Saxon, Viking and Norman Paper Soldiers

With no other modelling or figure painting in progress, I have been able to get working on my Saxon, Viking and Norman paper soldiers. I am using the "Battle of Britain - Wargame 1066" by Peter Dennis as the source book for these figures. The book allows you to photocopy the pictures and create your own paper army. Instructions are provided within the book on how to cut out and base your figures.

In my first tests I used the suggested approach and decided it was all a bit too flimsy for wargaming and would (in my clumsy hands) overtime become all bent out of shape. So I went with a simpler approach of decoupage with the cut out figures to make them look like a unit, then touch up the surrounds and flock the bases which would be geared to my normal basing of 3 to 4 inches.

Using 0.75mm balsa wood sheet (1.5mm will also work) I cut out and stuck two of the picture blocks onto the balsa sheet. These look like a very thin line of troops and more work is required to give the impression of a block of troops.

Stick on two pictures on side by side

Reverse pictures stuck on the other side

The next step is to cut out and around individual groups of troops, or even a whole block, and stick them on to the front and rear to give the impression of a block of troops. On my more recent units I have been cutting around the whole block rather than individuals or groups of figures. This seems to work best and is also the quickest.

Cut out individual or groups of men to add to the front and back

If you are wondering what glue I use, it is just the standard PVC glue from the hardware store which dries clear.

The decoupaged unit

Using white paint I touch up any lines which should not be there. Then I cut around the edges with a sharp craft knife before sticking the units on to MDF stands. When stick to the bases I use a thin strip of balsa wood to help strengthen the connection.

Tidy up any lines between the cut out blocks.

Base the units

Once all they glue is thoroughly dry, I paint in the white boarder around the edges using a watered down dark blue paint. This can be done very quickly and any mistakes are just wiped off. Having a mottled effect is fine, and in many ways is preferable.

Once the blue is dry a watered down white paint to break up the blue and highlight around the troops. I also use the same approach near the bottom with browns and sandy yellows to tie in with the rest of the picture.

Once all is dry I paint the base green and use flock. Finally, I paint on an acrylic varnish to seal the unit.

Background boarder painted and base flocked.

Ready for a game

While these will never look as impressive as units of painted figures, they do look pretty good from the right angle (always the case with flats). They allow me to try and wargame a period very cheaply as I expect to get three armies from the book: Saxons, Vikings and Normans. Each of about 20-30 stands in total of various troop types.

Cost of the book $20
Cost of balsa wood sheets $8
MDF sheet (for stands) $2
Cost of profession photocopying on weighted paper $40

Throwing in some paint costs, flock and a new sharp blade the cost per army will work out at about $25.

I do like the style these figures are painted in and will be getting a copy of the book covering the Roman Invasion (out in May 2017).