Ancient Chinese Army ( +flaming monkeys!)

[Freelancer]

Mr Saturday's Shadow Empire army has prompted me to post my own progress shots of the ancient Chinese army I am working on. I am likewise painting in units playable with Dragon Rampant, only I am planning to multi-base most units so they can eventually build to a Hail Caesar sized army. All my figures are Watchful I's range. I have been hunting for an ancient Chinese range in 28mm, and as John Jenkins doesn't look like getting 28mm back into production I opted for Watchful I's new range. I was pleasantly surprised with the figures. They are very crisp sculpts and scale well with comparable ranges such as Perry Miniatures. I believe they are 3D printed, so are quite realistically proportioned which makes them look a bit slender next to other ranges, so I am unlikely to be using other companies figures in this army.

I started with the skirmishers with repeating crossbows


and a Perry Samurai range for scale

[Freelancer]

Next is Huang Guigu and her command chariot

[OSHIROmodels]

Lovely stuff and the figures do look rather good 

cheers

James

[Svennn]

Very nicely done. These are first I have seen painted other than on their site. Huang Guigu looks smashing.  The figures are lovely but I doubt I will paint mine as I have too many JJD already and they really do not mix.

[marianas_gamer]

Nice work in a subtle palette. I look forward to seeing your army grow.
LB

[von Lucky]

Huang Guigu in her chariot is a standout, the rest aren't too shabby either.

[Arrigo]

first time I see a female 28mm asian miniatures that looks like a real Chinese girl...

[Steve63]

I really like these figures and you're doing a fantastic job painting them, looking forward to seeing more
Cheers

[FierceKitty]

They didn't have repeater crossbows in ancient China, did they?

[olyreed]

If I remember what I read many years ago, i think they did have repeater crossbows, although i might be wrong

[Rhubarb633]

They didn't have repeater crossbows in ancient China, did they?

I understand Watchful I's figures are for the Chinese Warring States period (475 and 221 BC). The earliest archaeological discovery for a repeating crossbow was an example excavated in Hubei province and dated to around 400BC. The excavated site belonged to the Chu State of the Warring States period. So, yes - I think that repeating crossbows are plausible for these figures.

Historical plausibility aside - they are great looking figures. Nicely painted too Freelancer. Look forward to seeing more.

[Freelancer]

Thanks for the positive comments peoples. I have a for more units to get photos of but am waiting on a few basing supplies to finish them off ( I am not really a work in progress photos kind of guy).

As for repeating crossbows, historical concensus is that the ancient Chinese invented them. The oldest evidence predates the Qin dynasty (terracotta army), and they were known to be used widely in the Han Dynasty. The weapon continued to be used in pretty much the same form across a wide time period.

In order for the ratchet arm to draw back the string quickly the bow arms are relatively low tension, so the projectiles don't have the same range or power as a traditional european crossbow. But with a firing rate of 15 bolts in 10 seconds and being relatively easy to make and operate ( Yr 7 students at my school make them), they are great as skirmishing weapon or to arm untrained levy troops with.

[FierceKitty]

I stand gratefully corrected. I thought the things were Sung weapons,

[Freelancer]

Some units of heavy infantry

[Freelancer]

and some archers..