In building a set of troops for the Spanish Conquest, I came across a couple of blisters of 25mm Ral Partha figures called “Aztec Arrow Knights”. These were in my lot of unpainted lead for the period, sculpted by R. Kerr, and dated from 1988. The blisters held 6 figures armed with huge feathered arrows – think javelins with fletching. As I thought that they were interesting potential elite troops with unique weapons, I decided to add one of the two blisters to my Aztec forces, keeping the other in reserve for future painting.
As I discussed previously, I had been doing research on the Aztecs. I looked for suitable color plates or guides to paint up this unit. To my surprise, there is a bit of mystery and possibly even controversy about Arrow Knights. History provides little evidence in the codices as to their existence – though there are clues here and there.
I suppose it’s not out of the question that an elite unit of Aztec warriors specializing in launching massively huge javelin-like arrows could have existed. Perhaps there was some confusion with the atlatl (ot-la-t) a spear-throwing device? Just because old Ral Partha made these does not mean that they did exist – but for the purposes of my games and my Aztec Army – they do now.
Of course, painting them would be up to me for choosing the colors. The only picture that I found was from a computer gaming site – and it did not match any of the plates. I did like the markings known as “hawk scratches”. I decided that I would give the unit a coloration similar to the cuahchic elites – that being a yellowish suit of tanned hide that would have been worn over their quilted-cotton armor ichcahuipilli (each-ca-we-pee-lee).
It was fun to break into this old blister from Ral Partha’s “1200 A.D.” line. The figures were all in the same pose, but I figured that I could orient their arrows in slightly different positions, use slightly different colors on each , and give different shields to each for aesthetics and ease of tabletop identification and playability. A familiar challenge was that the arrows were all lead – and vulnerable to bending and breaking. I also wanted them to have two big arrows – one to throw and one to use in melee.
The problem with doing this were twofold. First, I did not want to sculpt 6 little extra arrows – and second the little 25mm hands were too small to accommodate even the arrows provided. My solution was to use some steel wire pikes I had gotten from Iron Winds Metals during my Rooman War Party project. I cut the pikes to size and used super glue to affix them to the arrows. They would be the “second” arrow, albeit without fletching or another obsidian head. I think it worked – and you can be the judge.
Next, I’ll share some close up eye candy shots of each, a scale comparison, and some group shots.
Arrow Knight #1
Arrow Knight #2
Arrow Knight #3
Arrow Knight #4
Arrow Knight #5
Arrow Knight #6
Scale Comparison
Group Shots
I am also adding a new feature here. I want to be able to share related posts on the larger Aztec project with folks who have not seen all of the previous posts. Additionally, I need a way to help me keep track of my progress! Therefore, the list of links below will accomplish both for me.
Posts on Units for my 16th Century Spanish Conquest Supplement for Feudal Patrol™ – “Civilizations Collide”
- Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 (this post) – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
- Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
- Aztec Novice Warriors and a few Frinx – 12 Novice Warriors
Total figures to date for this project: 24 Aztecs
Thanks for looking and let me know what you think – I love the chance to learn your thoughts and to have a discussion!
Lastly, here are the paints and supplies I used on this project.
PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE USED ON THESE AZTEC ARROW KNIGHTS:
- Gorilla Glue
- 1/8″ x 1″ Everbilt Fender Washers
- Steel wire lances from Iron Winds Metals
- Poster tack and plastic plates
- Vallejo “Surface Primer – White Primer”
- Vallejo “Flow Improver”
- Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
- Testors “Universal Acrylic Thinner”
- Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white)
- Vallejo Game Air “Black”
- Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
- Vallejo Model Color “Light Flesh”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Fyreslayer Flesh”
- Vallejo Model Air “Moon Yellow”
- Vallejo Game Air “Escorpena Green”
- Citadel Air “Evil Sunz Scarlet”
- Vallejo Model Color “Dark Blue”
- Vallejo Mecha Color “Turquoise”
- Vallejo Game Air “Dead White”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Wyldwood”
- Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gryph-Hound Orange”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Basilicanum Grey”
- Battlefront “Wool Brown”
- Secret Weapons Washes “Parchment” (wash)
- Secret Weapons Washes “Sunshine” (wash)
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Creed Camo”
- Citadel “Balor Brown”
- Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
- Citadel “Lamenters Yellow” (glaze)
- Army Painter “Soft Tone” (shade)
- Vallejo Model Air “Armour Brown”
- Citadel “Praxeti White” (dry)
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Aethermatic Blue”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Flesh Tearers Red”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Apothecary White”
- Vallejo Model Color “White”
- Vallejo Model Color “Glossy Black”
- Elmer’s PVA Glue
- Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
- Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
- Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
- Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
- Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)
Thanks for looking – please let me know your thoughts and feedback!
