OK, don't need to do it and won't do it but...
I'm a natural born converter. There was no way that, eventually, I wouldn't just have a go and see if cheap conversions would do. So thought - I'll do one figure.
This is it.
Mostly, it works. The rifle is a good substitute for a carbine, but add a card bayonet to it and it would still be acceptable as a rifle. The problem is the helmet - with the best will in the world it doesn't look right and would need work doing.
Size wise the figure works well and matches Spencer Smith.
So tried painting helmet white as the overseas version - still not right.
So overall... easy toy conversion (from start to finish, including conversion and under coat as well as both helmet versions were done on the same day) if you're really strapped for cash but the 'wrong' helmet would take quite a bit of getting used to unless you put a lot of work into it. Frankly, not worth it and the only pre-20thC helmet I would be happy using it as is some kind of Renaissance morion...
I think a little green stuff might work...
ReplyDeleteIt would take very little - just build up the peak and nape of the neck a bit.
DeleteThey look grand with the paint jobs you have given them.
ReplyDeleteThey do paint up well. As a very cheap stand-alone force they would certainly do OK - just keep thinking toy.
DeleteAttractive conversions - would a fine drill and a wire pin or drawing pin tip work for the helmet spike?
ReplyDeleteAlternatively there is The "what If" Imagi-Nations route ...
For cheap Imagi-Nations yes, in fact for an alternative timeline the slightly different helmet shape might even be a bonus.
DeletePossibly one could chop off the helmet and replace it with a forage cap whether fs, pillbox or broderick form or something more foreign. Possibly it could be trimmed to a peak with turban added?
ReplyDeleteSure - I think that the concept of using these figures is proven. In my case, unless I have the urge to produce a couple more then I won't be taking it further - this project already has far more figures than I originally intended anyway!
DeleteBut for anyone wanting to build cheap 42mm armies, these figures cost about 3-4p each from China and give a good budget option.
I haven't seen these exact figures, but I've been buying similar models (Americans call them 'army men', no idea why) in New York. I cut the heads off, drill out the neck, and insert a Spencer Smith head. That's about 5 x the cost of each figure, but still makes them a quarter of the price of metal figures.
ReplyDeleteI have also reshaped the odd dome-shaped helmet into a Russian fur cap at no cost at all. This means I can afford Russians.
Yes, that would obviously work! The possibilities are pretty much endless.
ReplyDelete