This is what I was thinking as I bought this "African Queen" style boat at the Bring and Buy for a very small amount. Can't help myself. But what to use it for??
So it lingered in one of the boxes for a couple of years until the other day I found it and had a look. It is made of a simple MDF bottom and styrene sides cut not particularly straight, a thick wood canopy and steering rudder with a wooden stir stick roof. The open engine is of wooden thread dowels and a plastic straw!
I had a separate group of sailors (Foundry for Crimea era, I think) painted but not based. Reason? Unknown. They are mine but when painted? Apparently years ago. Anyway, I just used small bits of card for their bases painting and giving those a wash to match the existing the wood decking. The boat got a bit of a clean up adding a couple of barrels and the boilers were given a bit of rust for effect.
The actual interest into the boat was the discovery of primered Foundry Napoleonic sailors. These were in fighting mode holding swords and pistols. I have done sailors already with Brigade Games types but the two do not match well. With the thought to crew my "African Queen" , I cut off hands holding swords and replaced with plastic ones, trimming remaining hands holding belaying pins which cannot be cutoff into tool-like shapes. One of them I cut off the head as the hat seemed a little too Napoleonic and replaced by a French fusilier forage cap appropriately trimmed of the piping lace but now nondescript! Hopefully all are looking mid-19th C. to go along with the rather crude steam engine.
Now I have the crew and armed sailors ready for action up a river. Which river and against whom is unknown. I am happy with my little endevour but have no plans for a campaign with them....yet....