15 mm Chinese track gang - sort of - for the Old West

[FifteensAway]

Was out sorting out portions of my Old West collection this evening - the civilians, both armed, about 1/4th, and unarmed for the rest - and realized I'd extemporized a Chines track gang (and forgotten about it apparently) from Old Glory Blue Moon's Boxer Rebellion Chinese civilians, not a prefect fit for what I'd prefer but better than having nothing.  Here is a link to the pack I used: https://oldglory25s.com/shop/15-18mm-blue-moon/15-18mm-boxer-rebellion/15-18mm-boxer-rebellion-chinese/15brc-112-chinese-passive-civilians/. Had an extra set from building my (not yet painted) Boxer Rebellion set up and while wondering what to do with them realized I could turn them to advantage for my Old West collection.  Figured I'd post this here since I was bemoaning in another thread quite recently a lack of Chinese track gangs and then, voila, my reminder when sorting. 

For those not familiar, Chinese were brought to the United States Old West in considerable numbers to help with building the railroads, in the 19th century, especially the Central Pacific building west from Sacramento to meet up with the Union Pacific to form the first 'transcontinental' railroad.  [Point of fact, even to this day the United States has never had a true transcontinental rail line, just connecting lines that allow travel across the continent.]

A bit over a third of my civilians are women and children - though some of the women are armed.  Hoping to get significant progress on the collection while wife is traveling for 5 weeks later in the year and early into next year.  Hopefully before she departs I can have the balance of the civilians prepped and primed and ready for paint.  Unlikely to get them all done - there are A LOT - but progress would be great.

[FifteensAway]

Some more sorting tonight but this time wrapping up the 'wagons' including a little rearranging - mostly adding a few needed horses or oxen here and there and adjusting my wagon train drivers from on foot to seated (will need to add benches to my prairie schooners, though, for them).  Also assigning figures for my Tumbleweed Wagon (prison wagon)  - a basic wagon (from Peter Pig) with a 'cage' from Crom's Anviel/CP models - added a couple of drivers and eight occupants. 

The collection comes from many sources, not all of them Old West - though most are.  Those that are not, mostly, come from Old Glory 25s' Blue Moon Napoleonic generic wagon types.  A few more come from ACW sources.  Manufacturers include Peter Pig, Stone Mountain, Minifigs, Bluemoon, Freikorp (QRF) at least - might be a few odd ones I either don't know (swap meet purchases) or don't recall, there are a lot of wheeled conveyances to keep track of.  By wagons, I include four wheeled wagons meant for the Old West, some I will modify to add some variety with many not meant for Old West, two wheeled carts, and - of course - stage coaches.

So how many total?: 103

No, that is not a typo.  Of that 103, 10 are or will be 'destroyed' to include at least one wrecked stage coach.  Being a 15 mm collection makes it a bit less daunting.  One of the modifications is turning a stage coach into a War Wagon as seen in the John Wayne movie of that name - maybe the Bluemoon stage coach with a QRF miniatures gatling gun.  I will also be creating a few broughams and - important - mud wagons.

Other modifications will be a couple of hearses - one white, one black, telegraph wagon, dentist wagon, photographer's wagon, doctor's wagon (as opposed to buggies, have some of those, too), and a snake oil salesman wagon.

Variety of Old West wagons include, buckboards, those aforementioned buggies, grain wagons, chuck wagons, flat bed supply wagons, water supply wagons (big barrels), manure carts (adapted but not modified), and ammunition cart and a battery forge cart, flat bed wagons, enigneer/lumber wagons, and a variety of general wagons - for freighters.  Every wagon has one or more seated 'crew' to drive the wagons including some with a man and a woman (mostly repurposed from some 'extra' stage coach folk I special ordered some time ago).  That was probably the biggest challenge in putting the collection together, finding all those seated drivers since very few of the vehicles come with them, mostly the stage coaches - and the Bluemoon buckboards and buggies.

Part of the reason for sorting was to get a handle on what needs to get painted, numbers wise.  Turns out to be this:

103 wagons, 217 men (+56 for, mostly, dismounts), 30 women, 4 children, 274 horses, and 50 oxen - and included here are my 18 individually based cowboys and matching dismounts for herding cattle (not in this count are 96 long horns).  Including the dismounts, I add that up to be 678 pieces.  Of course, around half of the wagons are already assembled and primed for painting including horses and 'crews'.  A good chunk of the people, especially the women and children are in my two seven vehicles each prairie schooner wagon trains - one pulled by horses and the other by oxen. [Prairie schooners for crossing the plains - Conestoga wagons far too heavy, those belong back in the settled east with good roads.]

12 of the wheeled transport are assigned to the US Army, 8 supply wagons split equal to 4 horse and 2 horse wagons, and then 2 gatling guns on carriages and 2 limbers to pull them.

