15mm Figure Ideas for Camps

[Jeff Caruso]

What figures for camp scenes would you like to see? Not limited to figures but pieces of equipment as well.Let your ideas flow.Some may be picked up if they are mainstream enough or unique.

Thanks.

Jeff

[imported_C.Lindstrom]

Pack Llamas!

My South American armies need some way of transporting their gear. The slaves are tired and nearing revolt!

[Redwilde]

Here's some ideas that could fit into any period:

* Unarmoured figures shooting/throwing things downwards to put on parapets

* Cooks roasting a pig, chickens, whatever

* Blacksmith hammering out spearpoints, shield rims, etc.

* Sailors unloading cargo

* Bocci players (the Roman soldiers introduced a game of bowles throughout the empire, played by throwing stones. Not only would this pass the time in camp, the camp followers would then have plenty of rocks on hand for defense! This game gradually evolved into the many different forms of bocci & bowling and would be appropriate for Imperial and all post-Roman periods throughout Europe.)

[Jeff Caruso]

Originally posted by Redwilde:
__________________________________________________
quote:
* Unarmoured figures shooting/throwing things downwards to put on parapets

* Cooks roasting a pig, chickens, whatever

* Blacksmith hammering out spearpoints, shield rims, etc.

* Sailors unloading cargo
__________________________________________________

Thanks Redwilde.Those are all great ideas.The blacksmith idea I had in mind from the Osprey Warrior book GERMANIC WARRIOR 236-568 AD.There is also a scene of a pig being roasted on a spit.I was thinking of a soldier carrying a pig over his shoulders after a successful hunt.

The figures throwing shooting down is a great idea and coincides with a suggestion Chris made to me for towers that would fit on a 40x40mm base.

Jeff

[Paul A. Hannah]

Scribes, dutifully chiseling onto a block of stone, or writing on a sheet of parchment, the heroic deeds of their esteemed leader.

[David Kuijt]

Irregular already does a "pig roasting on a spit" that is quite nice, Jeff. But they don't have any cooks!

I like Paul's suggestion -- in particular, an Assyrian army really, really needs some eunuch battle scribes taking down details for later carving into relief panels in the palaces. I can send you some images of these dudes from Sennacherib's palace carvings, if you like.

[Jeff Caruso]

Thanks,David. I would like to have the images.

I thought somebody did a roast pig but I don't think that just one would preclude me from doing it myself as it would be part of a larger scene.

People ask when I'm going to do an elephant for the Carthaginians but I see all the other great elephants already out there and don't see it worth the time.Another roast pig though is not too much to do.

Jeff

[imported_Texus Maximus]

How about some unarmored figures laying down, to represent sick and injured soldiers left in camp.

[Paul A. Hannah]

Perhaps a couple armchair generals, sitting at a table in the middle of the camp, playing their favorite game: DBA, of course! [Not a serious recommendation - I just couldn't resist.]

[David Crowell]

RE the blacksmith suggestion: I love it, just make sure the anvil is the proper (square) shape, the current "london" pattern anvil is quite recent. Also many smiths forged sitting rather than standing. Can't help the nit-pick, I do smithing.

Off-duty soldiers, lounging, playing dice, drinking, eating etc.

Sentries.

Figures who are obviously not battle line troops, but still are part of the army.

Grooms and horseholders. So many armies have horses, either as mounts or as pack animals, for chariots etc. Some one needs to take care of them all.

[K.H.Ranitzsch]

Originally posted by Paul A. Hannah:
Perhaps a couple armchair generals, sitting at a table in the middle of the camp, playing their favorite game: DBA, of course! [Not a serious recommendation - I just couldn't resist.] I have seen a camp like this, somewhere on the web. 28 mm for the 'real' figures and 6 mm (or was it 2 mm ?) for the 'toys'.

smile.gif
Karl Heinz

[Jospee]

Jeff - what would be nice is various women! a mix of old washer women, whores, servants and nobles to make some good camp scenes. There is very little for Ancients around, though a few more are available for Med's. Women with weapons would be good aswell, last line of defence sort of thing.

Just an Idea. ;)

[imported_Texus Maximus]

Xyston has released packages of "Tribal Womenfolk" and "Women and children", I believe. I have not seen them yet, but the other Xyston figures are fantastic.

[Redwilde]

Originally posted by Jeff Caruso:

I thought somebody did a roast pig but I don't think that just one would preclude me from doing it myself as it would be part of a larger scene.

People ask when I'm going to do an elephant for the Carthaginians but I see all the other great elephants already out there and don't see it worth Hi Jeff,

I'd recommend that you do any figs that fit a range of yours even if somebody else already makes them. When I buy an army, I'm more likely to buy it from a source that can sell me everything at once. That way I know all the figs will be compatable and it saves me mailing costs and time trying to track everything down.

Overall I'm very pleased with the Essex army packs because of the one-stop shopping. But I find it aggravating that they don't include camp followers.
I do enjoy making customised camp scenes, and that does take time tracking down just the right special figures. But, I'd much prefer army packs that included appropriate camp followers. Two more figs won't noticably increase the price. Eventually I might add a special camp scene, but I know that I'll have some figs to use immediately if they're in the pack.

If I decided I wanted to buy Carthaginians (and that is on my future possibilities list), I'd definitely only buy them from a company that had matching elephants.

[Redwilde]

Originally posted by Jeff Caruso:

I thought somebody did a roast pig but I don't think that just one would preclude me from doing it myself as it would be part of a larger scene.

People ask when I'm going to do an elephant for the Carthaginians but I see all the other great elephants already out there and don't see it worth Hi Jeff,

I'd recommend that you do any figs that fit a range of yours even if somebody else already makes them. When I buy an army, I'm more likely to buy it from a source that can sell me everything at once. That way I know all the figs will be compatable and it saves me mailing costs and time trying to track everything down.

Overall I'm very pleased with the Essex army packs because of the one-stop shopping. But I find it aggravating that they don't include camp followers.
I do enjoy making customised camp scenes, and that does take time tracking down just the right special figures. But, I'd much prefer army packs that included appropriate camp followers. Two more figs won't noticably increase the price. Eventually I might add a special camp scene, but I know that I'll have some figs to use immediately if they're in the pack.

If I decided I wanted to buy Carthaginians (and that is on my future possibilities list), I'd definitely only buy them from a company that had matching elephants.

[Jeff Caruso]

Redwilde,

I appreciate your responses and others and I'm forwarding the ideas on to the sculptor for inspiration.Some of the ideas I received via email were so unique that they will definitely go into production.

I probably will not do an elephant due to two factors: (1)There are many good one on the market.I have MiniFigs and Old Glory in my armies.

(2)My sculptor works in wax and uses the lost wax method to produce a master figure in metal.THisa metal is a silver alloy and the cost of having an elephant in 15mm is more than I care to invest in.

Jeff

[derek]

Hullo
A bit off topic, but Outpost Wargames Services produces the cheapest high quality 15mm Elephants.
Given current exchange rates a second option is buying Irregular elephants (which paint up better than they look), Grumpy's Elephants or Museum Elephants from Eureka Miniatures in Australia.
Hoping to help anyone looking for elephants smile.gif
Kind Regards
Derek

[Jim Rapczynski]

There are plenty of religious figures on the market, but no worshippers, as far as I can tell. I am working on a camp for Poles that reflects the fact that King Wladyslaw Jagiello ordered two masses said before the battle of Grunwald. I got some suitable monks/priests from Donnington, but have found it necessary to convert knights from riding to kneeling positions. Sure seems simple when you start!