Work in Progress

Aztec ambush

Posted by Iceman1964 on 28 Jan 2022, 19:09

I've started a new diorama, with aztecs and conquistadores (other topics are now showing this period, it's fashion :-D ).
I will use Caesar figures, but a lot of work will be with the ground, because trees and plants will be co-protagonists with figures.

Therefore instead of starting with painting I'm spending quite a lot of time in preparing the base (as usual it will be cork) and all the green that will be on it.

Here are the first trees: I have used small natural branches for the trunk, then for the foliage lichens covered by flocks.

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For the ground plant here are two types, one made with the metal wire with plastic used for food bags and the other with sprue cut to create leaves. I have to do other groups of trees and plants, then I'll have to paint them.... long work, stay tuned ;-)

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Iceman1964  Italy
 
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Posted by Peter on 28 Jan 2022, 20:34

Keep posting these creations. Good inspiration for others and you're doing a great job! :thumbup:
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Peter  Belgium

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Posted by CliosPaintingBench on 01 Feb 2022, 02:27

Ah, a promising start, getting the terrain ready. I do love the Caesar figures, looking forward to seeing them painted!
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CliosPaintingBench  Australia
 
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Posted by Iceman1964 on 21 Feb 2022, 18:21

Slowly but going on :-)

I've completed part of the trees on the diorama, below are the pictures, still many things to do.
Some considerations after what I've read on the very interesting topic of the Tlaxcalan Army : understood that no jungle was present in aztec territory (but only where Mayans were living) I have checked on Google Earth that south of Mexico City there are anyway forests (probably more at the Aztecs time). Therefore I have decided to keep a "normal" look for my trees, without lianas or impenetrable ground vegetation, but not adopting a more arid configuration.
The place for the aztec ambush will be a narrow valley with woods but not dense as a forest.

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Then I started painting the first figures: an atzec arcer and a conversion of the same arcer into a spear/shield bearer. The rear part of converted warrior is not so accurate because in the diorama it will be very near to the vertical rocks, therefore not visible from the diorama's "main view"

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Iceman1964  Italy
 
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Posted by Peter on 21 Feb 2022, 18:34

That is some real nice groundwork and painted figures! Go on Enrico! :thumbup:
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Peter  Belgium

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Posted by Kaiphranos on 21 Feb 2022, 19:44

Nice work! I like what you've done with the spearman!
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Kaiphranos  United States of America
 
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Posted by Kekso on 22 Feb 2022, 11:23

I agree, nice groundwork
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Kekso  Croatia

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Posted by Michael Robert on 22 Feb 2022, 20:42

Great start,
to my mind the choice of landscaping is OK. I mean the not totally arid but also no jungle approach.
Great parallel to Kaiphranos work. Very inspiring

Michael
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Michael Robert  France

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Posted by CliosPaintingBench on 05 Mar 2022, 17:50

You did the eyes on the troops! Very impressive work!
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CliosPaintingBench  Australia
 
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Posted by Konrad on 05 Mar 2022, 21:58

I always admire it when model builders invest so much time,
research and passion in a project.
I'm very excited to see how it goes.
The conversion of the archer shows good craftsmanship.
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Konrad  Germany
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Posted by Iceman1964 on 07 Mar 2022, 14:44

Thanks all for your kind words !!
I believe passion is common for all of us who loves this hobby.
Personally I like the pre-working research on how to make the diorama same as the painting action and the ground manufacturing.

Here is a bunch of new aztec warriors, it's a lot of fun to paint such original and colourful figures : the coyote-warrior, the eagle-warrior (and coming the alligator, the jaguar, the priest .....) .
From the pictures you can understand it was a quite sunny day when I shot them 8)

Stay tuned :-D

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Iceman1964  Italy
 
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Posted by Michael Robert on 07 Mar 2022, 17:00

Hello Iceman,
like so many I am following your story.
The Aztecs always impress me in the way that beauty and appearance seemed to be of much higher importance than military efficiency. Just look at these half-naked guys swing their club, and the feathers don't protect a lot neither.
Michael
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Posted by Ben90 on 07 Mar 2022, 17:45

These are some nicely painted Aztecs! Very well done!
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Ben90  Germany
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Posted by Iceman1964 on 07 Mar 2022, 19:35

Michael, it was probably due to their different "military efficiency" concept. For the aztec warriors the target was not to kill the enemy, but to capture him alive in order to sacrifice him to the gods on the top of the piramids.

The logic for their "Uniforms" was obviously to protect them (but against stone weapons it was easy, they had no metal. light wood shields and cotton-pressed armour were enough) but mainly to make fear to the opponents.

I find that their logic (simple soldiers quite naked, the more you take prisoners the more you can improve your dressing) is not so dissimilar to the Napoleonic plumes, epaulettes and all other stuffs they had (all militarly useless) : to be proud and to make fear to the enemy.

At the end, it's all to keep high your spirit and to depress the one of the opponent.
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Iceman1964  Italy
 
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Posted by Peter on 08 Mar 2022, 13:39

And every time you post new painted figures you surprise us Enrico! I like them all! :thumbup:
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Peter  Belgium

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Posted by Santi Pérez on 10 Mar 2022, 20:48

Great progress in your diorama, Iceman1964. I love those figures so wonderfully painted. :love: :notworthy: :love: :notworthy:

I will follow with interest. :yeah:

Santi.
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Posted by Iceman1964 on 22 Mar 2022, 13:26

Thanks again for the comments !

Another group of aztec warriors, the variety of their dressing is amazing, here we have the crocodile warrior (I supposed there were alligators as in Florida, but I discovered on holy blessed Wikipedia that in the aztec mexican zone there are crocodiles) and the warrior priest (some headache to paint the pois, but a lot of fun). Like the dressings, the shields are all taken from images taken from internet, I suppose (and hope) they are realistic.

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Iceman1964  Italy
 
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Posted by Iceman1964 on 04 Apr 2022, 19:49

Other Aztec warriors, always colourful and original !
Only few remain to paint, then I'll pass to the Conquistadores, surely different as uniforms and colours :-)

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Iceman1964  Italy
 
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Posted by Konrad on 04 Apr 2022, 20:19

WOW!!
Your Aztecs are great!!!
The details, the colors and the eyes. :shock:
A big movie theater. :thumbup:
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Konrad  Germany
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Posted by C M Dodson on 05 Apr 2022, 10:34

Original stuff and nice painting too.

You have excelled with the eyes, a most difficult objective in our scale.

Best wishes,

Chris
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