Simple conversions painted

I finished the first unit of Tradgardlanders yesterday and was pleased with the result. Here they are on manoeuvres near Tradgardstadt -

Simple conversions

Ages ago I bought a shoebox full of plastic toy soldier guardsmen, many were made by the company Crescent. They have lain in the shed for some time. Here are examples of them, good plastic toy soldiers awaiting a purpose in their shoe box barracks

I eventually got a hand pin drill but lacking a vice found it hard going to get them to stay still as I drilled. An early attempt involved sellotaping to a chair leg but that was too clumsy. Yesterday I managed to perfect a primitive technique involving jamming them in the corner of a drawer as a vice 

and drilling out the necks having cut their heads off first. It worked but there must be a better way... 

Replacement heads were added,undercoat of pva applied and painting begun. They are an approximation of 1910 Danish/ Tradgardland Infantry, close enough to keep me happy if not the purist. I will post pictures of the finished twelve man unit. All in all an enjoyable hobby session.