In an earlier post I featured an ongoing project of mine; figures for a diorama of Amazon warriors preparing for a raid. The figures are scratchbuilt in 50mm scale, only the horses are commercially made; even these are heavily converted. I use white metal academic female skeletal forms as a base for each figure, on this I use different materials to sculpt the figure, all weapons and accessories are separately made and added. See my earlier post.
I’ve placed my Amazons in the Bronze Age period, around the time of the Trojan wars. However, this probably pre-dates the recent archaeological discoveries revealing such warriors did exist to the north of the Black Sea and further into the steppes; now predominately Russia. My figures are a mix of legend, mythology and achaeogical evidence; which is true of much we know of early bronze age cultures. Always happy to discuss this subject.
This figure is an ambitious model of a warrior mounting her horse. the horse furniture is rudimentary and based mostly on historical evidence with a bit of artistic interpretation. The tackle is based on known examples and she is using method that even now riders use to mount bareback without stirrups; grabbing a clump of mane to gain leverage onto the horse. Her clothing and armour are a mix of Mycenaean and Scythian; this keeps to my vision but perhaps not that of those who impart absolutes to their historical research. I believe that we never know exactly what happened in the past, because we weren’t there, and the further we go back, the more that applies. As a writer and a dreamer I’m comfortable with this. Oh, and a collector of toy soldiers.
This figure is not completely finished, I’ll probably tidy up the painting a bit and I’m waiting for brass shim to make her shield, when its made it will either hang from the head of her spear, which she has stuck in the ground until she’s mounted, or from the harness on the left rear of the horse, I haven’t decided yet. Each of these figures is a long term project and I keep returning to them rather than complete each in one go. The next will also be a mounted figure but I haven’t imagined her properly yet. Click once on an image to enlarge.
Jim's Vintage Toy Soldiers 