Pike Unit Conversion
Pike Unit conversion how many time we wished are army had some pikes. Today we are going to look at some pike unit conversions that Billy Hill did. The pike was an important weapon on the battlefield from the middle ages to until the 1700’s. A pike is a spear that is too long to be handled by one hand in combat. Pikes are good to stop cavalry charges but not good for close combat.
The pike has not been depicted much in plastic soldiers. Off hand I can only think of the Britains Round Heat with pike and Call to Arms pikemen. So let’s Billy tell how he did it and why.
Billy Hills Comments
Supreme makes several sets of medieval figures. I wanted to form a pike unit, with organic missile troops and armored infantry support to protect the crossbowmen while they reloaded. I chose figures from several Supreme sets for the purpose and realized immediately that I was going to be painting the figures to tie them all together.
The command group consists of three figures, a father and eldest son and another relative holding the banner. The Commander was converted from the cleric figure in the second Crusader set. The banner was created with MS Paint and attached to the plastic tubing staff and crosspiece with embroidery floss, which was also braided into decorative cords. The pikemen came from the Russian knights set. I made the pikes from Evergreen plastic tubing. The pike butts are straight pin heads and the pike heads are sections of aluminum tubing. I flattened one end on each section and filed them to a point, then slipped them over the end of the shafts and glued them into place. Still in the works are pavise shields for the crossbowmen.
Wow Billy
Your stuff just gets better! I am really impressed.
Please advance your contact information to me so we can better exchange modeling tips. (I am also making pikemen but in 40mm for mercenary crossbow men at the battle of Crecy.) I also have some extra 54mm pieces that my be helpful for your horse drawn artillery units.
Mike
I will send your email address off to Billy
That’s fine Stad.
There’s nothing that looks better in the world of toy soldiers than a massed formation, standing shoulder to shoulder, with a wall of spearpoints.
Or bayonet points.
Totally agree; one of the reasons why I don’t abandon 1/72 scale – you can get hundreds and thousands of the little guys in a smaller area. Looks great. But can’t get over the 1/32 either. Torn…
Good stuff.
Thank you
These are great. The pike heads are always a problem and yoiurs are wonderful. How do those supreme knights hold paint? Aren’t they a kind of PVC?
Thanks, Brian
Thanks Brian! My pike unit hasn’t seen much action as yet, but so far, the paint is holding up fine. I took the time to wash them off well in soapy water before painting them. so far, it’s been fine, even on flexible parts. If it holds up half as well as the factory paint that I painted over, I’ll be well satisfied. Pike heads were made from aluminum tubing. I cut it into lengths and flattened one end, then filed it to shape.
Whoa, you bought a load of Supreme Russian Knights and Crusaders to make that happen! I’ve hesitated over painting any of mine because of the material they are cast in. Please let me know how they hold up and what kind of paint you used. I particularly love the Supreme Romans (the real ones, not the Greeks they have marked as Romans). I want to paint over the ones that are silver and gold and make them red and silver like their companions. Your force looks amazing. So, now you need an opposing force. Whatcha’ gonna’ do for that? I’m sure we all want to know.
No worries Greg! I have a considerable number of European knights to oppose them. I have a goodly force of the Supreme Crusaders, which I am in process of repainting into Templar and Hospitaler contingents. There is also a large force of Britains Deetail knights as well as other brands.
http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/BillyHillRN/library/Medieval?sort=9&page=1
X some reason they look Scottish to me.
Great work.congrats!!
Nice job Billy !
Thanks guys!