I guess I just never imagined GHQ competing with Dream Pod 9! (Maybe GHQ can save some time and scale down the existing GearKrieg molds?)In the meantime, with the upcoming release of destroyed middle eastern buildings and vehicles such as MRAPs, some of you interested in current and highly probable near-future wargaming might need some middle eastern civilian militia figures (ie the ones who have been actually fighting in the middle east among those destroyed buildings and who precipated the need for MRAPs.)
Last night I took an Xacto blade to some GHQ Bush Warrior figures and the results are not that bad! Of all the modern infantry figures the Bush Warriors are the "cleanest" with little extra equipment (eg no backpacks and helmets.)
So, for modern middle easter civilians using GHQ Bush Warriors, here's what you do:
1. Trim the hat/beret to make the figure look bare-headed. This was easier with the caps but still do-able with the barets. You may need to file the head to a rounder shape but I was able to do it with the Xacto alone.
2. Trim off the canteen/hip pack found on most figures such as the riflemen. This is really easy and fast, but be careful about the pressure applied. Otherwise you can weaken the figure by bending it at the ankles.
3. Many figures have a large knife/bayonet on their belt, but on most of the poses you can probably leave this on/paint over it. Sticklers for detail may want to file it down and/or patch over it with green stuff.
You're done! I haven't painted them yet, but the bare castings look pretty good. At this scale, painted in civilian clothing colors (including head scarves) I think this should work for any civilian militia types (Mid-east, North Africa, etc.).
I need to order some more bases from Litko and then base/paint a bunch of these. I'll post photos when they're done (it takes Litko a couple of weeks+ to deliver an order), but the bare casting really do look promising. These figures already have the requisite AK-47 and RPGs, so this should work pretty well.
Tim
PS I highly recommend Litko bases. You can get any size/shape in a variety of thickness for a very reasonable price. I order my with rounded corners and really like the effect.
