Monday 1 March 2021

Viking/Saxon Shield Wall

Finally, after a long period of inactivity, something to post.

33 Bods of different makes, Emhar, Strelets, Airfix, Tumbling Dice

Wounded or dead bod from the Airfix WWI British Infantry set. 

Archers and javelins at the rear

Interestingly, whilst basing,  the line, due to overlapping the shields,  backed up to the right. Maybe due to the thickness of the bods shields or did it happen in real life? Or did they compensate by slightly tipping their shields inwards at the left to form a straight line? 
Flag from Ray over at Don´t Throw a One Blog.

 It will all be alright in the end. If it´s not alright now, then it´s not the end :-) 

17 comments:

  1. Very nice work indeed and an interesting question about the effect of overlapping shields. Perhaps it happens with round shields but not rectangular ones?

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  2. Splendid, truly splendid!

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  3. Awesome shieldwall, congratulations!

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  4. Not only an awesome shieldwall (and I have sent the link to a frined of mine who started the Northmen (the name Vikings is after all only used for those going pirate), but I was also very happy to read your (COVID, I think ?) quote about when exactly the end is reached from John Lennon ! Thank you !

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    1. Hi Luc and thanks :-)
      "It will all be alright in the end. If it´s not alright now, then it´s not the end"
      It could be connected to the big "C" but the I´ve known the quote for a while (pre the C) now but didn´t know it was from John lennon, thanks for that :-)

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  5. Nice to see you back in business :)
    I love this kind of challenge - I recognized Emhar and Strelets figures - you forgot to mention Zvezda by the way.
    I don't know the Tumbling Dice range, so I won't say. I have may Airfix figs, but never had the British WWI set - thanks for the explanation, and very pertinent choice !
    Hope to read you soon :)

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  6. You know, that is pretty much exactly how I imagine it looked- well done!

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  7. Pretty impressive, all on one base so for display rather than gaming? Did you ever try Battle Ravens?

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  8. Hi Paul,

    I have converted the Airfix British infantrymen into many other units. But I have never thought about a Viking:-)

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  9. Very impressive unit, Paul. I like the way you mixed in the missile troops in the back rank, we don't see that sort of mixed force nearly enough i think. Bravo.

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    1. Thanks :-) I took a bit of inspiration from the Vikings series. As far as I remember episode 4 series 1. The fight on the beach. I wasn´t quite prepared to have archers lifted up on shields though :-)

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  10. Great shieldwall there Paul! Giving me a bit of inspiration!

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  11. I come late, but Congratulations Paul fortñ the achieved effect..different ranges match good together.
    And the flag is so nice, thank you for sharing that blog where you found It, desings there are truly useful and cool

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  12. Great stuff, as always...

    I wouldn't worry about the tidiness of the line.. From personal experience (with both kite and round shield; mainly at B. of Hastings reenactment) a shieldwall (like straight lines - and, indeed, everything else military) is NEVER as tidy in action as the theory... When the other lot are coming at you with their pokey sticks there's never time for "Oh, hang on, my shield's supposed to be over yours like THAT". It's usually a case of "Overlap any which way you can, lock shoulders - and hope you're heavier and less knackered than the guy coming at ya..".

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  13. Hi Paul
    Great to see you back from real life. As always the figures and the scene look super and yes the Viking series has been inspirational, although its never been the same since losing Ragnar. I have used your shield designs for the Gokstad as well as for the boys so thanks again.
    Paul F

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  14. Wow, beautiful shield wall. I have read about the problem of the line depressing from the right during battle as each man would try to tuck under the shield of the man to his left for protection. Would hate to be the guy on the far left, but that was where they put the best and bravest guy. The "Honor" position. Amazing conversion work. Well done!
    Regards,
    Vol

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