Lloyd's Varangians / Kevin Rus' Army Build
Gathering Reference Images - Note the Project Idea has Changed a Bit
I’m just gathering my reference photos etc. at the moment, although I’ve built and painted Russian minis from Fire-forge Games I’ve stopped to re-think what I’m building.
Originally I was going to create a Viking force which I was just going to say had a Varangian flavour to it. So all units would be just what was available in a Viking army but made of miniatures with a more eastern Varangian look to them.
As I’ve research further I’ve leaned more towards creating a Byzantine force, which was fun to research but that’s then given way to the idea of creating a Rus force but not the Pagan Rus’.
So I’m building an army that can be used ether as Varangians or a as Rus’.
Here Come the Kievan Rus'
I’ve found my self being drawn towards the time when the Rus’ started to convert to Christianity. Not a full on Rus’ Princes army but a period before that when they where all on Kingdom.
This should also work well I think as then the army is based on christian symbols so I don’t suddenly have pagan stuff on the mini’s if I’m fielding them as Byzantine Varangians.
Anyway here’s a good selection of images I’ve found as inspiration.
I think this is a cool color scheme to run with :) Maybe just doing red shields without patterns etc. would be a good idea as I could re-use the main bulk of the troops as other armies like Varangians in a Byzantine force.
Oh and I’ve also been looking at re-enactors gear to see what these guys might have looked like in a more real way not just in paintings.
Beautiful Work on the Shield
Can’t wait to see more of this project.