Mark A. Morin 
Very nice, Mark! 🙂 They’ve come out well and the second arrows look OK to me! Like the colours and the shields and nice to see a shot of the Aztecs all together (size/scale-wise that look fine)!
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Thanks John, only 138+ to go….scale wise I have a greater appreciation for what you achieve with 20mm!
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They look great. The atatl look very similar to the Australian Aboriginal spear thrower, the woomera.
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Cheers Dave!
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Those are wonderful Mark- really like them. You’ve done the old castings proud.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Thanks Pete!
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Love them, they look great. The arrow knights are a really funny one, most manufacturers have them yet they are the least known about. The atlAtl on them looks great.
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Thanks- I just don’t want to be on the receiving end of those!
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I have read that the weapon the Spanish feared the most was the sling.
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Yes. In my supplement slings can be quite dangerous to the Conquistadores with a face hit. I also have Inca slingers capable of slinging bitumen covered flaming rocks!
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These are absolutely amazing!
I’m running a mezo-American campaign right now! Just even a few of these beauties would be awesome!
As a person of Mexican American ethnicity and culture, these really speak to me.
Well done.
Are any for sale per chance…?
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Thanks so much! Glad you like them and there will be more coming. I’m honored that you would consider them worthy of your culture. As I’m building my own forces for a convention-style game I’m not looking to let any loose now – sorry! But maybe someday ?
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Nicely done Mark and a good follow up to your previous post. Not easy making identical castings look different but colour variation and a few tweaks here and there and I think you have done a great job making each one an individual. When you get this lot all done the gaming table is going to be so colourful!
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Cheers Dave! I hope that these posts remain interesting as obviously there will be many – though most will have different poses or different figures per blister pack. I do want you to know that I want to give you a shout out as a muse on these as it were. By that I mean I have been looking carefully at some of your painting results – especially the aspects I find that I’d like to emulate. One of those is the great effect you achieve with the painting of faces. So while I was doing these little dudes I considered what you do with faces, or at least the final results. I’m definitely not saying I’ve achieved your level of competency (I have not!) – I just wanted to offer you thanks for inspiration! How’s it feel to be a muse?
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I’m sure I will enjoy them Mark. Hapoy to be a muse but I’d be happier if it were for Jenna Coleman! 😉
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😃
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Lovely job again mate, this force is really starting to take shape! Superb 😎
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Cheers Alex!
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Those have come out really well, as you said the faces are particularly well done, and the multicoloured feather on their headdresses really pop!
I think you got away with the second arrow too.
Cheers Roger.
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Thanks Roger, appreciate that and glad to hear your thoughts on the second arrow. It was nice to bring an old blister to life. Cheers!
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Bloody brilliant Mark, just love them, well mate !!! Great basing, and I like the scatter rocks and scrub mate.
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Cheers Pat! I’ve been trying to make decent “eye candy” shots to include both backgrounds and now the ground scatter. As you are an accomplished diorama maker, I’m pleased that you liked that too.
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Excellent work Mark, your bold colour choices scream Aztec to me
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Great to hear from you Dave, and thanks. This was a case where there really were not any good guides to use, so I’m happy that you found them realistic.
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I know what you mean, lot’s refer to use of bright colours but very rarely show what they mean, so left to the individual to ascertain they’re own definition
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Great painting job! I love all things miniature. I make miniature houses.
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Thanks! There’s a lot of that on this blog!
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Great work beinging these ancient metals to life! Your Aztecs are certainly taking shape 🙂
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Thanks Az, I’m glad you liked the old lead. Am enjoying the project, despite the size I’m attempting. I just finished 24 Aztec vets tonight and will post tomorrow hopefully. Cheers!
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