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.