Finally, the first element of Shén for my Tsolyáni army is done:
These troops are part of the Legion of The City of Chrí, 7th Imperial Shén Auxiliary Heavy Infantry.
The copper trim is a bit of artistic license on my part - it does not look too out of place I believe!
The base might be a bit more green than the others, but it will work out just fine.
Two more elements for this unit - one more of pikes similar to this one, and a command element.
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Just a quick pic from the painting table:
The figures for the first element of the Legion of the City of Chrí are mounted, and the base is painted awaiting decoration.
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Another quick pic:
The start of basing for the first element of Shén for my Tsolyánu forces... It is too hot here at the moment (record-breaking for Seattle) to do much else.
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Moving along with the first element of the Shén legion:
I use plastic rod for my javelins/spears/pikes, with a different diameter for each type. For pikes I am using 1/16" (1.6mm) rod from my stash of materials that I have hoarded for just such an occasion. The price tag on this particular material dates back to 1996!
Step 2 of the process:
Pikes for all, with shields for the rear rank, which is the right-most ones in the above pic! The pikes are approximately 3"/75mm long. The hands needed to be drilled out, but the material is soft enough and the hands big enough so the chore was not too difficult.
And lastly:
The miniatures now have a coat of black gesso for primer. I am going to let the gesso dry for a few days before the next step.
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Ah, the joy of a delivery of new miniatures! Behold:
Bags and bags of Tékumel figures - two warbands and two hordes of Shén + a few others, and a bunch of Sapphire Kirtle skirmishers, along with assorted weapons and shields, and another Sérudla (far right). I am most interested in the Shén, so they were sorted out first:
Piles of Shén instead of bags now!
The different poses are formed up into files, or maybe conga lines (!), and the first element of Shén poses on a Litko 60mm square base. This first element of Shén will be representing the Tsolyáni Legion of the City of Chrí, 7th Imperial Shén Auxiliary Heavy Infantry. This is a bit of an odd unit, with a human commander that dresses like his reptilian Shén troops, and this element of the Legion is armed with pikes. This unit should be an eye-catcher, with the scales of the Shén being a satin black, and the armor a mix of blue and red-orange.
Here is another pic of the Legion, with a slightly different mix of figures:
This pic is meant to be a mnemonic to help me remember the placement of the figures on the base, as I will surely forget once I finally get this element ready for basing!
And here most of the Shén have been separated into element groups - with a slip of paper identifying the unit - for storage until the first element is done. This represents two different legions - one is Tsolyáni and one is Yán Kór - with three elements of six figures each.
I have yet to delve into the bags of skirmishers, and there are some other goodies mixed in there also.
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I have the four Shén miniatures mounted up, and am now about to prime them. But, I am considering a slightly different way, at least for the Diplomat.
On the left, you see the Diplomat and the feather cloak. My idea is to prime the cloak with white, as the feathers will be easier to paint with washes over white than black (my usual primer color), then prime the rest of the figure with black, as the scales will be easier to paint over black primer.
Has anybody tried this before?
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Here are some pics of the recently released Shén for Tékumel:
Front and rear pics of the Shén Diplomat (left) and Merchant (right). The Diplomat has an intricately detailed cloak of feathers, and both miniatures have great scale details.
Two Shén berzerkers. Again, great detail on the scales and a large shield. The sword is interesting in that it is rather slender.
A better shot of the shield and axe.
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