tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187576362024-02-28T22:44:16.705-01:00Spartan Wargames ArmiesRecording the building of a number of Spartan armies: Persian Wars, Peloponnesian and Mercenarylegatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-74239574777360142212011-08-23T20:04:00.003-01:002011-08-23T20:27:52.294-01:00Some more plastic hoplites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0O5Htj0L29jE4H_ibo05OomsrbtT2IE96_oYiP7rYbn5tRmAMTlxnZiBQ-gnuk-C6lPFI94MYScOMaFaAXGjqLil2E06_Hk3g0a8VuPSLNVJtLcWTUcasLo4m-ScCLJPRXo/s1600/IMG_3517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0O5Htj0L29jE4H_ibo05OomsrbtT2IE96_oYiP7rYbn5tRmAMTlxnZiBQ-gnuk-C6lPFI94MYScOMaFaAXGjqLil2E06_Hk3g0a8VuPSLNVJtLcWTUcasLo4m-ScCLJPRXo/s320/IMG_3517.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div closure_uid_imh5g0="147" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em closure_uid_imh5g0="153">The three legged symbol is that of the Alcmaeonid clan</em></span></div><div closure_uid_imh5g0="147" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_imh5g0="146"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_imh5g0="131" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span closure_uid_hmtoww="100" closure_uid_imh5g0="160">I have just finished four more Immortal Miniatures plastic hoplites which, as usual, were pretty easy to paint. I am not entirely convinced by these, mainly due to the fact that the sword scabbards cannot possibly hang down vertically because they get in the way of the shield arm. Someone at Immortal actually claimed that recent research showed that this was the way they were in fact carried.</span> <span closure_uid_imh5g0="151">Hmm. I'm not convinced. Having looked at some examples of warriors on Greek pottery what is more noticeable is that hardly any warriors have swords at all so maybe I am better just to leave them off.</span></span></div><div closure_uid_imh5g0="131" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></div><div closure_uid_imh5g0="131" style="text-align: justify;"><span closure_uid_imh5g0="164" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've got some more from the new late Spartans box under way but I have some issues with those too which I will discuss when I have finished some.</span></div><div closure_uid_imh5g0="117" closure_uid_nv73lc="100"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></div><div closure_uid_imh5g0="117"><div closure_uid_nv73lc="101"><div closure_uid_2964i8="100"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This time my experience of Immortal's shield transfers was somewhat better as I invested in some gloss varnish for the shield surfaces which helped adhesion considerably. I still got some frosting and rough edges however but, on the whole, I think they look nice.</span></div></div></div></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-48459339645466201862010-12-30T19:31:00.000-01:002010-12-30T19:31:38.946-01:00Immortal plastic Hoplite painted<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4k862rdD6N0LDcxsFfacNDoVNQhlA1M6lw7mv-9_Lhoeuxw3_T93kAHJ_RgbQatxQ4dP1jZeybheeC1P8eWLxAbfBgzIdubGDaAo-arazsFZmG5b_omumQd2LGaGs1Iw9a8/s1600/P1040965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4k862rdD6N0LDcxsFfacNDoVNQhlA1M6lw7mv-9_Lhoeuxw3_T93kAHJ_RgbQatxQ4dP1jZeybheeC1P8eWLxAbfBgzIdubGDaAo-arazsFZmG5b_omumQd2LGaGs1Iw9a8/s320/P1040965.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Foundry Greek (left) and Immortal Greek (right)</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I just finished a very quick paint job on one of my Immortal miniatures plastic hoplites. They were pretty quick to paint, except the shield, which took ages due to the fact that the shield transfers only stick to a gloss surface (Airfix decals don't give this problem). On a matt finish, as they dry they just fall off. So I had to paint the shield gloss, apply the transfer, then over-paint with matt to cover some "frosting" which got under the surface of the decal then varnish. A pain, but it looks OK.