Khazar Horse Archer Miniatures?

[Atheling]

For the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge this year I'm going to be speed painting a Thematic Byzantine Cavalry Based army with Khazar Allies. They will be the bog standard Khazar Steppe Nomad Archer as opposed to the Nobility.

It's a bit of a journey back into the past as the army will be primarily painted up for Warhammer Ancient Battles (V.2) and is intended for an event I hope to attend next year.

I've been trawling the net looking for images of Khazars while I wait for my Osprey, which will hopefully have more info than I already have managed to put together.

There was something distinct about the appearance of the Khazars in the same way the Seljuk Turks stood out from the crowd a little more then your average Steppe Nomad. What I mean by that is that from what I've read they were more distinct than say an Alan, a Hun etc.

I'm trying to think of already cast miniatures that will serve as Khazars and I'm drawing a blank.

Can anyone make any suggestions as to what ranges I might use? I don't mind doing some minimal conversion work but as they are for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge I don't want to get bogged down with kit bashing. The whole point of the army is to paint it up very quickly and to have it ready for the tabletop for said WAB events next year.

So, after my trawl of the net, hopefully without braking copyright, here's what I have thus far It will be interesting to see what the Osprey book has to offer when it arrives):

[Atheling]

For anyone interested in my list. I have gone for a very elite army so as give me a better chance of completing the army by keep the mini count low.

Warhammer Ancient Battles V.2- AoA V.2 Thematic Byzantine Cavalry Army

Characters:- Up to 25% (Up to 700pts) 505
Infantry: Up to 50% (66% Before 867AD) (Up to 1400 and 1848pts) 428
Cavalry:- At Least 25% (700pts) 1325
Special Units: Up to 25% (700pts) 540
(From Steppe Nomads (Alans, Khazars or Pechenegs) and Rus lists)

Characters:
Tagmanic General:                                 181

Hand Weapon/Heavy Armour/Thrusting Spear/Warhorse
Army General

Army Standard Bearer:                               124
Hand Weapon/Heavy Armour/Shield/Warhorse

Tagmata Officer:                                 100
Heavy Armour/Shield/Thrusting Spear/Horse

Tagmata Officer:                                 100
Heavy Armour/Shield/Thrusting Spear/Horse

Infantry:

12 Elite Themata Skirmisherss: BS4/Ld7                        144
Sling
Skirmishers

12 Elite Themata Skirmishers: BS4/Ld7                        180       Composite bow
Skirmishers      

13 Themata Skirmishers:                              104
Sling
Skirmishers                     


Cavalry:

10 Tagmata Heavy Cavalry: (L/S/M)                        415
Hand Weapon/Heavy Armour/Shield/
Eastern Shock Cavalry/Drilled/Veteran

11 Tagmata Heavy Cavalry: (L/S/M)                        455
Hand Weapon/Heavy Armour/Shield/
Eastern Shock Cavalry/Drilled/Veteran

11 Tagmata Heavy Cavalry: (L/S/M)                        455
Hand Weapon/Heavy Armour/Shield/
Eastern Shock Cavalry/Drilled/Veteran

Special Units:

9 Khazar Horse Archers:                              270
Hand Weapon/Composite Bow/Shield
Light Cavalry/Nomad Cavalry
Expert Horseman/Parthian Shot/Feigned Flight/Special Deployment

9 Khazar Horse Archers:                              270
Hand Weapon/Composite Bow/Shield
Light Cavalry/Nomad Cavalry
Expert Horseman/Parthian Shot/Feigned Flight/Special Deployment

2798pts

So, a nice way to get going with the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge

[DalyDR]

I'm trying to think of already cast miniatures that will serve as Khazars and I'm drawing a blank.

One of the figures in Drabant's E-2803 "Pecheneg Horse Archers" looks a lot like that second image, to my eye.  Same quiver shape, similar headgear.  It's only one miniature though . . .

[Atheling]

One of the figures in Drabant's E-2803 "Pecheneg Horse Archers" looks a lot like that second image, to my eye.  Same quiver shape, similar headgear.  It's only one miniature though . . .

Thanks DalyDR.

Yeah, it's a shame as I really want the army to have a visual impact and 18 horse archers in the same pose aren't going to cut it.

Good spot though as i hadn't thought of looking at Drabant. Which is odd as I do like their miniatures.

Also, the Pecheneg's tended to wear longer robes as below (on the right):

[Atheling]

Another image of your bog standard Khazar Horse Archer from the 9th Century, I think more modern then the former above.

Maybe I would get away with using some of the Aventine Steppe Archers?

[Thew2]

The GB Avars have longer robes.

[Atheling]

The GB Avars have longer robes.

Another good spot but.....

Unfortunately the horses they are riding are just that, horses and not steppe ponies.

[AdamPHayes]

I really like the 1st Corps Pechenegs but it is quite a limited range...

[Thew2]

Yes, finding ponies is always tricky. I'm trying to put together an Alan army at the moment, and discounted the various GB plastic cavalry sets, due to the size of the horses.
Strangely, the GB Huns are mounted on more appropriate looking ponies.

[armchairgeneral]

What about the GB Black Hoods. They are on ponies.

[Atheling]

I really like the 1st Corps Pechenegs but it is quite a limited range...

I might well order a pack and try therm out with Aventine Steppe Archers Ponies. I'm really not a fan of those old Robi Baker ponies. They look wrong in all kinds of ways.

I tried ordering some from Mick and Simon when Curteys Miniatures had just taken over 1st Corps but they hadn't got around to remoulding them and it took over a year to get around to remoulding the Pechenegs and by that time I had no need for them.To be fair on the Yorkshire Duo, they did have to remould almost everything from the old 1st Corps ranges.

I think the idea would be to buy a couple of packs and sprinkle them in with the Aventine Steppe Archers Ponies.
I'll contact them now and see what's what. It will all depend on how they fit.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[SJWi]

Atheling, I've just been in contact with Keith at Aventine this morning as I want some of his Etruscans which are no longer listed. I also enquired about Steppe cavalry, and  he tells me his Steppe cavalry range is currently being updated with a full set of new moulds. Should be ready by the end of November. Might be worth waiting to see what they release.

Regards,

Simon

[Atheling]

Atheling, I've just been in contact with Keith at Aventine this morning as I want some of his Etruscans which are no longer listed. I also enquired about Steppe cavalry, and  he tells me his Steppe cavalry range is currently being updated with a full set of new moulds. Should be ready by the end of November. Might be worth waiting to see what they release.

Funnily enough I had that very same conversation very recently with Keith. I've got some painted up and based with 6 more to base but they're going to be based for different rules then I plan to use with the Thematic army. My days of rebasing are well behind me so I'll just wait until Keith and Adam manage to get to them.