DBA War Wagons and Litters

Taborite Warwagons

By Darren Buxbaum. All of the models are Essex RXE11 (Eastern Renaissance wagons) that have been converted. This was a mistake on my part since I had purchased these along time ago (I think at $12 a piece) and the cheaper WAG5 or WAG6 work better since I wouldnąt have to change the wheels. These wagons are nice since they have the trapezoid ends or slanted side walls of German, or in this case Czech farm wagons.

Brass rods are trimmed and rounded for the horizontal poles to attach the defensive planking that covers the wheels on the front of the wagon. The planking is made of sheet styrene (Evergreen V-Groove 6.3mm, 1.0mm thick) with holes drilled between the planks! Wire is then threaded through and twisted off in the back to create the rope hinge that attaches the two planks together.

In this particular set of wagons, I trimmed the wooden planks off of the wheels. On other models, I replaced the wheels with HO or N scale model railroad wheels for circus wagons. These are a pain since they have a large number of spokes and make the wagons look like circus wagons. As a result I would cut out half of the spokes. The trimmed wheels are attached to the wagon by drilling holes into the wagon's axle and then gluing a brad with a flat head through the wheel and axle. This tends to strengthen the wheel assembly and provide more gluing surface for the planks on the front of the wagon.

I also cut out a rear entrance for the wagon and made a gang-plank with styrene treads for the troops to climb into the wagon.

The crossbowmen are mostly Essex MID60-63 for their sallets (MID55 have kettle hats and are okay) for a more "German" appearance. The hand gunners are EMED4. I plan to use XMED6, which have a heavier gun with a loop and post (like a swivel gun) for my Hussites. All of the crew members have their sprues removed from between their legs and are pinned to the wagon. This is so you can see the planking between their feet and makes them more stable. The halberdier is EMED9 (I will use EMED7 flailmen for my Hussites). I use the draft horses included with the wagons (a team of 4 whereas WAG5 & 6 have only two). I only use two for space purposes and have to fill the holes in their tack (there is a wooden plank included in the wagon set that is a hoarding that attaches to the horses). The horse holder is MID24a but I also use XMED3 for variation. All are mounted on steel bases for storage or to use a magnet strip to hold the teams to the wagon during play.

When I built these wagons I wasn't keen on basing them on 40 x 80 mm bases. So I based the wagons on 40 x40mm with separate draft teams on 40 x 40mm bases to place behind them to make them 40 x 80mm for tourneys. This also makes cool photo opportunities as well.

I know that Irregular makes Hussite wagons that would be less work, but I had to make use of these wagons purchased and I pride myself on attention to detail in modeling. So I am pleased with the results.

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