George Gush's Renaissance Warfare - Airfix Magazine Articles

[Ithoriel]

 Yes we did!   

[Steve J]

I think that was one of the joys of wargaming when I was young. I used to read my Dads old Airfix mags and attempt some of the conversions. Yes they were crude but I did enjoy them.

[Leman]

I remember around 1969 converting a load of WWI French into ACW zouaves and some French Cuirassiers into Charleston Dragoons.

[toxicpixie]

Just spotted this! Cracking, proper snarf of those tomorrow when at a real PC and not on the phone

[Druzhina]

Do you think anybody actually did all that ?
They must have been very committed to the period, or just committed.

There was no cavalry in the Airfix Ancient Britons box, so I made Gallic and British cavalry from US cavalry riders with Robin Hood upper half, with some having an Ancient Britons head. Pins for spears and paper cloaks billowing behind.

Druzhina
Ancient Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Wow, that is brave D!

[Druzhina]

Wow, that is brave D!

Now I remember using some French Cuirassier uppers to give armour to some of the Gauls (the shoulders were covered by the cloak after the epaulettes were cut away) and a general on a rearing horse with the Britons feathered helmet. Shields were cardboard. Some of the British had cowboy legs and the smaller horses from the Cowboys and Indians box as light cavalry.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

[Leman]

Ah, those happy, far off days of plastic, craft knives, hot pins and banana oil.

[Ithoriel]

Ah, those happy, far off days of plastic, craft knives, hot pins and banana oil.

.... and sliced finger tips

[Subedai]

I made my Gallic cavalry by using the horses and bottom half of the ACW troopers and the top half of the bare chested-chariot driver pinned together. Shields were either drawing pins -better option because you pinned it to the figure- or punched out circles off card from a hole punch. Cloaks were tissue paper sealed with several coats of banana oil. The heads of cut down dressmaking pins were used to hold the Roman shields in place while the sharp end was used as a javelin.

.... and sliced finger tips

Had many of them in my youth...mostly from a the anti-H&S combo of a plastic ruler and a craft knife for cutting out bases. When I look back it never ceases to amaze me at how many times I mangled digits before waking up and buying the right equipment.