Ancient Conversions, page 1

Dated: October 8, 1999.

Here are some more conversions (ancient) sent in by Mr. Münch again, yummy!


The above figure is one of our Carthaginian Spanish infantry, I believe these is an arm swap, the figure previously held a spear.

The one of the left is a Caetrati, it has positional conversion where the arm positions have been altered. This can be done by twisting the arms, tying them down to a frame then boiling in water. However, doing this is not recommended as severe burns to the hands or body can result from the boiling water. The one on the right is a Carthaginian light African infantry, his is an arm swap, this can be seen fairly clearly.

The above two are Hastati. The one on the left has a head swop and an arm swop. Hastati were dictated by function rather than what they wore, therefore it was not surprising to see Hastati in different shields or helmets. The uniformity of the Romans' appearance did not come about until Imperial times or until the state paid for armor. When the soldiers paid for their own stuff, it was whatever they could afford or find on the battlefield. The left Hastati is actually converted from a Spanish Scutari, it is a somewhat ironic conversion because the Scutari is portrayed as one who got armor from a dead Hastati in the first place, now in plastic he is being converted back into a Hastati.
As a side note: We elected to mold the Hastati all wearing breastplates and the Princeps all wearing chain mail even though that was not the case in reality for the sake of uniformity, ease of design and simplicity for novices to Roman history. It is but a simple matter for customers to mix chain mail and breast plate wearing figures in the first and second lines for verisimilitude.
The man on the right has a right arm swop.

Left figure has positional change of sword arm. Man on right has arm swap with sword changed to spear.

Two more arms swaps.

Page 2

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