"Shields with shells" Topic

I would like to do a shield for one of my Baron's War figures with the shells of a crusader – see link

I looked at a few set of transfers but I did not find anything. Ideas?

You could always try making your own transfers. I've only done it once, but I found it easier than expected.

Wasn't the shell the sign of a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela? I guess it might have been taken for a 'crusade' in Spain as well, but I didn't know that.

Yup, the shell was a pilgrimage symbol to Compostela, I don't think the shell has any reference to crusading.

The shell began as a symbol of pilgrimage to Santiago d.C. but eventually had a more general meaning of any pilgrimage. The link in the OP mentions instances where the scallop was used on arms because of being on Crusade (as a rather militant form of pilgrimage).

I would second making your own transfers if you don't fancy handpainting them on the figure. You can do the design using a computer or even hand paint them on the transfer, though this can make the transfer a bit rigid.

The colour can be a bit weak if printed, so apply over white if possible and it can be worth overpainting them to get a stronger colour. You can even print the transfers as line images and use them as a guide to painting.

Remember to seal the transfers before putting them in water. I used spray varnish as painted on varnish seemed to spread more.
It is supposed to help if you gloss varnish the surface where the transfer will be applied as well – a smoother surface helps prevent frosting.

The paper is moderately expensive and you can get a lot on one sheet. If you make sure the images are at the top of the page then you can cut them off and use the sheet until it becomes too small for your printer to handle.

I know it certainly shows up in French coats of arms (mine specifically) which is why I was interested. If you see the link in my first post it appears there are several other references (but I am not expert hence asking here).

I am thinking of a technical pen as a way of doing this anyways as that allows me to do the specific design I want anyways

I sometimes use a technical pen but for this I would probably find it easier to paint it. I'd do a plain shell in something like ochre and then paint in the ridges of the shell using a lightish yellow (if in 'or') or, for argent, dark grey then lighter grey then white (to give the shading of the Dacre scallops).

Evidence from early painted arms in a military context shows that simple, plain colours were used without shading. Only considerably later do 'artistic' additions such as shading and highlighting get used – by which time the user is unlikely to get their scratched anyway.

The shading on a figure might represent one of the fancier shields with moulded leather or gesso duro relief. Alternatively, it just adds a bit more interest to a figure.