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbgTG88wlq6-xMDR1RnigywfJ3d2rZfwrzYTux5fbb-UEAENlB00aP0bZiJIc9oFOE3Jk_vz8Iv827XP02xuaUx_UFBtJzNluQcR1A_aIOaLHDUB5FDtpOCamCqL9rfK0w6s/s1600/P1040956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbgTG88wlq6-xMDR1RnigywfJ3d2rZfwrzYTux5fbb-UEAENlB00aP0bZiJIc9oFOE3Jk_vz8Iv827XP02xuaUx_UFBtJzNluQcR1A_aIOaLHDUB5FDtpOCamCqL9rfK0w6s/s320/P1040956.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Foundry (l) Immortal (r)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The interesting thing is that although the proportions (particularly the head size) are different from my Foundry figures they don't look bad together at all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVD_FLZ2XjwvLLXCtpqV4zgzEeU2zFxwNzmFquu_CIfk-UuVty2_bq1u0nzlaROJzSwdpgxinupAh8Lp0KoWUc_uV8NaEj4i7BXmL9l4Uo2mgfxTWshdGLW_MJBKB01trmnF8/s1600/P1040958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVD_FLZ2XjwvLLXCtpqV4zgzEeU2zFxwNzmFquu_CIfk-UuVty2_bq1u0nzlaROJzSwdpgxinupAh8Lp0KoWUc_uV8NaEj4i7BXmL9l4Uo2mgfxTWshdGLW_MJBKB01trmnF8/s320/P1040958.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One thing I learnt is that I need to leave the shield with the arm off until I have painted it! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Immortal have now released a box of Spartan hoplites with pilos helmets but I have dozens of the Foundry ones which come with some great chracter figures so don't know if I want to go over to these. I am also waiting to see what the new Victrix figures will look like. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have some more plastics based up and ready to start. </div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-76536911214656058882010-04-29T05:45:00.007-01:002010-04-29T05:57:17.643-01:00New Immortal plastic hoplites: size comparison<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrc30LnplZBxmoFYDnu_wsBK071nUsIE4eEQErEOo6oU89uX9boOY1duZDG-PIezioherNqxPlHjf5LQwia-XEtqBqPe5znnWXaTo2Y9kWLfM-61HnZ4kIoFtEphyphenhypheneOfx9Hw/s1600/P1020438.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 162px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465448542441203138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrc30LnplZBxmoFYDnu_wsBK071nUsIE4eEQErEOo6oU89uX9boOY1duZDG-PIezioherNqxPlHjf5LQwia-XEtqBqPe5znnWXaTo2Y9kWLfM-61HnZ4kIoFtEphyphenhypheneOfx9Hw/s400/P1020438.JPG" /></a><em> L to R: Artizan/Gorgon, Immortal and Foundry</em></p></div><div align="center"></div><div align="justify">Here are some pictures of a new plastic Immortal hoplite v my normal Artizan/Gorgon and Foundry ones. He is about the same height but much slimmer as he is better proportioned. The heads, especially are <em>much</em> smaller. Until I assembled one I thought they wouldn't work with my existing figures at all but now that I have put one together I have decided I would definitely have no problem putting them in the same army and maybe even in the same unit. Their historical accuracy and utter gorgeousness overwhelms any (slight) reservation I had about size compatability. Quite simply the best 28mm Ancient Greeks ever made.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibgXctpB1pfaBn5gqLIHnQlQVem9nIvGikov8tZXWOSOEpMvDu68vpbTe-9qjzyde1rnCztwDaKZV2-rTIO_ems3InsUTwg3KlvMOQXAOkjG1hAybfUOGkywgw528_Wnbphw/s1600/P1020439.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465448871966613010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibgXctpB1pfaBn5gqLIHnQlQVem9nIvGikov8tZXWOSOEpMvDu68vpbTe-9qjzyde1rnCztwDaKZV2-rTIO_ems3InsUTwg3KlvMOQXAOkjG1hAybfUOGkywgw528_Wnbphw/s400/P1020439.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPjs44e2rSDRvVG0qR5F1dT8yCm2nPHk5LYVGfLngieLqw7WnwJ0u1IUsyLsMKc5HMUjQJKymFnuOx95cgnnl3Oz0_YWvOe96m0aPARncWCKGct-aSPuykrpXkOVR9PTiUJY/s1600/P1020444.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465449191952396946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPjs44e2rSDRvVG0qR5F1dT8yCm2nPHk5LYVGfLngieLqw7WnwJ0u1IUsyLsMKc5HMUjQJKymFnuOx95cgnnl3Oz0_YWvOe96m0aPARncWCKGct-aSPuykrpXkOVR9PTiUJY/s400/P1020444.