North European Bronze age

[Heedless Horseman]

If it gets started, I may begin a small project along skirmish lines set in 'Bronze Age' or late Neolithic Northern Europe. Figures are a problem! But,  (as it would be a 'fun' project, and not too 'historical')...will use Barbarians with some Celts and Amazons. Weapons could be cut down to stone axes, clubs or flint spear tips...or filed for more appropriate Bronze age size and shape.  'Arnie' bodies, fur underpants and boots? Well, whatever! Not too much choice in 10mm and but not  a 'serious' project, anyway! 

I have been looking for small, very primitive, ox/pony carts or pack ponies. They must be somewhere on PD!  Mongol civvies have some stuff, but  head gear/clothing is a bit dubious for period...unless I just go for the 'Conan' look, lol! 

Buildings? New round houses or huts look good    ...but I am sure that I have seen a scenic piece (from another source  ) which had a couple of round huts built into a walled enclosure? Think it was 10mm and described as a 'village'...but cannot now find it in the places where I thought it may have been. Any clues? I rather like the idea of a Crannog settlement...but probable too much effort!     Plenty of sheep/pigs/geese, etc for booty now though!   

Not sure whether it will get started...but...   

[Ithoriel]

Hovels ( http://www.hovelsltd.co.uk ) have a 15mm scale Celtic Farm



As to troop types, if we're talking Late Neolithic/ Early Bronze Age Europe, then the Tollense battlefield (http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/slaughter-bridge-uncovering-colossal-bronze-age-battle) and Otzi the Iceman suggest troops that look something like this:

 

Later on, the Urnfield Culture warriors would probably look like slightly odd Gauls/ Britons.

Not quite Conan!

[FierceKitty]

I wonder if they'd have been that well-fed?

[Ithoriel]

I wonder if they'd have been that well-fed?

They certainly seem to have been pretty robustly built. The problems that come with urbanisation and a greater dependence on farming compared with hunting and gathering were still ahead of them.

Reconstruction of Otzi from his remains is



Not Conan material but not a 7 stone weakling either.

[Techno]

Don't even think about it, Nobby !

Cheers - Phil

[fsn]

Ow! I think Ibit throughmylip. 

[Techno]

You OIK !!!!

The sad thing is......There are certain parts of his 'frame' that are far too similar to yours truly, to be comfortable.

His hands and fingers are FAR too big, though...and his biceps.

Cheers - Phil

[fsn]

He's got your hairy legs though.  


To re-rail the thread, it's an interesting project. 

[O Dinas Powys]

His hands and fingers are FAR too big, though...

Cheers - Phil

Yeah, well, we all know the reason for that  

[O Dinas Powys]

To re-rail the thread, it's an interesting project. 

Ditto!

AI11, Ancient Indian Forest Tribesmen (possibly with the headdresses clipped) might be useful: I bought some to use as hyperborean Picts.

Cheers!

Meirion

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Great idea for this project!

[Ithoriel]

AI11, Ancient Indian Forest Tribesmen (possibly with the headdresses clipped) might be useful: I bought some to use as hyperborean Picts.

Great idea for this project!

Actually, my first thought was to use the Pict range painting the clothing a mix  of browns, creams, greys, black and white to represent animal skins and the natural dyes used for textiles.

[fsn]

Bit of texturing for the fur, perhaps?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Yay, and my Picts get more sales!

[Heedless Horseman]

Thank guys.
Ithoriel: the village would be great, but far larger than what I am envisioning. Old Glory have a stone walled settlement, (not currently available), but it looks a bit Southern European for me. Sure I've seen something similar somewhere.
Yep, the clothing should be more like the illustrations...although the artist impressions look a bit more ragged than I think most folk would wear in practice...even if it was warmer!    They had a long time to perfect needlecraft and tailoring...think 'Buckskins'.
That battlefield report was what started me thinking about the project. Pre Celtic Europe has often been depicted as a pastoral idyll. I've always doubted it...people don't change much.     More like Indian tribes in the U.S, I think...but with the odd bronze sword/dagger/axe/spearhead in the mix!   

Ancient Indians aren't bad...but I just can't get away with the running flat out pose in any period! lol.
Pict spearmen very nice...(no shields!)...but I would want more variety for a skirmish. Excellent for sentries or herd/caravan guards.
I may start with the Barbarians though. I am curious about whether I can cut and file the weapons down to approximate real stuff from the period. I can just ignore the hairy diapers and wellies!   
There are several sling/bow figs who might do...Hah! I'd forgotten entirely about slingers!