The River Crossing – An 18th-Century Playmobil Diorama

A river crossing is never an easy task for an 18th-century army. Horses must negotiate the uneven riverbed, infantrymen have to keep their balance, and above all, soldiers must protect their weapons and ammunition from the water.

In this outdoor Playmobil diorama, my Blue Dragoons and a company of mercenary infantry are crossing a shallow river, surrounded by an autumn landscape. I wanted to capture a small moment of military life rather than a traditional battle scene.

Blue Dragoons and Mercenaries Crossing the River

The cavalry gathers on one bank while the mercenary infantry wades through the water. Some soldiers have already reached the opposite side, while others are still struggling across the river.

One infantryman is almost waist-deep in the water, holding his musket and cartridge box high above his head to keep them dry. This is one of my favourite little details: wet gunpowder could make a soldier's ammunition useless, so protecting it was essential.

The real water creates reflections of the figures, while the surrounding hills and autumn colours provide a natural backdrop. I photographed the scene from a low angle to give the miniature soldiers a more convincing sense of scale.

Blue Dragoons and mercenary infantry crossing a river in an outdoor Playmobil diorama.

The One-Eyed Captain of the Blue Dragoons

Among the cavalrymen is the captain of the Blue Dragoons, easily recognizable by the black patch covering one eye.

This small detail gives him a distinctive personality, suggesting a veteran officer with plenty of stories to tell.

The one-eyed captain of the Blue Dragoons.

Custom 3D-Printed Equipment for the Dragoons

Another important part of this project was improving the equipment carried by the soldiers. I wanted each miniature to look properly equipped for a military campaign.

The brown cartridge box carried by this Blue Dragoon comes from a 3D model I found on Cults3D. The original design was created by an artist for American Civil War Playmobil figures and featured a US insignia.

Since I wanted to use the accessory for an 18th-century-inspired dragoon, I removed the US emblem by modifying the 3D model in Bambu Studio.

The result is a more versatile cartridge box that fits the appearance of my Blue Dragoons.

A Blue Dragoon with a modified 3D-printed cartridge box, adapted from an American Civil War accessory.

The Mercenary Officer and His Campaign Bag

The mercenary infantry officer carries an infantry officer's sabre and a larger campaign bag, also based on a 3D model found on Cults3D.

If I remember correctly, the original accessory was designed for Confederate soldiers of the American Civil War. However, its shape reminded me of the large bags carried by some 18th-century soldiers.

In particular, I took inspiration from the equipment of Prussian infantry during the reign of Frederick II, including the large calfskin-style packs associated with soldiers of that period.

I like how the larger bag gives the officer a more practical, campaign-ready appearance.

A mercenary officer with his infantry sabre and a large 3D-printed campaign bag.

Equipping Every Mercenary Soldier

The final photograph shows another mercenary infantryman, this time carrying a black cartridge box adapted from a 3D model available on Cults3D.

I am particularly pleased with the equipment of this miniature army. Each soldier carries the essentials for life on campaign: a bag for personal belongings, a canteen for drinking water and a cartridge box for ammunition.

These accessories may be small, but they make a considerable difference to the overall appearance of the figures.

A mercenary infantryman equipped with a black cartridge box, canteen and personal campaign bag.

Bringing an 18th-Century Army to Life

What I enjoy most about these projects is combining miniature photography, historical inspiration and small custom accessories.

The figures are still unmistakably Playmobil, but details such as cartridge boxes, campaign bags, canteens and officers' weapons help create the impression of a real army on the march.

And sometimes, all it takes is a little real water and a carefully chosen outdoor location to turn a collection of miniature soldiers into a river-crossing expedition.

The Bluecoat line advances!

There is something particularly satisfying about seeing a line of LEGO Bluecoat soldiers stretching across the battlefield, bayonets fixed and colours flying.

For this little outdoor photoshoot, I wanted to recreate that feeling of a much larger regiment advancing together — essentially, I wanted to see an ocean of bayonets.

Building a LEGO Pirates Bluecoat Regiment

Almost everything you see here is original LEGO. The exception is the muskets and bayonets, which are compatible parts I found on AliExpress.