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxTD0icaj66UBXS-31-rwPppk7xBm-GarUhmElBxklkskDjMN_Law76HDBMT-tTMEaN1CL4dnWYVJGCLp7dMVo7XpJHe811iqCsBkHdIy-nVaTpK6VH2bQPBoHtl1QsXYQRw/s1600/P1020442.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465449019061248514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxTD0icaj66UBXS-31-rwPppk7xBm-GarUhmElBxklkskDjMN_Law76HDBMT-tTMEaN1CL4dnWYVJGCLp7dMVo7XpJHe811iqCsBkHdIy-nVaTpK6VH2bQPBoHtl1QsXYQRw/s400/P1020442.JPG" /></a><br /><p align="center"><em>You can clearly see the head size difference here</em></p>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-38761763377278413872010-03-31T15:49:00.006-01:002010-03-31T16:10:52.353-01:00A couple more Spartans...and more on the way.<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdNAUP5xq16eqUFq1lYupickwy9cNRFKTv84X4HNzC_4R3y9NZs8I9sfTSGbxFyTQ7HM29-gsSVaY6OnVPr96Ji-Px-XvmB1I4Zh1ytPo58_A16ox9UisnUI0MPbbIgz74pQ/s1600/P1020285.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 337px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454843739043230466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdNAUP5xq16eqUFq1lYupickwy9cNRFKTv84X4HNzC_4R3y9NZs8I9sfTSGbxFyTQ7HM29-gsSVaY6OnVPr96Ji-Px-XvmB1I4Zh1ytPo58_A16ox9UisnUI0MPbbIgz74pQ/s400/P1020285.jpg" /></a><em> No more hand painted shield designs after these!</em></p><p align="justify"><br />I've been desperately trying to clear my workbench of half finished figures and these two Spartans were lurking at the back so I decided to finish them off. I enjoyed painting them so much that I have started another six to form the basis of my second classical Spartan unit. </p><p><br /></p><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvniNAVc9GHaAqytz5Bbq0FJAMF4LZHRL8BvU_FNx1jCSF4pUE27PzTuZW43fbQxWE6euHdd-jgByIgib_zrmCNqzpCiT0JhpPnY4KG-2wW-egse5WEKt1K-qCdp0LYPR46c/s1600/P1020290.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454843913045414690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvniNAVc9GHaAqytz5Bbq0FJAMF4LZHRL8BvU_FNx1jCSF4pUE27PzTuZW43fbQxWE6euHdd-jgByIgib_zrmCNqzpCiT0JhpPnY4KG-2wW-egse5WEKt1K-qCdp0LYPR46c/s400/P1020290.jpg" /></a><br />For the first unit of knights I kept their hoplons bronze and painted motifs on the metal. For the second unit, who are slightly lower status, I will be using coloured backgrounds. For these two I had to paint the motifs but everything should be much easier now I have taken delivery of a sheet of Immortal Miniatures new waterslide shield transfers. </p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBat9doLubj92C-E8rvV7U0OYVuPUVIAcCD73KlZu-5cIXTXTwic20TOfI7yYz2n5KTX_3jBIoK9kp_7KlkG-cBlRW9iyewxxURnooI6R5h-pULI5Q6vPwRJL_1y2m5kHe_o0/s1600/wp69ded9fe.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454844143135405186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBat9doLubj92C-E8rvV7U0OYVuPUVIAcCD73KlZu-5cIXTXTwic20TOfI7yYz2n5KTX_3jBIoK9kp_7KlkG-cBlRW9iyewxxURnooI6R5h-pULI5Q6vPwRJL_1y2m5kHe_o0/s400/wp69ded9fe.jpg" /></a><em> Brilliant idea!</em></p><p align="justify">Hoplons are a problem for the LBM type of transfer as the curvature can cause problems but having waterslide transfers should make this a lot easier. I hope to try some out over Easter.</p><p>I am also looking forward to seeing Immortals new plastic Hoplites, which they are intending to have ready for Salute next month (not long now!).<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHwvlvg_G4KoP47v3dvwu6GIfIhuksVJc4sfTLRZZXi3DecoXTuMC3vma3fdOh8xJzjQcdef9a2RXMmJvvw2yZaz0DxLxFgehTE5PwLF83u5jkdVoYIIna9Aawnd3ByvvqqI/s1600/wpca30bb40.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454844303571635426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHwvlvg_G4KoP47v3dvwu6GIfIhuksVJc4sfTLRZZXi3DecoXTuMC3vma3fdOh8xJzjQcdef9a2RXMmJvvw2yZaz0DxLxFgehTE5PwLF83u5jkdVoYIIna9Aawnd3ByvvqqI/s400/wpca30bb40.jpg" /></a></p><p align="justify"> </p><p align="justify">I suspect they will be considearbly smaller than the Aritzan/Gorgon Spartans but you never know; they have said they will be bigger than their metals. I have some of their metal Persians and they are quite slight, so we shall see. I may have to take a Saleh Spartan with me in my pocket to compare them. Almost the best thing about them are the accurately modelled spears. Currently, I use the Gripping Beast cast spears and carve a rudimentary butt spike on the end. I'd love to just buy a sprue of spears but I don't expect it will work like that!