I'm thinking, along with my 4 station gallows (2 Bluemoon sets combined) and my county courthouse scratch build, that making a major dent in this part of the collection, the wagons and such, might be my project while the wife is out of country for those five weeks.  Might not get it all done but if I can make significant progress, that will be great.

Is 103 wagons a little nuts?  No, it's an overfull 50 pound bag of nuts as in Chock-full-of-nuts wacko.    I say, why the heck not?  Paint jobs won't be anywhere near the fantastic work LAF's own Deano does but they will be playable 'good enough'. 

And, yes, I will have enough town (towns, actually) to justify that many vehicles.  We folk in this hobby can go a bit over the top on our passion projects and this certainly counts as probably my biggest 'passion' project.  Just wait until I post up my civilian figure numbers. 

[BeneathALeadMountain]

That’s sounds great, looking forward to seeing some pictures. My old west collection includes about 15 chaps (4 are painted!) so I’m may need to put more effort in 

Andrew
BeneathALeadMountain

[FifteensAway]

The following is clearly a serious case of overkill in total numbers but it is what it is.  There was no ‘plan’ to get to this many civilian figures, it just sort of happened over time.  I figure since I have them, I will paint them.  Eventually.

Other than a few exceptions, all groups are 12 figures - though sometimes not 12 castings when there is a cast of two figures together, usually a mother and child or baby and sometimes those babies take a group over 12.  And perhaps the worst ‘overkill’ is having two dead figures for every full group - that was an early idea that just kept going throughout.  I guess my version of the Old West is seriously bloody. 

Some of the groups include some neat details like card tables or pianos.  And in a smattering of instances, there are some animals included.  Not included here are things like dogs and cats which will be tossed into the mix.  Also not included since this is about people for the most part, are the scores and scores of scatter details like brooms, shovels, wheels, water troughs, hitching racks, boxes, barrels, sacks, and quite a variety of other bits and pieces.

And also not included are the plentitude of domestic animals (I believe all already painted - like 96 longhorns that can be boosted to 150 animals with some other cattle that ‘matches’) and the other wild animals (some painted - like most of the buffalo and the pronghorn antelopes) suitable to North America.  Lots of those - heck, even squirrels! 

So, on to the towns and their groups.

First up is the main town on the east side of the Very Large county and by far the largest, Anachronism with its 34 groups:

Governor, 12 men, Governor’s Ladies, 12 women, Town Father’s 12 men (4 armed), Leading Town Ladies, 12 women, Speculators, 12 men (6 armed), Town Women, 12 women (3 armed), Trainmen, 12 men (1 armed), Train Yard Crew, 12 men, Travelers, 7 men, 5 women, Passengers, 10 men, 2 women (half of these are seated), Stevedores, 12 men (these can be used by the river boats for loading), Children, 2 boys, 10 girls, Sawbones, 11 men, 1 woman (3 men armed - adapted from an ACW ambulance set with one man under the knife), Undertaker, 6 men, 6 women, 1 baby, Blacksmith, 7 men, 3 women, 2 boys (anvils and other stuff), Cooper/Wheelwright Group, 9 men, 3 women, (barrels and wheels), Hangman, 6 men, 6 women, 1 baby, Shopkeepers, 8 men, 4 women, Shopping Women, 12 women, Shaolin Temple, 12 Chinese Men (8 monks - from Vietnam ranges mostly), Chinese Women, 12 women and 4 babies, Chinese Men, 12 Chinese Men, Freedwomen, 12 black women and 3 babies, Freedmen, 12 black men, Barmen, 12 men (6 armed), Serving Wenches, 12 women (3 scantily clad), Dance Hall Girls, 12 women (2 armed - lots of cleavage), Gamblers, 12 men (no drawn weapons but likely all hiding at least a derringer), Drunks, 12 men, (and quite a tipsy lot they are), Temperance Marchers, 12 women (need to add sign placards to the figures), Armed Men and Women, 6 men, 6 women (all armed), Free Militia 1, 12 men (12 armed), Free Militia 2, 12 men (12 armed), Free Militia 3, 12 men (12 armed), Militia Command, 3 men (3 armed), Oracle Group, 3 men (Oracle laid flat on a table with a bottle and Clayton Howell and sidekick listening for a vision from him, “Ah, now I see it!”  Need to know the movie Hallelujah Trail to get it.)

425 people, 270 men, 132 women, 23 children, 76 armed, plus 70 dead (militia command and Oracle group get 1 dead each).  100% primed and ready to paint.