I really like their proportions for this kind of historical scene, especially when dozens of them are lined up together. They help transform the classic LEGO Pirates Bluecoats into a convincing 18th-century-style infantry regiment.

A Custom LEGO Bluecoat Regimental Flag

The regimental flag is my own reinterpretation of the original LEGO Bluecoat flag design.

I reworked the design with a little help from AI, adapted it for a larger banner and then printed it on real fabric.

I think fabric makes a huge difference in outdoor photographs, particularly when the flag catches the light and doesn't look completely flat.

Creating a Larger LEGO Army with a Photography Trick

Of course, there aren't actually quite as many soldiers in my collection as you can see in the final picture!

To create the effect, I first arranged two ranks of LEGO Bluecoats on the left side of the flag and took the first photograph.

I then moved those same soldiers to the right side, changed their positions around a little and took another shot without moving the camera.

Finally, I combined the two photographs in an image editor, using the flag and the soldiers around it as the centre of the composition.

It's a very simple trick, but it allowed me to turn a relatively small formation into something that feels much closer to a proper massed regiment.

And that was really the whole idea behind this photograph: more soldiers, more muskets and an ocean of bayonets!

LEGO Pirates Bluecoat regiment with a custom fabric flag. The massed formation was created by combining two photographs of the same soldiers.

A Host Beneath the Banners

There is something magical about seeing a LEGO medieval army gathered beneath a forest of banners. Every knight, every shield and every standard tells a story, turning a collection of LEGO Castle minifigures into a living medieval host.

For this outdoor photoshoot, I brought together my custom LEGO knights and soldiers to recreate the atmosphere of a great medieval army preparing for battle. The colourful banners, heraldic shields and individual characters help give the impression of a much larger force.

A Custom LEGO Castle Army

One of my favourite aspects of medieval LEGO photography is the opportunity to combine different knights, shields and standards into a single scene. Rather than representing a uniform army, the figures suggest a gathering of noblemen and their followers, each marching beneath their own colours.

Look closely and you may recognise a few famous coats of arms and heraldic devices hidden among the shields and banners. Some are easy to identify, while others are a little trickier.

Medieval Heraldry in LEGO

Heraldry is an essential part of the visual identity of this army. Different colours, symbols and banners make the individual knights stand out, while giving the entire collection the appearance of a medieval host assembled for a campaign.

I particularly enjoy including recognisable heraldic designs among the custom figures. They add another layer of detail to the photographs and turn the scene into a little challenge for anyone interested in medieval history.

Photographing a LEGO Medieval Army Outdoors

This was a fun outdoor photoshoot, although the lighting proved a little challenging. The bright sky ended up overpowering parts of the scene, making it harder to bring out the colours of the banners and heraldry.

Next time, I'll experiment with shooting during the golden hour or slightly reducing the exposure. I think softer light would help the details of the custom LEGO minifigures stand out even more.

How many coats of arms can you identify? Take a closer look at the shields and banners, and feel free to leave your guesses in the comments!

Lion Knights' Castle with real moat

Since I was a kid, I've always had a fascination with medieval castles surrounded by moats. For this outdoor LEGO Castle diorama, I wanted to bring that childhood fascination to life.

This time, however, I went beyond a traditional castle moat: I imagined a fortified LEGO Lion Knights citadel rising from the middle of a lake, with real water surrounding its walls.

Building a LEGO Lion Knights Castle Surrounded by Water

The centrepiece of the scene is a second-hand LEGO castle, which I placed inside a large, shallow mixing basin originally designed for cement.

This simple solution allows me to create large outdoor medieval dioramas using real water instead of simulated water effects.

The result is a miniature fortress surrounded by a lake, combining classic LEGO Castle elements with a natural outdoor setting.

Custom LEGO Lion Knights and Painted Armour

All the knights in this scene are original LEGO figures, although I have customised some of their equipment to give them a more realistic medieval appearance.

I painted their armour and helmet visors using Citadel metallic paints, then used a very fine black pen to redefine the helmet openings and add depth to the details.

These small modifications help the LEGO medieval knights stand out in close-up photographs while preserving their classic LEGO Castle character.

