"Looking for 15mm Chinese figures with sampan hats" Topic

I'm looking for a pack of 15mm melee armed figures with Sampan (conical straw) hats to play the role of a Chinese pirate crew on a 15mm Junk. Any ideas?

V/R

Walt O'Hara

Some of the nigh-impossible-to-obtain Frontier Boxers? Mine aren't right at hand, but I know some of the firearm… armed figures have them, and I'm pretty sure some of the melee weapon figures do, too.

Allen

Allen is right. Frontier had some melee armed and musket armed. One of the Old Glory Boxer packs with spearmen have some. I am not sure about Falcon UK. I think all of their guys have turbans.

One Falcon pose has the hat your looking for. Old Glory Boxers pack is a good option.

I thought Frontier was true 25mm. Are these choices 15mm?

Yes.

"Sampan" hats? Sampans are a type of boat.

Compare:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampan

Vs.:
link

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James Clavell uses "sampan hat". Works for me.

Allen

What? A few pictures that happen to depict both sampans and conical hats (which were worn in many places having little to do with sampans)?

It's amusing how pickiness about most anything ancient and Roman can transform into 'anything goes' for matters Asian and modern…

I tend to call the hats collie hats from the working on the railroad.

Do we *have* to make a big issue out of it? I've heard the conical straw hat used in wide areas of Asia as a handy sun and rain hat described as "Sampan" or "coolie". I like using "Sampan" over "coolie", which always sounded a trifle denigrating to me. Don't assume motives in others that aren't there. I'm just looking for a handful of miniatures with a certain look and feel, that's all.

Frontier is out of business, Neh?

Walt….Eureka have some in Coolie hats and with a variety of weapons. Look up their Boxer Rebellion items and earlier types.

Peter Pig also does civilians for Vietnam which will fit in with any period really.

Collie hats? Woof!

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"Frontier is out of business, Neh?"

This seems to be the last development. Did you find the guy's card, Rudy?

TMP link

…or find out anything in September?

TMP link

Allen

No he was not at Hurricon (Sept) nor did I see the old owner.

I did pick up a bunch of unpainted at the Hurricon flea Market. Cowboys and Frontiersmen as well as Boxers and did not have any trouble selling them.

That's not good news; wonder why anyone would buy out such a large set of ranges and then sit on them.

Allen

Try Peter Pig Vietnam civilians, some of them have coolie hats and could be re-armed as pirates

I have the 15mm Old Glory Boxers painted up as generic rebels. I would guess half are wearing the "Sampan" hat and the remainder have turban with a few bare-headed. Mostly pole arms and swords with a small number firing muskets.

If you want photos, I can send you some.
Cheers,
Robert
18thcenturysojourn.blogspot.com

Also might be worth checking Peter Pigs range of Heads. Not sure if they have this hat style yet (if not, might suggest to Martin) but if they do, gives you an easier conversion option than using their Vietnamese civilians. Good figures but a bit of a stretch to add weapons. Good luck with the hunt.

Most Japanese ranges will include troops in conical straw hats that will do.

@Walt: Sorry, my comment was directed more at Allen.

Yes, Peter Pig do have the coolie hats in their "heads" range.

French colonial troops wore these are part of their issue uniform. Here's a link to a photo of Tonkinese:

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