</p>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-88973655540351881862009-05-17T13:41:00.004-01:002009-05-17T13:49:28.442-01:00Return of the Spartans: Gorgon Studios<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18OSbIm80blNl_-EoagQJzl45CFgUDjqFfVzDOZw2tW2eEDEeghR15bloZqRft-j1UM3nEpR5nku8T7Jr6_wBkIPO3I8G86UUMP19XpVhY1VKviXyygS4DsH3zGirIGY8DXA/s1600-h/Gorgo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336804798513440290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18OSbIm80blNl_-EoagQJzl45CFgUDjqFfVzDOZw2tW2eEDEeghR15bloZqRft-j1UM3nEpR5nku8T7Jr6_wBkIPO3I8G86UUMP19XpVhY1VKviXyygS4DsH3zGirIGY8DXA/s400/Gorgo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Recently the Steve Saleh sculpted classical Spartans have disappeared from the Artizan Website. I searched on the Artizan Yahoo group and apparently Steve has taken the figures to his new venture which will be launching soon.<br /><br />Yesterday I received a note from Gorgon Studios which is the new venture concerned (launching imminently but they already have a website <a href="http://www.gorgon-studios.com/">http://www.gorgon-studios.com/</a> ). Hooray the figures will be back shortly (although it appears that Gorgon are US based so I hope they get a UK agent soon). There is also an announcement about a new range of Etruscans from Saleh from them. Hooray, again! Steve is my favourite Ancients sculptor and to see a new firm letting him concentrate on these is very good news indeed. </div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-58542018252764121252008-10-30T10:06:00.003-01:002008-10-30T10:13:17.212-01:00Crusader Thracians<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-_ni28bQkk75cfEeFOvsKtxVjb39ySPloNDPOqUe5Ho8X_uP4rJXqQB7RhUYKBgYff2DzU9inbXhSABvu8O_P45oToxt3NwYpZrclSSIv0M1IcJ5nUu1Pt0yMUEZHjWJzUc/s1600-h/img519.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262903283955017874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-_ni28bQkk75cfEeFOvsKtxVjb39ySPloNDPOqUe5Ho8X_uP4rJXqQB7RhUYKBgYff2DzU9inbXhSABvu8O_P45oToxt3NwYpZrclSSIv0M1IcJ5nUu1Pt0yMUEZHjWJzUc/s400/img519.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I've always been keen on fielding a Thracian Army against my Spartans as it would be more interesting than a hoplite v hoplite encounter. I bought a Foundry deal a few years ago and painted a number of figures for the Society of Ancients Cynoscephalae battle day. However, the Foundry Thracians were, crucially, missing skirmishers (archers in particular). Now however, Crusader miniatres have come to the rescue with some lovely new Thracians sculpted in a very similar style to Steve Saleh. I have put in a pre-order for these as they look perfect.</div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-3218762924018969532008-08-31T19:14:00.005-01:002008-08-31T19:59:51.545-01:00Another file of knights<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6t6pwAc-quCVV3aee1NE1KpwY0Lf5AfYs71561S9_9RLhHZwMNfYMiH3qJekkP6DNwXaKyMr2tn1XHzbpBpZgxWOuuVGI1ImayH5I-QSh9ZDlbkZ6sMNIVcC-NSanl0hSkc/s1600-h/spartan+file.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240788887074773698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6t6pwAc-quCVV3aee1NE1KpwY0Lf5AfYs71561S9_9RLhHZwMNfYMiH3qJekkP6DNwXaKyMr2tn1XHzbpBpZgxWOuuVGI1ImayH5I-QSh9ZDlbkZ6sMNIVcC-NSanl0hSkc/s400/spartan+file.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">During my holiday I managed to paint another file of Spartan knights to complete my first phalanx. This takes the unit up to 20 figures and a hefty 550 points: much better for wargaming purposes.