This article comes to us from guest contributor, Rhys Pogson Hughes Emanuel. If you’d like to feature your own Warlord Games conversions, miniatures or armies get in touch via articles@warlordgames.com!
Rhys: Hello WG community! As I was first portioning out my collection of Pike & Shotte Epic Battles Scots figures into units, I realised I didn’t have quite enough figures for that big unit of lancers I wanted to field, and as an eager hobbyist didn’t want to wait around for more to arrive! What I had available fell well short of the 15 individual Scots Lancer figures I needed, but I have never let anything like that stop me! It was time to delve into the bits box! Some spare dragoons, Scots dragoons, an ensign and some leftover pike ends from another conversion project would serve me well. With the addition of green stuff, glue and a little self-determination I had all I needed to get cracking!
First I snipped off the firelocks from the dragoons, this ended up being easier than I’d expected as they were relatively exposed and accessible for clippers.
I then filed and tidied up as best I could, but resolved to lay the new lance over these parts where possible, to hide the affected areas.
I then drilled out the hand, again easier than it looks as they are relatively accessible, by using a pin vice drill – carefully.
I had to swap two heads, this is usually easy enough and helps add some variety. But my overzealousness caught me out. Whilst I was trying to trim the ensign’s hat, he lost his head and the banner pole! This was a good lesson in that things don’t always go to plan and to always keep spare stuff handy! Thankfully I had a spare head that fit, and some wire that could replace the lost standard pole.
After this I glued the lances into place, a few needed extending at their rear so that they sit right on the model.
I then added some finishing touches by way of green stuff, to hide bandoliers and give each figure a more Scottish look in general. I then mounted them (as I typically do) on nail heads for painting.
From a white undercoat (applied with an airbrush), I washed each with a thinned dark grey ink mixed with flow enhancer. This brings out the detail and helps with blacklining later in the process.
I then went on to apply my chosen colour scheme. I went for a traditional Covenanter look, combined with a little touch of…well not quite tartan, more of an upscaled plaid.
I used wood filler to smooth the gaps on the bases, topped with watered-down PVA glue, and in turn sprinkled with my homemade base-ready mix. I finally topped with tufts across the three linked bases.
And there you have it… a full lancer unit from spares and imagination. I am pleased with how they turned out and if I end up with more leftovers from my planned units, I will certainly knock together another one as I like the feel. I hope this inspires you to do something with any spares you find in your Epic Battles bits box.
Article by Rhys Pogson Hughes Emanuel
You needn’t go to the lengths Rhys has gone to put your own Scots Lancers on the table, you’ll get six readymade cavalry figures within the Scots Covenanter Battalia boxed set, but be sure to be aware of what’s in your bits boxes, and perhaps you can follow Rhys’ example and shore up your own Epic Battles units, whether they are Scots Lancers or otherwise.
