-chinese) for my Ronin buntai. Small range and mediocre models but serviceable:
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/Codsticker/MingChineseDec31002_zps3d207e69.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/Codsticker/MingCommanderJan2015_zps901f0d9d.jpg)
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25mm Chinese.
Check out TAG's Song range. Their armored soldiers are slightly anachronistic for your scenario and lack headgear(turban,felt hat etc.)
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Thanks Codsticker and Wansumi - I'll take a look at these.
I am not being too strict in terms of chronology; I also plan to have some 'special effects' including a handful of local monsters and some imports which the Japanese have smuggled in - including a bakeneko.
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What is the actual setting/period of the inspiration for this project?
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What is the actual setting/period of the inspiration for this project?
It's complicated..... :D
The original idea began as a Bandits of the Marsh (The Water Margin) band for Ronin; the book was setin the Song dynasty, so that's 960-1279 CE - which in turn is believed to be based on historical bandits who surrendered in 1121.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Margin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Margin)
Crappy video of the old series intro here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqsAye_EiA0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqsAye_EiA0)
I included the link because the voice-over is reportedly Burt Kwouk (Cato in the Pink Panther films), who died the other day. :'(
EDIT - better quality video, in German: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMOK_gdb-W4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMOK_gdb-W4)
I ordered a small collection of stuff from Mr Jimbibbly's Oshiro models - Chinese buildings and walls:
http://www.oshiromodelterrain.co.uk/chinese.html (http://www.oshiromodelterrain.co.uk/chinese.html)
Unfortunately, the top of the page includes links to Japanese stuff, and boats - which feature a great deal in The Water Margin. But Japanese boats....and a ship.... :?
I ordered the buildings - and they're BRILLIANT, working on them almost daily, even if it's only 2 minutes stolen from a busy month - and cautiously asked about boats and stuff. Order number 2 is being prepared.
BUT - to accommodate the Japanese stuff I bent the scenario a bit - better list it in point form:
1) I have a band of heroes, who are based on the Bandits of Liangshan Marsh from The Water Margin.
2) To make the setting a bit more unique, I shifted Liangshan marsh to the coast, and then replaced it with a tsunami-flooded area which has been submerged for years, to the extent that buildings are built on hilltops or the tops of old large structures - or rafts.
3) In a final twist the Japanese are taking the opportunity given by the submerged coast to make inroads in China, in a way similar to the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592-1598 (which was planned to include China anyway).
In other words, I am avoiding setting a definite date, although it would have a terminus post quem of 1110 and a terminus ante quem of 1598. Anything in between these dates goes, and models from even earlier periods (someone could be wearing hand-me-downs) are not a problem either.
Oh yes - you also get demons and fantastic beasts. It's a bit like a post-apocalyptic setting come a few centuries early to a very watery sort of land (in China) - only it's not quite land, all travel is by boat....
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Ok, got it. :D
The TAG models Wansui suggested are very nice. I find the faces a little stylized but the sculpting, casting and TAG's service are great.