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQAiIJZtFaq6iJEdm7clNH9ahDw0MTbfXnJcy2lE33jdHIgPH9E1Hu_FscSZv0MJSXprbJ3uIJywsx1BaqKjSmYTirLdMdaKyTN11mX8hbvy1X2YmASSuic2r2gcaMEqIMfw/s1600-h/spartan+phalanx+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240789010915892338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQAiIJZtFaq6iJEdm7clNH9ahDw0MTbfXnJcy2lE33jdHIgPH9E1Hu_FscSZv0MJSXprbJ3uIJywsx1BaqKjSmYTirLdMdaKyTN11mX8hbvy1X2YmASSuic2r2gcaMEqIMfw/s400/spartan+phalanx+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I have bought some light troops and will do those next, along with starting the next unit of hoplites. I also need to start work on Leonidas.</div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-11866645174703654532008-07-06T20:02:00.007-01:002008-07-22T09:30:52.480-01:00First unit of Spartan Knights completed..sort of.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqheZruKqInSFdUN8A90idZj4IKhErfpo1KLSHfCDbLZUfnfrnKhzrtfTx5YL7TvRBYoBaeirVzfkbn7uO155d_jh9lEjjuuTvvg58GLtjxcVEZhCvFqRXD-qbToKt4D8d64/s1600-h/phalanx+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220012457097727618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqheZruKqInSFdUN8A90idZj4IKhErfpo1KLSHfCDbLZUfnfrnKhzrtfTx5YL7TvRBYoBaeirVzfkbn7uO155d_jh9lEjjuuTvvg58GLtjxcVEZhCvFqRXD-qbToKt4D8d64/s400/phalanx+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Well, encouraged by the fact that we have a new recruit at Guildford who is interested in Classical Greek wargaming in 28mm for WAB, I have finished the figures I needed to complete my first unit of classical period Spartan hoplites.<br /></div><div align="justify">Here they are all, 16 of them!</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR-0QUSghocRGWvd3XSgz5fPPMiQooim0lYwhKHxFkZ8j-oQ23Fz2rwAS8ZDuRD6PjXCm4Bspr1RHY6lkFdMFsXG6K9vGmkLsgybTGi_fYkFBT-XucXXUXOxl45ePXt6NfOM/s1600-h/phalanx+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220012543696086978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR-0QUSghocRGWvd3XSgz5fPPMiQooim0lYwhKHxFkZ8j-oQ23Fz2rwAS8ZDuRD6PjXCm4Bspr1RHY6lkFdMFsXG6K9vGmkLsgybTGi_fYkFBT-XucXXUXOxl45ePXt6NfOM/s400/phalanx+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p></p><br /><div align="justify">They are a very small unit of 16 men, so one casualty would destroy their phalanx ability straight away. I probably need to make them 2o at least but for the Thermopylae scenario I am looking at that would probably be too many, but 16 isn't really viable in WAB. Or is it? If I use the sacred band rule, which would be appropriate for Leonidas' bodyguard then they become immune to psychology and never break. I think I may test this out in the next few weeks by pitting them against a bigger unit of Peltasts, standing in for Persians and see how they do.</div><p></p><br /><div align="justify">A Spartan Hoplite sacred band member is an astonishing 27 points so this unit is 442 points! So they better hold!</div><div align="justify"><p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I have now started work on two more figures who may make another file to bring them up to 20. I may now also paint my Leonidas figure and move the officer to the second unit.</div><p></p>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-89345571657928740652008-05-21T09:14:00.004-01:002008-05-21T10:27:41.011-01:00Spartan Musician and later Spartan Hoplites.<div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjQ_j0T8AQ78PBUr39qVU680xVyUYyiauec1sa8beJU2H4a1r-3R_gN_JxEGqP8lW-miEwqe4EMJaPwQvrbUDfBCzuPnq2YZiZietge_6xJjg7qX0ghQOUKwjXUAwtis-vL4/s1600-h/later+spartans.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202772763342841826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjQ_j0T8AQ78PBUr39qVU680xVyUYyiauec1sa8beJU2H4a1r-3R_gN_JxEGqP8lW-miEwqe4EMJaPwQvrbUDfBCzuPnq2YZiZietge_6xJjg7qX0ghQOUKwjXUAwtis-vL4/s400/later+spartans.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I recently bought the new <em>Artizan</em> Spartan musicians and high command set. The two musicians included are a pipe and a trumpet player. I painted the pipe player and he can be used in any period Spartan army. </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaXwKJNa6GfX8nygKe3Se0famCa-8b49DjSLfJH9feCbWXVWAeYJ45KqoPP_v_laOylvyvrq3466DQvDCKP37fLLg3ee27CJ0QfIwmbg2GYCYAm9srySNnamwQyMKBta4sag/s1600-h/Aulos+player.