The Cavalry's Coming (Part 1)

Right, with more work done (and the fact I'm taking a lunch break from a day working on them!), here's a little more on how my Roughriders are going.

As I've discussed my intention has been pretty much from the start to sculpt and then cast my own Roughriders, the reason for this was mainly two fold, firstly I wanted consistantcy through all my Roughriders, and secondly I wanted lots of them with an eye on about 60 models total of different types. These include Lancers (Hunting Lances), Hussars (Chainswords & Laspistols) and Dragoons (Lascarbines/Shotguns/Special Weapons), I've also since decided to give the Hussars Meltabombs.

Initially I intended to use the normal Medieval Plastic Horses that GW have been producing for years but ended up changing my mind with the release of the new WFB Empire Pistoller/Outrider box set, good value and lots of spare bits some of which have gone into use elsewhere already.

After a false start due to the differing size of the two possible horses from the box set I sculpted the legs first, as a short cut this was based around the Praetorian Gunner legs, the boots were taken from here as a time saving measure, while the gunners seated bum forms the core of the lower torso of the rider with extensive modification, the legs were sculpted over a paperclip frame (the soft metal is ideal and plentiful).



The torso started life as one made for the Phoenix Club Praetorian Conversion set I've been working on (currently on hold), it turned out ideal for the Roughriders however and so this is where it'll get it's first use, I may or may sculpt another for the Phoexnix Club project later on.



I've since and currently am working on the arms, I'm doing three separate arms at the moment, one left arm to hold the reins which is what I'm working on at the moment. A right arm at a almost 90 degree angle is already finished (pictured below), this is intended firstly to hold the lance, but as I'm not sculpting hands on can likewise be used for a Chainsword or even Pistol, the second right arm meanwhile is extended outwards a little more intended purely for Pistols or Chainswords, this one I've done the base work for (paperclip cores again are used) and is next on the list.



The Lances (pictured above) will be narrow metal rod cut into 5cm lengths, the ends will be a blob of green stuff in a pommel type device while I've knocked out a lance tip with green stuff and plastic card, this will be cast and then drilled to fit on the rod. The idea for this came from reading about the FW Death Riders from their Death Korps line.

Last up are the heads, the faces are taken from Hasselfree while the Helmets are Praetorian ones removed from their original owners(!), another time saving measure and one which should give better consistency through the Squadrons. Why use Hasselfree heads then? Well for different expressions rather then being limited to the three Praetorian expressions that exist, it also cuts back on what I'm casting.