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 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.

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.

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 regiment with a simple photographic 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 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!

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 castles surrounded by moats—and in this scene I tried to bring that idea to life. Although this goes beyond a simple moat, turning the castle into a true citadel rising from the middle of a lake.

This second-hand castle was placed inside a large shallow mixing basin (originally used for cement), which allows me to build wide outdoor scenes with real water.

All the knights are original LEGO figures, with custom touches: I painted the armor and helmet visors using Citadel metallic colors, then used a very fine black pen to redefine the helmet holes and add depth.

The banners are handmade, based on Lion Knights heraldry that I adapted in Photoshop, printed on special paper and applied to fabric—just like I show in my tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFNARhgPCAU

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

This scene features two non-original LEGO-style builds I recently picked up from AliExpress: an Ork Killa Kan and a squad of Death Korps of Krieg.

The Killa Kan looks great at first glance, but the quality is mixed. On a scale from 1 to 10, I’d give it a 6. Some parts simply don’t fit properly, which makes the build a bit frustrating. The design itself is likely taken from a MOC creator, so in cases like this it’s probably better to support the original designer—buy the instructions and source proper parts from places like BrickLink.
The banner on the Killa Kan is custom-made by me, using an image found online, reworked in Photoshop and printed on fabric.

The Death Korps of Krieg, on the other hand, are excellent. The print quality on the minifigures is outstanding, and the details on the lasguns and equipment are surprisingly sharp. They feel solid, well-made, and visually very close to what you’d expect from high-quality custom pieces.

Overall, a mixed experience: questionable build quality on the mech, but truly impressive results on the infantry.

From Pike to Spontoon

The experiments with my 3D printer continue.

After several attempts, I’ve finally figured out how to make small, meaningful modifications to other designers’ files. Not to overwrite their work, but to subtly adapt it to my own vision and needs.

This time the focus was on 18th-century Redcoats.

I found the perfect cartridge boxes unfortunately they are barely visible in this photograph but they truly make a difference in person. Those small elements are what transform a simple minifigure into a believable soldier.

The flag poles originally started as simple pikes. I added a lateral grip support to make them look more practical and structurally convincing. I then reused the same grip modification on a set of lances, which eventually led me to create several spontoons.

So, what exactly is a spontoon?
A spontoon was a type of polearm carried by infantry officers during the 17th and 18th centuries. Unlike common pikes used by rank-and-file soldiers, the spontoon was both a symbol of authority and a practical weapon. It featured a leaf-shaped blade mounted on a wooden shaft and was often used to direct troops in battle formations while still serving as a functional sidearm.

The regimental flags are the result of a collaboration between artificial intelligence and my own hand.

The initial designs were generated with the help of AI, which provided the heraldic base and compositional structure. I then modified and refined them myself adjusting proportions, enhancing specific details, and tailoring the symbols to better fit the character of the regiment.

They were printed on paper rather than fabric. To achieve a convincing double-sided effect, I mirrored the front design and slightly adjusted the transparency before printing. This allowed the ink to subtly show through once folded, creating the illusion of a proper front and reverse without adding unnecessary thickness.

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