Ox cart for Saga

As every historical miniature gamer knows every table needs an ox cart (and a camp site).  Mine started with the "Peasant's Ox Cart" (part no. 28R-CAW-306) from 4Ground.  There are two options for the wheels and I went for the spoke version over the solid wheel variety.  This was painted Vallejo Game Colour Charred Brown and then drybrushed up with Beasty Brown and Leather Brown.

For the oxen I first considered the North Star Oxen, but they were a bit expensive at $10 each.  From Eureka miniatures I found they had an "Ox" (part no. 100ANM02) for $3.50 each.  Once they arrived I found them to be on the very lean size.  Much more like skinny Indian Brahma cows than big tough oxen.  Guess this farmer is a bit on the poor side, well at least that's the story I tell.  The oxen were air brushed with a dark brown craft paint and then highlighted much like the cart.

Early mock up and base sizing

For the farmer I made one up from bits including a Wargames Factory unarmed viking figure, a Gripping Beast Saxon head and some green stuff for the upper legs.  This was my first body sculpt and I got the legs too short.  Since he was sitting down and wasn't going to get much table time I decided close enough was good enough.  After all I had real figures to paint.  Mind you he does make a very good inbred misshaped peasant.  I think his open hand needs a whip or something as he looks a bit off currently.

Watch out for those rocks

The barrels and sacks in the wagon were from a $10 grab bag of resin bits I picked up at Cancon.  One of the sacks was made from a left over piece of green stuff.  Sacks and misc. pottery are a great way to use up leftover green stuff and to add background filler to terrain projects.

Early on in the design process I was going to add a dog to fill up the base space a little.  That got dropped off and some rocks were used instead.  Originally I was going for a rectangular base to fit my other baggage train pieces but the base was just a bit tight with the oxen hanging over the end.  So I up sized to the large oval base from Renedra to make sure everything was within the edge of the base.

Wagons ho!

For the ground effects I used a dark brown scatter for the road with a mixture of light green / olive green on the sides.  The rocks were originally white quartz which I drybrushed light brown to tone them down a bit.  Then the usual grass tufts and flowers were added.  When you buy 120 grass tufts every bit of terrain tends to get one.  The flowers added a bit of colour to a very green and brown piece of terrain.