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202789917442222066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaXwKJNa6GfX8nygKe3Se0famCa-8b49DjSLfJH9feCbWXVWAeYJ45KqoPP_v_laOylvyvrq3466DQvDCKP37fLLg3ee27CJ0QfIwmbg2GYCYAm9srySNnamwQyMKBta4sag/s400/Aulos+player.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">This sort of Greek Pipe is called an <em>Aulos</em> and is not a double ended instrument but rather two auloi played at the same time. It was a simple double reed instrument (like an oboe) and had only five holes. It came in a variety of sizes from quite small (<em>parthenios</em>-maiden type) to large (<em>hyperteleios</em> -extra complete). Auloi players (and certainly the Artizan one) are often depicted wearing a <em>phorbeia</em>, a cloth or leather bandage worn around the mouth which contained two holes to help keep the instruments in place. It was Thucydides who noted that the Spartans marched into battle to the tune of the aulos. It is theorised, not unreasonably, that the aulos players formed a separate unit behind the Hoplite phalanxes but the Warhammer rules require you to put your musician in the unit so in he will go.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I also finished another two later Spartans to go with the General and other hoplite I painted some time ago. With their<em> pilos </em>helmets and <em>lambda</em> devices on their shields they are from a later period than the Artizan Spartans. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">There has been much argument over the level of armour that hoplites wore in the Peloponnesian Wars. In the Nicolas Sekunda Osprey he argued (and the illustrations reflect) that by this period, and the later Xenophon period of the 10,000, armour had fallen from use. Others do not agree, however. For my armies I have to take a view on this. It was interesting to hear Phil Sabin say, at last years SOA battle day, that wargamers often had to think about things like this and make choices in a way historians don't. My feeling is that although the nature of Hoplite fighting changed, with looser and more flexible formations needed because of the increase in importance of lighter troops on the battlefield, people would still wear armour. Maybe too, armour would not be worn in battle if the terrain was unsuitable. Classical Greek battles tended to take place on pre-agreed flat terrain. However, if you were up in the mountains of Thrace trying to beat off ambushing tribesemen with one of Xenophon's mercenary units you might discard your armour in favour of better manoeuvreability. I am going to go for a mix of armoured and unarmoured units for the later period, therefore. </div><br /><div align="justify">The figures from this particular Foundry pack are odd in a number of ways: </div><br /><div align="justify">Firstly, unlike the Artizan figures, they are fully bearded but with mustaches. Under the laws of Lykurgus Spartans were banned from having mustaches. On the latter two figures a bit of judicious filing has dealt with this problem (oddly the Foundry general is correctly bearded and with no mustache).</div><br /><div align="justify">Secondly, the Foundry shields are a bit small, certainly smaller than the Artizan ones. Although I am using bigger shields for the Foundry non-Spartan Greeks (taken from an Argonauts deal I bought a few years ago with the sheep's head filed off) I decided to leave these as some of the chracters have non-separate shields.</div><br /><div align="justify">Thirdly, the hand positions mean that when you glue the spears on the spear is, oddly, always in contact with the head. Maybe this is designed to offer another attachment point.