Hi again Baratheon and all!
Good news is that the mules have finally arrived!
First impressions are that they are a good 20mm or thereabouts, as previously noted the size of mules, and indeed horses and other animals can vary considerably. I'll compare and check later but they may even be a shade small.
Other points to note are that they are all one pose (12) and have moulded on harness and frame but that can sanded off. I'm sure I'll be getting more mules and indeed other items from EWM as budget permits. For my purposes, currently carrying/towing Jap artillery I think they'll be most satisfactory, at a very reasonable £1 each plus signed for post.
That's my thoughts - hope you find them useful.
Stay safe and Carry on Collecting folks!
Richard

Hi Richard,

I nearly missed this - buried under an avalanche of SSW and Nappy threads it was!

Good to know. Maybe if possible, could you please post a photo of those mules with a 1/72 scale rider, and/or next to their 1/72 counterpart one day?

Also, do you (or anyone else) know where to get loose 1/72 scale ammo boxes/crates, blanket rolls, grain bags etc. (for mules/camels to carry)? I was thinking of using putty etc. for bags, rolls but I'm sure someone must have made accessories such as these...

Thanks in advance

A set of transport mules in plastic would be excellent!

I was surprised to read this on wiki:
"The mule comes in all sizes, shapes and conformations. There are mules that resemble huge draft horses, sturdy quarter horses, fine-boned racing horses, shaggy ponies and more"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mule#Characteristics

So you can make horses more "mule-like" by increasing the size of the ears.

The Spanish army in the early 20th century used mules and both sides in the SCW made extensive use of them for general transport and for disassembled mountain guns. Here's an example of a big mule at the time of the attempted coup in July 1936 (bit blurry but white animal in the centre)



70mm infantry/mountain howitzers were broken down into 5 loads:

%%bbCodeItem_2%%

105mm mountain guns were broken down into 7 loads:

Briefly, it's interesting to see these comments on size which confirms my brief Wiki research on mules!
So, maybe scale isn't too important, after all 1/72 scale covers quite a lot of ground, depending on manufacturer's interpretations!
Re mule loads, it may be worth looking at EWM's Early WW2 Italian range, showing mules with various loads of machine guns, general packs etc.
Hope this helps!
Stay safe folks
Richard

Hi again Baratheon
The bad news is that I'm not really into photography - I might have a go one day but I have absolutely no idea how to post photos online!
As for accessories, offhand I've had a quick look at EWM again. I think it was the early war British accessories, but you'd better have a good trawl through for yourself.
Paul has a complete supply dump, barbed wire, oil drums crates etc, and various packs.
If I remember right some mules, usually as complete sets have loads of machine guns, mountain guns and possibly loads such as baggage.
You can always email Paul.............
Hope this helps
Best regards
Richard

PS
A very quick at a couple more companies I buy from finds vehicle accessories and stowage. Check out Section Head Quarters Miniatures (SHQ) packs, also S&S Models accessory packs. I think a number of companies produce accory packs in resin and metal, you might also check out Frontline Wargaming.
Again hope this helps!
PPS
Frontline now do figures including a Jap mule handler and mule - somebody out there's listening!
Must close for now

This is my first time I visit here. I found such a large number of engaging stuff your blog, particularly its exchange. From the huge amounts of remarks on your articles, I surmise I am by all account not the only one having all the relaxation here! Keep doing awesome. I have been importance to compose something like this on my Jaipur Call Girls site and you have given me a thought.