20 Mule Team (Death Valley Days/The Old Ranger) Photo added

[bulldogger2000]

Years ago a friend gave me a model kit of the 20 mule team wagons and mules from the late 50's-early 60's.  The scale is probably more consistent with 30mm figures, but it is pretty close for 28mm. Of course all I had was a plastic bag of a multitude of tiny plastic parts, and no instructions.  It has sat on my work bench for years and I finally put the vast vast majority of it together, and I have to say it is a pretty cool little model.  Now my question which will cause all of you to "put on your thinking caps".  What can I use it for?  Is there any record of something like this being used during the mid to late 1800's?  In India?  In Africa? In the USA (aside from the obvious Borax transportation)? 

I have yet to paint it, but if I had a direction of where it will be used, it will help with the finishing process.

Thanks in advance.

I thought, since I am an old fart, some may not know WHAT I am talking about when I say "20 Mule Team", so I have included a photo of the project.  Perry British artillerists are placed next to it for scale.  Yes, I know they look large, but they WERE large.  Thanks again.

[Szary]

Wow, impressive. I would not like to be any of those 20 mules, no sir! I will watch this thread with interest, I did not even know about the existence of such a moloch.

[Ramirez Noname]

Very nice models.

I found this pic on the Western Mining History website of a single cart and several mules … blocking the road.



RMZ

[mweaver]

That is indeed a big wagon!

[War In 15MM]

The period of actual use for the mule team in Death Valley, California was 1883-1889... that's the late 19th century.  I think its a great model... several cargo wagons and a water wagon should be of use in lots of places.  If you look at the supply wagon (s?) used early in the film Dances with Wolves, it (they?) is similar to these.  I got a broken version of the model several years ago and use the wheels and eight or ten of the mules when I did my 28mm version of Man In The Wilderness... the wagon hauling the keelboat.  Good luck with any project you do.  I think you have a great toy to start with.