</div><br /><div align="justify">Finally, the figures' breastplates appear to be for bronze armour, they are not the squared off linothorox form you find on the Artizan figures. I suspect that bronze breastplates with pilos helmets really would have been anachronistic (although I painted my first figure in this way as that is the way the figures on the Foundry website are painted). For the most recent two I simply painted on the lines of a linothorax. I didn't bother to fill the line on the casting meant to represent the join between the front and back of the bronze breastplate but maybe I will on future figures. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Anyway, now I have a front rank for my later Spartan force and can finish my first unit of Classical Thermopylae period Spartans (the final figures are underway).</div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-16165417107636760962008-03-17T05:38:00.003-01:002008-03-17T05:45:23.380-01:00New Thermopylae blog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0kHH0RCd6-wNri6UVtsia82bCrOyEhCTOUhcEfF7K39sVaG5gEJdw3HwSvAfWrAcoZzMsx53SyO_ByV6q2lQa6__-bBTlxUVaN0mldfrCFTzJqX0YRqml7SkC54vSDWC6Ao/s1600-h/thermopylae+blog.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178597409392658114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0kHH0RCd6-wNri6UVtsia82bCrOyEhCTOUhcEfF7K39sVaG5gEJdw3HwSvAfWrAcoZzMsx53SyO_ByV6q2lQa6__-bBTlxUVaN0mldfrCFTzJqX0YRqml7SkC54vSDWC6Ao/s400/thermopylae+blog.JPG" border="0" /></a><em></em><br /><em></em><br /><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>Quadratus</em> from <em>The Miniatures Page</em> has started a blog about a project to re-create Thermoplyae with some schoolchildren. A great idea to get them interested in learning about the real story behind the film <em>300.</em> It looks like a very interesting project which I will follow closely.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://300revisited.blogspot.com/">http://300revisited.blogspot.com/</a>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-22388394735794833472007-11-25T23:03:00.000-01:002007-11-25T23:12:20.746-01:00Three more Spartan knights<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_g1Yyw0UBTc9gTWLY3isI9pjWpK6sQt5ZSFOt7VWnsxGKPOT-wBqYGtN7T_Ksu_fE40gApzmHt1Qy3H2tKTozOdedk2kmS7AM1bab8RYLbXGc9BUsSpinttqHUSgawGoB_s/s1600-h/DSCN2639.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136933630387104386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_g1Yyw0UBTc9gTWLY3isI9pjWpK6sQt5ZSFOt7VWnsxGKPOT-wBqYGtN7T_Ksu_fE40gApzmHt1Qy3H2tKTozOdedk2kmS7AM1bab8RYLbXGc9BUsSpinttqHUSgawGoB_s/s400/DSCN2639.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">I finished another three Spartan hoplies today so now I have 12 for my first unit. I'm looking at a unit of 20 I think so I will order some more once I have painted the last five I have. Then I think I will order some light infantry to go with them. I'm not short of Greek light infantry but the Artizan ones look particularly nice. I just wish that they would release a musician as I can't finish the unit without one.</span></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-33468810339057231752007-11-20T11:57:00.000-01:002007-11-25T23:14:14.738-01:00Gates of Fire<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwr-5rjJ2ZioPmDbd4qzo_NCKDBAgDm_UibRIMj8NYd3vnBrKn41QsvO5j3zG99kyJkIhVbp6IaSJ-Cde6OM2CFZ6Li4UvYuj7R1lbCYOcWFK9QsUa31teScUvnsTiStfnjk/s1600-h/51R1335GKWL__SS500_.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134912959943485938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwr-5rjJ2ZioPmDbd4qzo_NCKDBAgDm_UibRIMj8NYd3vnBrKn41QsvO5j3zG99kyJkIhVbp6IaSJ-Cde6OM2CFZ6Li4UvYuj7R1lbCYOcWFK9QsUa31teScUvnsTiStfnjk/s400/51R1335GKWL__SS500_.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">I am about half way through Steven Pressfield's <em>Gates of Fire</em> which I picked up very cheap in Los Angeles last month. Oddly, I hadn't read this before because I read a couple of reviews that indicated that it's structure (with a lot of flashbacks) made it a difficult read. There was an implication that it was <em>literature </em>and rather indegestible by the casual reader. This is patently nonsense, as I am discovering. It is a well written historical novel, a grade or two above Bernard Cornwell but not in the same league as Patrick O'Brian or even Allan Mallinson. For some reason the many discourses about courage and the nature of war remind me of Heinlen's Starship Troopers.