Lodgepole Creek is the northwest outpost near Lakota territory and its 14 groups are:

Lawmen, 12 men (12 armed), Dads With Kids, 4 men, 4 boys, 4 girls, Armed “Men”, 11 men, 1 woman (all armed), Generic Militia, 12 men (12 armed), Trainmen, 12 men, Women, 12 women, Children, 4 boys, 8 girls, Colored Folk, 4 black men, 4 black women, 4 black children, Undertaker, 12 men, Card Players, 10 men, 4 women (this and the similar group in the next town have most of the men seated at gambling tables plus bar tenders and the women are dancers), Saloon, 6 men, 6 women, (includes some scantily clad women and a piano with player and seated banjo player), Working Celebrants, 12 men (perhaps a few too many libations - 1 armed. Ack!), Workmen, 12 men, Young Folk, 2 boys, 6 girls, 4 little kids (many teenagers).

168 people, 113 men, 27 women, 28 children, 37 armed, 28 dead.  Only a few units here are primed.

Alkali Wells is an old town in the southwest of the county with a strong Hispanic element in its 14 groups:

“Texicans”, 12 men (mostly not Hispanic), Missionary Group, 3 men, 5 women, 4 children (2 of the men are priests), Tex-Mex, 4 men, 4 women, 4 children, Unarmed Women, 12 women (1 armed - mostly not Hispanic), Children, 4 boys, 8 girls, Women and Children, 6 women, 2 boys, 4 girls, Chinese Laundry, 1 Chinese Man, 11 Chinese Women, “Mexican” Armed Men, 12 men (12 armed), Militant Veterans, 12 men (12 armed - likely ex-Confederates), Armed Men and Women, 7 men, 5 women (6 armed), Card Players, 8 men, 6 women (as in above town), Saloon, 7 men, 5 women (as in above town), Mexican Women, 12 women.  And 2 Mexican horse holders with 4 horses.

173 people, 89 men, 55 women, 29 children, 37 armed, plus 28 dead. Mostly primed?

Muleskinner Canyon is a seriously disreputable place in the northern regions of the county - and no place for children; its 7 groups are:

Armed Men, 12 men (12 armed), Masked Bandits, 12 men (12 armed - very cool figures from CP Miniatures), Mountain Men 1, 12 men (12 armed), Mountain Men 2, 12 men (12 armed), “Pig Farm” Ladies, 12 women (soiled doves well past their prime), Sadie’s Crew, 9 men, 3 women (4 armed - don’t mess around with Sadie, no sir), Mexican Women with rifles, 12 women (12 armed - got tired of machismo so headed north).

84 people, 57 men, 27 women, 54 armed, plus 14 dead.  Only one unit primed so far.

Mescalarilla may not have quite the bad reputation of the above town but it isn’t the most upstanding place, neither, in its southern region; its 7 groups are:

El Mexicans, 12 men (12 armed), Sombrero Men 1, 12 men (12 armed), Sombrero Men 2, 12 men (12 armed), Peons 1, 12 men, Peons 2, 12 men, Mexican Women 1, 12 women, Mexican Women 2, 12 women.  And El Pollo Grande mounted + foot attendant and same dismounted with 4 chickens and a Mexican horse holder with 2 horses.

87 people, 63 men, 24 women, 37 armed, plus 15 dead, either primed or a few groups already painted.

Dolt’s Gold Mining Claims is another northern region locale but with only 3 groups:

Prospectors, 12 men (6 armed plus 6 pack mules), Armed Men, 12 men (12 armed), Young Folk, 3 boys, 5 girls, 4 younger children.

36 people, 24 men, 12 young folk, plus 6 dead.  I guess the women stayed in town.

Bull’s Butt Mining Camp is down in the southern regions of the county and again only 3 groups (the name comes from something a wag carved into a hill side - actually the back end of long horn I ‘stole’ the head from for other use.  Will get embedded in a hill.):

Copper Miners, 12 men, Armed Men (12 armed), Gringos with Mexicans, 4 men, 8 women.

36 people, 28 men, 8 women, plus 6 dead

Then we have what I’m calling the Environ Groupings, those folk scraping their livings outside of the towns and camps:

The northern environs:
Indian Commission, 12 men, Reservation Men and Boys, 10 men, 2 boys, Reservation Women and Girls, 8 women, 4 girls (those last two are “hang around the fort” types rather than ‘wild’ Indians), Trading Post, 6 men, 6 women (all armed), Squatters, 8 men, 4 women.

The eastern environs:
Mormons, 4 men, 8 women and a baby (Paint Your Wagon inspiration!), Armed Men, 12 men (12 armed), Homesteaders, 4 men, 5 women, 3 children (6 armed), Farmers 1, 4 men, 4 women, 4 children, Farmers 2, 5 men, 3 women, 4 children (1 armed).

The western environs:
Armed Men, 12 men (12 armed), Unarmed Women, 12 women, Unarmed Men, 12 men, Train Crew, 12 men, Chinese Track Layers, 12 Chinese men.

The southern environs:
Lost Sailors, 12 men (12 armed - former Union men), Ranchers 1, 5 men, 3 women, 4 children, Ranchers 2, 5 men, 3 women, 4 children (2 armed), Sheep Herders, 9 men, 3 women (8 armed), Stage Station, 6 men, 6 women (4 armed).