Handmade LEGO Lion Knights Banners

The banners are handmade and inspired by the traditional LEGO Lion Knights heraldry.

I adapted the heraldic designs in Adobe Photoshop, printed them on special inkjet heat-transfer paper and transferred the designs onto real fabric.

Using fabric gives the medieval flags a more natural appearance, especially in outdoor photography, where light and movement help bring the scene to life.

You can see the technique in my tutorial: How I Make Custom LEGO Medieval Flags .

LEGO Castle Outdoor Diorama Photography

One of my favourite aspects of photographing LEGO medieval castles outdoors is combining the miniature models with real environmental elements.

In this case, the real water transforms the LEGO fortress into an island citadel, giving the photograph a sense of scale and atmosphere that would be difficult to reproduce with a conventional tabletop setup.

LEGO Lion Knights castle surrounded by real water, featuring customised medieval knights and handmade fabric banners.

For me, this project brings together three things I love: classic LEGO Castle sets, medieval heraldry and miniature photography in real outdoor landscapes.

A Small Review of AliExpress Warhammer Builds - Killa Kan and Death Korps of Krieg

What happens when the grim darkness of Warhammer 40,000 meets LEGO-style building bricks?

This scene features two unofficial LEGO-compatible products I recently picked up from AliExpress: an Ork Killa Kan and a squad of Death Korps of Krieg minifigures.

Both are inspired by the Warhammer 40K universe, but my experience with their quality was surprisingly different.

Ork Killa Kan – LEGO-Compatible Mech Review

The Ork Killa Kan looks great at first glance. Its mechanical design captures the rough, improvised appearance of Ork machinery from the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Unfortunately, the quality of the building experience doesn't quite match its appearance.

Some parts simply don't fit together properly, making the assembly more frustrating than expected. The finished model looks impressive, but the overall construction quality is inconsistent.

My rating: 6/10.

The design may have originated from an independent LEGO MOC creator, although I haven't verified who designed the original model.

If that is the case, I would recommend supporting the original designer by purchasing the building instructions and sourcing good-quality bricks through services such as BrickLink.

Custom Ork Killa Kan Banner

One detail I added myself is the custom fabric banner attached to the Ork Killa Kan.

I started with an image found online, reworked it in Adobe Photoshop and printed the design onto fabric.

The banner adds character to the model and helps give the Ork machine the appearance of a battlefield veteran.

Death Korps of Krieg – LEGO-Compatible Minifigures

The Death Korps of Krieg minifigures, on the other hand, were an excellent surprise.

Their printing quality is outstanding, with particularly sharp details on the uniforms, equipment and lasguns.

The figures feel solid and well-made, and their appearance is remarkably close to what I would expect from high-quality custom Warhammer 40K minifigures.

For anyone interested in building a LEGO-style Imperial Guard army or creating miniature Warhammer 40K dioramas, these figures are especially interesting.

Warhammer 40K LEGO-Compatible Models – Final Verdict

Overall, this was a mixed experience.

The Ork Killa Kan has a strong visual design, but its inconsistent brick quality makes the building process less enjoyable.

The Death Korps of Krieg infantry, however, impressed me with their excellent printing, detailed equipment and solid construction.

My conclusion: the Killa Kan looks better than it builds, while the Krieg minifigures are the real highlight of this purchase.

Unofficial Warhammer 40K LEGO-compatible models: an Ork Killa Kan with a custom fabric banner and Death Korps of Krieg infantry.

These are unofficial LEGO-compatible products, not official LEGO or Games Workshop releases.

From Pike to Spontoon

My experiments with 3D printing continue, and with every new project I'm discovering just how much difference a few small details can make.

After several attempts, I've finally learned how to make small but meaningful modifications to existing 3D models created by other designers. My goal isn't to replace their original work, but rather to adapt certain elements to suit my own projects and bring my ideas a little closer to reality.

This time, my attention turned to the red-coated soldiers of the 18th century: the famous British Redcoats.

Small Details, Big Improvements

One of my first discoveries was a set of beautifully designed cartridge boxes. Unfortunately, they're barely visible in the photograph below, but in person they make a remarkable difference.

