Saturday, 10 October 2009

Baboon Troop


This is one of my old Gloranthan units, the Baboon Troop.  They are one of the smaller tribes that roam the plaines of Prax.  

It is composed of the old Citadel 25mm baboons.  I'd really like to redo it sometime, with the newer, larger Lance and Laser baboons...

Friday, 9 October 2009

A few Spartans more...

Thanks for all the visits yesterday! 

Today I'm posting the balance of my Spartan army.  Together with the Tegeans, cavalry and peltasts (shown in earlier posts), I suppose that I have roughly 200 miniatures, the majority of which are Foundry WotGs, superbly painted by Nick Speller.  All the pictures are clickable.


Phalanx 1


Phalanx 2


Ekdromoi (younger Spartans trained to run out of the phalanx to catch enemy peltasts)


Ekdromoi detail


Allied Hoplites (some painted by Andy Bryant, and some by myself)

So what I need, next, is time enough to paint a similar size Theban (or Athenian) army for them to fight.  Ideally I also need a manufacturer of larger 28mm minis to conveniently produce a range of hoplites in Peloponnesian War helmets, such as Pilos and Thracian, to flesh this hypothetical opposing army out!  Ideally with vertical spears, because the figures in the attacking poses are so hard to rank...

Thursday, 8 October 2009

Aventine and Empire Models Elephant Size Comparison

Mithridates on TMP was asking how the Aventine http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/catalog/ and Empire elephants compare sizewise. 

Accordingly, I've bluetacked the Aventine Royal elephant together, sans trunk and tusks.  It is supposed to be rearing, but I've put all 4 feet on the ground for comparison purposes; it is the unpainted model at the front.



From the above view, you'll see that they are both pretty well the same size to the shoulder; roughly 53mm.



The build of the two elephants torsoes is not dissimilar.  The legs and feet are similar sizes.  The Empire body is rather longer, at 58mm to the Aventine's 49mm.

The big difference between the two is in the heads.  The volume of the Empire head is perhaps twice that of the Aventine, largely because is is very much broader, with a bigger forehead and eyes set wider (perhaps rather too wide) apart.  The elephant has a very large helmet and crest on the beast.  I prefer the smaller Aventine head, but can live with the bigger head on the Empire model because it is such an imposing beast overall, with excellently depicted armour.

Broadly speaking, the two elephants would work well together.  I'll be adding Aventine elephants to my Seleucid elephant corp as soon as they can sculpt them, and I can get around to painting them!

30 Spartans!



Mercenary peltasts


Spartan Cavalry

These are older minis from my collection, which I'm gradually photographing for t'blog. They were painted for me around 3 years ago by Nick Speller, and are the principle support troops for my Spartan army, which I hope to photograph en-masse, soon.

All the minis are Foundry World of the Greeks. Nick did a great job on them!


Wednesday, 7 October 2009

Jar-eel the Razoress



 Jar-eel the Razoress is the principle super-hero of the Lunar Empire, and incarnation of the Red Goddess.

Another Gloranthan mini from around 5 years ago, this is a Hordes of the Things "Hero" stand.  Although the painting is not the best, I'm really pleased with the composition of this piece.   Jar-eel was built up on a dolly.

Tuesday, 6 October 2009

Oldie but a Goldie


Over the next few days, I'm going to post a few shots of miniatures from my pre-ancients obsession; Glorantha.  These were some of the first 28mm minis I painted, around 6 years ago, and depict battle mages of the Lunar Empire, summoning Lunes (madness elememtals).  Essentially Gloranthan artillery.  If this inspires you with nostalgia for Runequest, have a look at Greg Privat's site: http://gloarmy.free.fr/

The minis are Eureka cultists with an old, converted Citadel Mage.  They aren't bad (I'd do better today).  I used to use the ghastly Miniature Paints acrylic matt varnish, which gives the minis a slight bluish tint and leaves them a bit glossy.  Unfortunate...

Monday, 5 October 2009

Hellenistic Army Progress

Nick Speller has painted another 32 Thureoporoi for me, which has enabled me to expand my units of Thureophoroi to 24 each. I also show the Galatians here, as they are likely to serve in the same army:-


The Boars (Foundry conversions)


The Bulls (Foundry and Polemarch conversions)


The Macedonians (Crusader)


The Victors (Crusader)


The Ravens (Galatians) (BTD, Foundry, A&A conversions)

What I could do with, now, are a couple of units of Tarentines, some Companions with xyston or maybe javelins and shields, and a whopping great phalanx!