1:72 Crimean Tatar infantry17th century

Crimean Tatar infantry of the 17th century

A set of figures from Mars in 1:72 scale capturing the foot warriors of the Crimean Khanate in the 17th century. At that time the khanate was a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, and its military reputation was formed above all by fast mounted raids into the Polish-Lithuanian state and onto the Ukrainian borderland. The foot detachments therefore stood rather in the second rank: they came into their own in defending a camp, with the plunder and at a siege, where cavalry could not decide matters. The equipment was practical and not uniform, put together from whatever the warrior obtained for himself, and without a uniform in the later sense of the word.

Size and the scene

In 1:72 scale an adult figure corresponds to roughly 24 mm. The set serves well where a scene is to tell the story of a borderland: a raid on a homestead, a watch by a fire or a group guarding a camp. It is precisely the variety of the clothing that is an advantage here, not a shortcoming.

Painting tips

• Wash the figures in lukewarm soapy water before painting and let them dry.
• Apply a thin base coat, so that it does not clog the shallow relief of the detail.
• Paint every figure with a different composition of shades; the unity is held by a common tone of earth and skin.
• Bring out the hollows with a dark glaze and go over the edges with a drybrush.
• Remove any flash with a sharp knife a little away from the figure and smooth the mark it leaves.

Who the set is for

For collectors of historical figures and builders of dioramas from the eastern European borderland of the 17th century. The figures will complete the cavalry and infantry of the Polish-Lithuanian state and Ottoman detachments of the same scale.

Paints, glue and a base are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.