Kyreanne Greek Commission Work

The latest and possibly last addition to a commission army that painted for a member of Plymouth Association of Wargamers.

He gave me 12 four horse chariots to bolster his army.  I'm quite happy with the results.

The models themselves were Essex, which are ok but not my personal choice.  So I decided to keep the basics of the chariots but swap out the crew foe Xyston miniatures, which I used for the rest of the army.

Above and below are comparisons of the basic paint job, on the left and a WIP section which have been covered in Army painter Dark Tone (love that stuff!)

A big batch of shiny ancient 'tanks' lol 

 

 So the finished models, painted, Dark Tone washed, based and matt varnished...very happy!

Just a couple of psilo bases, they were needed to round off the list.

Kyreanne Greek Commission

Well I have completed the ancient Kyreane Greek commission for one of the guys at the club.  I really enjoyed painting these Xyston figures.  I do love Xyston, they are fantastic sculpts and take the pigment very nicely......I don't even mind having to drill the hands for spears and glue on the shields, the final results are worth it.

In my humble opinion they are the best 15/18mm ancients on the market (although I do really like War and Empire by West Wind).

The final batch...the observant amongst you will see a lot of white shields and no basing?  I ran out of Little Big Man decals and decided to finish the basing once I was home.

One unit of Lancers, these are the only cavalry in the army.

A 12 element unit of  pike, this is a very big unit for a FOG A army.

The Generals, a CnC and 2 Sub Generals

Light Foot Javelin, one three light foot units covering bows and slings also.

The main bulk of the army, hoplites, hundreds of them!  I must admit they do look very impressive when fully deployed.

Punic Wars, the Roman Republic Army Velites

So the painting has begun and I start with the Roman light foot, Velites.

My Roman forces will consist of 4 legions, 2 Roman and 2 allied.  Each legion will consist of 2 small units of Triarii (FOG 2 bases each), 3 units of Hastati (FOG 4 bases each), 3 units of Principes (FOG 4 bases each), 1 unit of Velites (FOG 6 bases) and 1 unit of Cavalry(FOG 4 bases).. That gives each legion 164 foot and 12 mounted.

Velites base sprayed and ready for the brush.

Roman Velites, 'Red Shield Legion'

Roman Velites

Roman Velites, 'White Shield Legion'

Roman Velites

Allied Velites, 1st legion

Allied Velites

Allied Velites, 2nd legion

Out of interest the figures were base sprayed, as above, then block painted, given a coat of Army Painter 'Dark Tone', then based, flocked and given a coat of matt varnish spray. Simples!!

Next up the Hastati, all 192 of them....

Sword and Spear Debute (Yes I do game, sometimes!)

My club, Plymouth Association of Wargamers (PAW) have started playing the ancient rules, Sword and Spear and I must say I bough and read these and really like the look and concept of the game. My first outing was just before Christmas and I used my Alexandrian Macedonians.

This is not a game review or AAR but a chance to show the figures off the painting table and on the field of battle.  Just so yo know I played against the historical foe, the Persians and the game was a hard fought draw.

Battle Line

Macedonian Pike Phalanx with light foot escort.

The Phalanx

Thracians and slingers on the left wing

Mass cavalry on the right flank, Prodromi, Thessalian Heavies and Companions

War and Empire Comparison Shot

I have been asked to put up a comparison picture of War and Empires' new Roman against Xyston miniatures

The W&E figure is in the middle. On the left is a Xyston Celt and right is a Macedonian pike man.  they are close to the Celt than the Macedonian but would be visiably smaller than Xyston's Republican Roman Range.

For me, with historical armies I like to choose form on producer and try not to mix.  I love Xyston Minatures but I can say that the new West Wind Productions' War and Empire are lovely sculpts, paint very well and they have a vast range.  I am sure they will be a bi hit when they go on general sale.  I was lucky enough to be a pledge on their Kickstarter

Macedonians Continue.....

Some more units for the growing Macedonian army and also some additions that can be used to expand from the Persian Wars to the Successor period.

 First unit are the Hypaspists, these are based as Medium Foot Offensive Spear, for FOG they are the elite foot of the Alexandrian Army.  I also have the figures to do a battlegroup of Heavy Foot as well.

The staple of any Macedonian or Successor army the pike block phalanx.  This is the forth phalanx block i have done

 Cretan/Macedonian bow

 Greek bow

 Greek mercenary Thureophoroi, these are the heavy foot offensive spear (under FOG)

 These are the medium foot version.

It is thought the Greeks developed this troop type after fighting the Romans

Finally the 'wild bunch', mounted and foot Galatians.  These were used as allies or mercenaries for many Successor armies

The Macedonian Army

The pictures below are the figures that I have already painted and are sat in storage at home.  The additions I am painting up now should complete or nearly complete the army.

 Above we have Companions, Prodromoi and Greek light infantry.

The two pictures above show 3 pike blocks, a Greek Mercenary medium hoplite unit and the light infantry again.

Greek/Macedonian Army

Companion

 Ok to face all of those Persians we need the Macedonians or Greeks or both.

Again I have the starting of the army at home and these newly painted units add to them.

The first unit is the elite cavalry arm, the Companions.

Thessalonian Heavy Cavalry

 Greek allies or mercenary cavalry to look after the other flank.

Spartan Hoplites

 These can be used as they are or as allies/mercenaries.  I will be adding the shield decals once I get home, I forgot to bring them!

Spartan Hoplites

Two more battlegroups of Spartans, this bring me a total of 22 elements which will make me 3 battlegroups.

Group Shots

These are the additions to my Persian forces 4 battle groups of cavalry, 2 of light horse, 1 scythe chariot, 1 elephant, 1 of heavy foot, 2 of medium foot and 2 of skirmishers.  Plus 4 casualty markers.

There are also odds and sods that when added to what I have at home make up another 3 battlegroups of cavalry.  

to finish off the entire list I need 1 more elephant and chariot.

I will try and do a whole army shot when home.