HISTORICAL MINIATURES
Samurai Warrior
This is a plastic model kit I built and painted back in 2000. unfortunately, I don't remember who the manufacturer of this kit was. The Figure itself is hollow, which is unusual for these types of figures. The Samurai stands about 60mm in height. This was one of the first figurines of this type that I ever built and painted. I did some conversion on this model by making the long bow (Yumi) out of wire and then covering it with modeling clay and using thread for the bowstring. The Yumi was commonly used from horseback.
Viking ship
This is a plastic kit I did back in 2000. I lost the decal for the sail, so I drew one out on paper, painted it, then glued it to the sail. I've never been interested in building model ships, but when I saw this Viking kit, I had to give it a go!
Aztecs
These are 1/72 plastic Aztec warriors. They are a work in progress (that's why the bases are not complete). I plan on building a huge diorama that depicts a battle between the Aztecs and Conquistadors complete with a giant pyramid.
Assyrian War Chariots
I was inspired to build and paint these ancient Assyrian war chariots during the course of reading "Warfare in the Old Testament" by Boyd Seevers. The chariots and figures are made of plastic and 1/72 scale (22mm). I used acrylic paints and inks. The ground texture was made using celluclay. The styles of chariots depicted in my diorama were rather large, holding four riders; the driver, a bowman who used a short composite bow made from glued strips of wood and sinew. An arrow shot from a composite bow could pass right through the body of an unarmored man. The other riders consist of a spearman, and swordsman armed with a short double edged sword, typical of Assyrian warriors.
Ancient chariots provided lighting quick mobility in flat terrain, and the archers could easily pick off enemy soldiers while keeping out of range from a counter attack. Chariots were used to harass enemy forces and hunt down retreating enemies. Chariot archers could also shoot the horses of the enemy Calvary.
Chariots were the most significant element of the army for the Assyrians. The oldest known depiction of an Assyrian chariot took place on a cylindrical seal from the Ninurta-Tukulti-Ašur period (1133 BC), dating back to the Assurnasirpal I period (1050-1032 BC) and from the Tukulti-Ninurta II period (888-884 BC). (Arekeonews, 21 December, 2023)
Carthaginian War Elephants
My latest build, Carthaginian war elephants. they are 1/72 scale plastic figures painted with acrylic paints and inks.
The Carthaginian empire was based out of North Africa in present day Tunisia. Carthage became a city-state, eventually an empire that rivaled Rome.
The Punic Wars were a series of wars between 264 and 146 BC fought between Rome and Carthage. Three conflicts between these states took place on both land and sea across the western Mediterranean region and involved a total of forty-three years of warfare. (Wikipedia).
Start date: 264 BC
End date: 146 BC
War elephants were the ancient version of tanks. A howdah was strapped to the elephant's back, which held spearman and archers. Imagine facing a war elephant if you were an infantryman armed with a spear or bow or being on horseback. One of the greatest generals in history, Hannibal, brought these war elephants with his army of 30,000 troops, 15,000 horses, and 37 war elephants across the Alps in only 16 days to attack Rome from the north. Hannibal was able to unite the barbarian tribes against Rome. It's interesting to think that some of the earliest freedom fighters were "the barbarians." Though Carthage came close to toppling the Roman empire, they fell short in the end. Hannibal committed suicide before he could be brought in chains to Rome.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
My latest model kit build, the crucifixion of Jesus. I painted this model with acrylic paints and inks, and sealed it with a flat matte spray. This kit had some missing pieces, so I had to improvise and create them. Model building teaches me how to be patient at times, improvise, pay attention to detail, and allows me to be creative. I am working on applying those characteristics to other areas of my life.
This scene depicts a Roman Centurion lifting up a sponge soaked in wine vinegar to Jesus' lips. The Bible passage that describes this scene is:
John 19:29
A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.
For me, personally, the crucifixion of Jesus represents the most powerful act of unconditional love. Even when nailed to a cross, whipped with the Roman cat of nine tails, beat, and wearing a crown of thorns, Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34-38 King James Version (KJV)