"28mm Easterlings?" Topic

So, I have a large amount of GW models for LOTR which I really enjoy. I, however, do not quite like the look of their Easterling models (the price does not help). From what I can find, Tolkien in the wikipedias (don't hurt me it has been forever since I read the books) provides this description:

"Troops mentioned in the Easterling forces aiding Sauron in the Third Age included swordsmen, spearmen, horsemen, mounted archers, and chariots ridden by chieftains.

The weapons that the Easterlings used were primarily crude, jagged spears, making them especially effective against cavalry, as well as a shorter, odd, glaive-like version used for close combat.

Some like the Wainriders and the Balchoth had large chariots, wagons and wains which they used to run their foes down, as well as live in and used to fortify their camps. During the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Easterlings were bearded and used axes."

I can't quite nail what 28mm models would represent that look. This also does not describe what kind of armor they would be wearing.

Does anyone have advice or experience on how to model Easterlings in 28mm that is not GW?

Thanks!

Years ago, long before the LOTR films, I went through Ian Heaths Armies of the Dark Ages and decided that Easterlings were based on the Asiatic Hordes, specifically Pechenegs and Kazars.

Essex do some Asiatic Horde figures but they are very old 1980s sculpts and small at 25mm. link

I would have a look at Fireforge. They have some interesting figures that could work with the GW LOTR figures.
Mongol plastic mounted archers, light cavalry and light infantry.
link
Russian Infantry
link
These Scandanavian Infantry have mean looking axes.
link

Wagons are more difficult but you could try these MDF ones. Look at the Celtic Chariots, Peasant Carts and War Wagon.
link

Scotia Grendel have the old Black Tree LotR range ( marketed as generic fantasy these days due to a lack of a license) that contains Easterling infantry.

link

Perry Armoured Koreans are pretty exotic looking! ie. Cool!

Mick in Switzerland- those are awesome and are available in the USA as well!

Prince Rupert of the Rhine- Do you know how large their figures are?

altfritz- they do indeed look really cool.

Its good to know there are options!

Urban Legend holds that before he began sculpting his Der Kriegspielers (not) Middle Earth line, Duke Seifried traveled to the UK to meet with JRRT to refine his understanding of how the armies looked. As such, the old DK Fantastiques line could well be embraced as a jumping off point for choosing figs to represent one or another ME force.

Consider checking out the "Easterners" fig pix on Lost Minis Wiki.

link

I once asked Duke how the Easterlings should be painted. He suggested I think Muscovite or Kievan Rus.

FWIW.

Gripping beast Arabs perhaps…

My definition of Easterlings includes most Eastern nations as they were not one group, so Medes, Persians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Scythians rub shoulders with Turks, Mongols, Pechenegs, Rus, Chinese, and Samurai.

I actually made some "Balchoth" Easterlings not too long ago from Gripping Beast Dark Age Warriors and Wargames Factory Persians. I'll see if I can dig them up and take a picture.

4ground makes a nice 28mm Roman oxcart in mdf that would make a good warwagon if you add the horses. It put together in minutes, was relatively cheap and comes with the choice a canvas covered or open

I think some good kit bashing could make it much more warlike..