Atlantean Askaris/Sepoys/Zouaves

[Red Orc]

Kicking some ideas for restarting the Atlantis campaign around with Christian, the idea of Atlantean troops fighting for the Modern powers came up. Obviously it could be possible to use the Atlanteans 'as is', however people are modelling them - Bullshott has made the Atlantean Temple Guardians on this page and Alfrik and Co have been using Mage Knight figures and the Petal Throne minis shown on this page.

But then I started thinking about units like the Zouaves that combined their traditional dress with a uniform look and modern equipment. The more I thought about it, the more I liked it, though of course it might be a bit impractical for future VSF-y action (might not, who can tell?). Of course, back in January, Malamute suggested Atlanteans in the service of the Queen, and Doc Twilight already coined 'Atlantean Sepoys' but's it's taken 10 months for the idea to begin to rattle in my brain...

Anyway, I thought I'd throw the idea to the collective brain-boxery of the LAF to see if anyone had any ideas for making a unit of troops that mixed some kind of Atlantean, vaguely ancient, style with modern(ish) equipment and weapons. How, why, why not, what would it look like, and where would you use it after the Atlantis campaign was over, and other such questions are buzzing in my brain. Over to you.

[Chairface]

I have one word for you my friend. Plastics. The future of awesome conversions is plastics.

For instance, I have my Venusian Parrotmen. Simple, yet effective conversions made from Perry Rifflemen and GW Kroot. European uniforms with weapons that have a bit of an alien feel.



With plastics you can mix and match pretty much anything. You mentioned Zouaves? How about the upcoming Perry plastic Zouaves?



Mixed with Wargames Factory or Warlord romans?



Or maybe you want something a little more wild and go with vikings heads? Or Lord of the Rings Easterlings?



(Actually that could be kind of cool)

 The possibilities are endless. And you can always use them for future VSF campaigns. Why not?

[Dr. The Viking]

I just painted a bunch of those Romans and I thought exactly the same. 

In fact I would probably be inclined to go for Assyrians in metal myself though. I think they look very outworldish.

[Red Orc]

Wow, some excellent suggestions there. The idea of using the LotR Easterlings is a great one I think. I can definitely see some potential in those chaps, I think I even have one lying around somewhere that I can do a scale-comparison with my other VSF minis (Artizan, Ironclad, Westwind and Old Glory). But that Perry Zouave is lovely. A unit of them would look smashing.

I had an idea that somehow these Atlantean sepoys might look a bit the Native American scouts working for the US army that pop up in cowboy films. I had planned to use some suitably pre-Columbian American minis mixed 'somehow' with the Wargames Factory Zulu War British riflemen, in some way that half my brain tells me would work but the other half says 'err, how?'. I've been looking at plastic Incas and Aztecs but the only ones I can find are around 23mm, from Caesar I think they were, which is obviously much too small. But I think the Easterlings would probably be much better. Nice.

[Gluteus Maximus]

I'm saving up for several boxes of those Perry Zouaves. They are just what I need for some Arab Regulars for my Darkest Africa setting.

[Bullshott]

My US forces on Atlantis use traditionally dressed natives as scouts. Until I come up with something better I am using Amazonian indians from the OOP Naismith 25mm Aztec range. In the longer term I want to raise a unit of partially uniformed natives like plains war Indian scouts, but I am still looking for the best figures to use for this project.

My French force fighting through the jungles of Venus similarly use allied Parrotmen (GW kroot) with traditional weapons. In the longer term I want to add uniformed alien troops into the ranks of my (currently all human) Legion Extraterrestialle.

@ Chairface - great work combining Perry plastic ACW and kroot parts. I really like the end result - I might have to steal this idea for my French.

I'm certainly going to get some of the plastic zouaves too - hopefully they will work with the Ramshackle turbaned heads with gasmasks

[Gluteus Maximus]

I'm certainly going to get some of the plastic zouaves too - hopefully they will work with the Ramshackle turbaned heads with gasmasks

Interesting idea. I'd like to see the results 

[Chairface]

@ Chairface - great work combining Perry plastic ACW and kroot parts. I really like the end result - I might have to steal this idea for my French.

Feel free! I used British Napoleonic Rifflemen, but ACW should work fine. Or whatever plastics. Very versatile.

I'm certainly going to get some of the plastic zouaves too - hopefully they will work with the Ramshackle turbaned heads with gasmasks

I think that would look smashing!

[Dewbakuk]

Just saw a release announcement on TMP that fits this rather well. Obscure Miniatures (aptly named) are releasing a range of figures for the Paraguayan War (Google tells me it's 1864-70) so uniformed South American troops, gotta be useful! However of even greater note is this line from their website:

We will be doing the full gambit when it comes to this line. Some will be in their Sunday best with nearly pristine uniforms, others will be in campaign dress, ragged and worn, and finally we will come to the figures in nothing but a loin cloth and a kepi.

Yes you read that right, South American figures with rifles wearing nothing but a loincloth and a Kepi. Add in a figure from a dressed pack as the 'respected' unit leader and I think we have a winner!

Edit: A link to the website would probably be useful...
http://www.obscureminiatures.com/

[Gluteus Maximus]

It's a fascinating conflict - I really must get the Foundry book - with some great uniforms. They'd be ideal for a lot of VSF armies, I love the idea of "loin cloth and Kepi" clad troops 

Ideal for Darkest Africa too 

[Red Orc]

Well that's certainly useful to know! Cheers for that Dewbakuk, certainly worth keeping an eye on them. Minis in a loin-cloth and kepi, and armed with rifles, would certainly work as Atlantean sepoys.

[Bullshott]

Anyone know when the Perry plastic zouaves are due to be released?

[Dewbakuk]

No

[Malamute]

Hopefully before february 2011

[Dewbakuk]

Hopefully before february 2011

Well if they aren't then the Pontifical Zouaves just won't be fielded!