It's precisely these little accessories that I enjoy working on. A cartridge box, a properly shaped weapon or a carefully positioned piece of equipment can transform an ordinary Playmobil figure into a much more convincing historical soldier.

The flagpoles were another interesting experiment. They originally started life as simple pikes, but I modified the models by adding a lateral handgrip to make them easier for the figures to hold and more convincing in appearance.

Once I had developed this modification, I began applying the same idea to other polearms. A few experiments with lances eventually led me to create a small collection of spontoons.

What Is a Spontoon?

The spontoon was a type of polearm commonly associated with infantry officers during the 17th and 18th centuries.

While ordinary soldiers increasingly relied on muskets and bayonets, officers often carried spontoons as symbols of rank and authority.

Typically featuring a pointed, leaf-shaped blade mounted on a wooden shaft, the spontoon was more than a decorative accessory. It could be used to indicate directions, help maintain formations and, when necessary, serve as a practical weapon.

For a miniature regiment, it's a particularly attractive detail. A single officer carrying a spontoon immediately gives the unit a stronger historical identity.

Creating the Regimental Flags

The regimental colours were another part of the project that required a little experimentation, combining artificial intelligence with traditional hands-on modelling.

I used AI to help develop the initial heraldic designs and compositions. From there, I worked on the images myself, adjusting proportions, refining individual details and modifying the symbols to better suit the character of my regiment.

Rather than printing the flags on fabric, I decided to use paper. The real challenge was achieving a convincing double-sided appearance without making the finished flags too thick.

To accomplish this, I mirrored the original design and made subtle adjustments to its transparency before printing. Once folded, the printed surfaces create the impression of a proper front and reverse, while keeping the flag relatively thin and easy to shape.

It's a simple technique, but one that works surprisingly well at this scale.

A Regiment Taking Shape

These experiments are still very much a work in progress, but I'm pleased with how the Redcoats are developing.

What I enjoy most about 3D printing is that it allows me to improve my miniature armies gradually, one accessory at a time, without losing the unmistakable charm of the original Playmobil figures.

And, as usual, one small modification has already given me several ideas for the next project!

Custom Playmobil Redcoats featuring 3D-printed accessories, officer spontoons and handmade regimental colours.

New Knights in the Camp

New Knights Arrive at the Medieval Camp

New banners rise between the medieval tents I built for this camp, and with them new allegiances take shape. This series of photographs introduces some of my latest custom Playmobil knights, gathered together before the start of an imaginary campaign.

I wanted the scene to feel like a quiet moment in a medieval encampment: the knights are assembled, their standards are raised, and their armour catches the light.

Custom Playmobil Knights and 3D-Printed Armour

These knights are the result of a long process of assembling, printing, modifying and refining. Some helmets and armour elements were 3D printed from purchased STL files, then carefully customised to better suit the proportions and character of my Playmobil figures.

I experimented with the different parts, adjusted their fit and combined them with other accessories until each knight had a distinctive silhouette. The aim was not simply to add more equipment, but to give every figure a personality of its own.

Heraldry and Inspiration

The real heart of these new arrivals, however, is their heraldry. The shields and banners help turn a collection of individual figures into knights with their own identities and allegiances.

Two of the coats of arms are a tribute to the beautiful work of TableKnight. Another shield pays homage to the distinctive heraldry of Knightly_Lady, whose visual identity inspired me to reinterpret it in Playmobil form.

These are personal tributes, adapted for my miniature knights. I enjoy seeing how heraldic designs can take on a new life when translated onto Playmobil shields.

A Quiet Moment Before the Campaign

The knights stand in and around the tents, as though awaiting inspection or preparing to depart. Nothing dramatic is happening yet, and that is precisely the atmosphere I wanted to capture.

The camp is quiet. Standards are raised. Armour catches the light. It feels like the calm before the march begins.

For me, customising Playmobil figures is as much about building a setting and suggesting a story as it is about the individual knights. Each new shield or helmet adds another character to the world of Little Carpet Wars.

Figures: Custom Playmobil medieval knights
Customisation: Modified accessories and 3D-printed parts from purchased STL files
Setting: Handmade medieval camp
Heraldic inspiration: TableKnight and Knightly_Lady