And the roaming groups:
Photographers, 9 men, 3 women (ACW photographers, 3 of them and folks posing), Old Fashioned Film Crew, 12 men (from Peter Pig - for late in the period perhaps), Road Train Crew, 12 men (trains getting robbed?)

278 People, 183 men, 68 women, 27 children, 71 armed, plus 46 dead.

That all adds up to:

1291 people, 831 men, 329 women, 131 children, 344 armed, 213 dead (+44, at least, extra dead figures - though 24 are dead Indians so might not belong here - a separate listing for Indians except for the 'Hang Arounds' here.

That gallows set mentioned earlier will include four uniformed jail guards.  There is a watch tower probably on one of the ranches, plenty of additional extra dead men (probably add to the wagons that don’t already have them), and a variety of skeletal people and horses - and wolves and boars. 

There are some additional civilian figures like the three gals - Annnie Oakley, Calamity Jane, and Belle Starr on foot, Sister Veronica and her alter ego Veronica Voluptuous (Two Mules for Sister Sarah inspired), additional packers and pack mules, mounted mountain men, The Dude in both a mounted and dismounted version (not quite John Wayne sort), some more ‘loose’ women.  Just a variety of ‘extras’ that haven’t been properly added up.

Rounding out the civilians are the 12 mounted/12 dismounted/12 dead/4 standing horses groups - the Hat Men, black, white and maybe other colors.  Think in terms of the Good Guys, the Bad Guys, the Hired Guns, Posse, etc.  Twenty-seven of those groups!  The civilian action will for the most part revolve around these groups.

The rest of the collection is the Army, cavalry and infantry and a fort, and the Indians, mounted, foot, and villagers.  Serious numbers here, too.

Did I say something earlier about a wee bit of overkill? 

edit: Posted the above earlier today and then was out this evening (9:00 PM nearly my time) and washed all the remaining wagon components so now all that is needed is some file and knife work and then gluing together - and ungluing my fingers a few times like as not, super glue issues, then priming.  Fifty of the wagons are already fully primed and ready for painting (except I need to work on those wagon train drivers mentioned above in prior post).  Oh, and one stage coach was acquired already painted though I still need to prime and paint the six horses and prime and paint the casualty figure.  Still need to figure out how many more casualty figures I want to allocate to the wagons and also get more of the sheet metal bases I use for them, getting a bit low on that size.

I also figured out I need six more sets of stands for the 'organized' civilians so pulled those out to prime tomorrow.   Also counted up that 3 of the civilian groups are painted (all for Mescalarilla and including El Pollo Grande including horse holder set) and 66 are fully primed which only leaves 34 more groups to prep and glue to bases and then prime.  And then it is time to slop on the paint - or apply with tender care if you prefer. 

[Khusru2]

it sounds kind of overwhelming. where did you source your Mexicans, especially the women? I've seen the PP ones but I'd like more variety and more without weapons. thank you.

[FifteensAway]

Kyushu,

Have you seen the women in Peter Pig's Pirate range, also in the newer Mexican Revolution range?  Both ranges improve the offerings.  Also check, I think it was either the French or the civilians, in their WWI ranges.  And then look at their Dark Ages range, the child captives in particular.  Still with PP, the ECW range has a pack of scarecrows and peasants, also their AWI range has some civilians. 

A number of women from Bluemoon via Old Glory 25s - again, don't just look at the Old West range.  I know that is a wide range of history but with the right paint job a lot of stuff will work for Old West - and since it is 15 mm that just makes it more "forgiving" to cheat a bit.  Oh, yeah, might be a few things in Minifigs. 

Of course, not all of those will work for Mexicans but it greatly expands the options. 

When I started on this journey women were few and very far in between - children are still fairly rare.  What is hardest to find are women casualties (there is a pack in the Vietnam range that can be adapted at PP, not women but smaller and so better than other options) and women riders - yet to find any though I might use some women riding unicorns from Splintered Light I think, just cut off the horns - the women are riding side saddle which was not uncommon yet - Hollywood notwithstanding, though I'm sure there were plenty of practical women then as now who didn't give a hoot for 'convention'. 

To each their own but that whole half-naked silicon enhanced female phenomenon seen in some games just doesn't fit my interests - though I certainly find nice looking, half-naked real women rather appealing though that's as far as it goes being a married man!

Overwhelming?  At times, yes.  The real challenge is having so much else for other periods - and having another modeling hobby in model railroading.  I may need to live to 175 years old to get it all done!!!  But it also gives me something to do in retirement that I really enjoy.

[Khusru2]

Thank you. I must admit to restricting my searches to wild west, Mexican-American war, SYW and various Spanish/pirate ranges. I'll check out those.