G
Having thoroughly enjoyed building ICM's new 1/16 Viking figure, I thought I'd have a go at their other recent release, the Night King:
View attachment 317798
As I'm not a fan of fantasy subjects, I wanted to see if I could paint the figure up as something else. The outfit reminded me of the lamellar armour worn by the Varngian guard:
View attachment 317800View attachment 317801
These were the bodyguards of the Byzantine emperors often recruited from among Northern European captives. Many of them were Vikings, and it's even thought that some Brits may have numbered amongst them through the years.
II had a rummage in my spares box and dug out some bits and pieces of equipment which I then messed about with to try and get the right look:
View attachment 317802
The shield is from Verlinden's Eastern European Viking kit and the quiver from their Assyrian archer offering. The sword and dagger are from the Verlinden generic medieval weapons set, with handles and pommels from Roman and Viking kits, and added pieces of metal foil for the lacing. The purse is a converted WW2 Russian ammo pouch. The front of the helmet was the spare from the ICM Viking kit, to which I added a back section made from a fallschirmjager helmet and reinforcing bars made from metal foil. As I'd dug out the quiver I also decided to make a bow,
I then went on to make up the head. I chose a Reedees character head and added hair made from sections of Miniart horse's mane, and painted the beard on with perfect plastic putty. He's bald of course in order for the helmet to fit:
View attachment 317803
I've no idea if this is going to work out. I haven't as yet received the Night King kit, but it looks that there may be a reasonable chance of doing something vaguely resembling a Varagian, or if not at least some loose idea of a Dark Age warrior.
View attachment 317798
As I'm not a fan of fantasy subjects, I wanted to see if I could paint the figure up as something else. The outfit reminded me of the lamellar armour worn by the Varngian guard:
View attachment 317800View attachment 317801
These were the bodyguards of the Byzantine emperors often recruited from among Northern European captives. Many of them were Vikings, and it's even thought that some Brits may have numbered amongst them through the years.
II had a rummage in my spares box and dug out some bits and pieces of equipment which I then messed about with to try and get the right look:
View attachment 317802
The shield is from Verlinden's Eastern European Viking kit and the quiver from their Assyrian archer offering. The sword and dagger are from the Verlinden generic medieval weapons set, with handles and pommels from Roman and Viking kits, and added pieces of metal foil for the lacing. The purse is a converted WW2 Russian ammo pouch. The front of the helmet was the spare from the ICM Viking kit, to which I added a back section made from a fallschirmjager helmet and reinforcing bars made from metal foil. As I'd dug out the quiver I also decided to make a bow,
I then went on to make up the head. I chose a Reedees character head and added hair made from sections of Miniart horse's mane, and painted the beard on with perfect plastic putty. He's bald of course in order for the helmet to fit:
View attachment 317803
I've no idea if this is going to work out. I haven't as yet received the Night King kit, but it looks that there may be a reasonable chance of doing something vaguely resembling a Varagian, or if not at least some loose idea of a Dark Age warrior.