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Whatever, after a rather slow start, I am now in the first day at Thermopylae and it is just tremedous at depicting the battle. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">So, suitably inspired, I have got a nother trio of Artizan Spartans ready to go. I do wish they would issue the other packs, though, as I need a musician for my first unit.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">I also picked up a copy of the new Osprey on Thermopylae today so need to have a look at that. The only comment I would make at present is the very garish nature of the art. Whether this is down to the original artwork or the printing I don't know. It just shows how much Angus McBride is sorely missed.</span></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-50604259406558087552007-10-17T07:44:00.000-01:002007-10-17T07:49:59.254-01:00New Osprey on Thermopylae<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQvipTY78j9oZubjKM95S-NwA2CPAk3XcBYV9kI5WUGWN0-VZBrH_1Vx2jhNCmPqghCUiDcEoEJ8uMwKDnna3Oj5B6dGzJTQXB0s_crjbrl1wyrD4mDY3s75-RxlI3KrEBQI/s1600-h/Osprey+Thermopylae.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122224837531936370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQvipTY78j9oZubjKM95S-NwA2CPAk3XcBYV9kI5WUGWN0-VZBrH_1Vx2jhNCmPqghCUiDcEoEJ8uMwKDnna3Oj5B6dGzJTQXB0s_crjbrl1wyrD4mDY3s75-RxlI3KrEBQI/s400/Osprey+Thermopylae.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_l51krI4YehrFg2UTuYnCrkHJ8hM7-Vu0Pt5-648Zug-D-lrQPvxWbX7Eb9uuuL8b1O0rw7NJSnYkyjY6mb65NHCefF6sS81W8mHvSU03FFbFaqwS0KwYfFyr7POQ6nAjjqM/s1600-h/Osprey+Thermopylae.JPG"></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I got my forthcoming publications catalogue from Osprey yesterday and there is a new book on Thermopylae coming out in November! Excellent! This will keep me focussed!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S180X">http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S180X</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Wish I knew how to paint that nice chequered effect on the helmet crests!</span></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-43005420293113792302007-10-16T19:50:00.000-01:002007-10-17T11:38:40.843-01:00More Spartans<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6A69fs5Tdu5xjZMNnuDoYYlmkX_DbeVvZqXnB0KS9Ajqs4V2ogAC_aiX6YzZlbH6RyNdr3TOoy2c-NiyohdYAI3EkBBVcr3ehRgKlG0W66V-1S6THoCq8yfc1XnmLV-3nn8/s1600-h/spartans+underarm+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122045612841641538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6A69fs5Tdu5xjZMNnuDoYYlmkX_DbeVvZqXnB0KS9Ajqs4V2ogAC_aiX6YzZlbH6RyNdr3TOoy2c-NiyohdYAI3EkBBVcr3ehRgKlG0W66V-1S6THoCq8yfc1XnmLV-3nn8/s400/spartans+underarm+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I've just finished another three<em> Artizan</em> Spartans. These are the four from pack SPA002: spearmen underarm. They work well as ranks behind the overarm poses. I have carried on painting the shield blazons but switched to red for what's supposed to be a boar, a crab and a galley. Quite tempted to do the man who had a life sized fly painted on his shield!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3-tbCer9fbh0wv_rsxa5MNdm5wrkN618dGlhNxdKb6_IJSrFDbi-Y1-s2PKicGZEvA3H6sAER6bKv_jea9SeJ1yVrSAh6axFSvZAidjXVvNiXuFMFZbS_3EnltSft9jD6Rw/s1600-h/spartan+classical+army+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122046012273600082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3-tbCer9fbh0wv_rsxa5MNdm5wrkN618dGlhNxdKb6_IJSrFDbi-Y1-s2PKicGZEvA3H6sAER6bKv_jea9SeJ1yVrSAh6axFSvZAidjXVvNiXuFMFZbS_3EnltSft9jD6Rw/s400/spartan+classical+army+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">I have now painted one each of the eight hoplite poses available (there are two of each pose per pack). Armoured Spartan <em>hippeis </em>(equivalent of Sacred Band) hoplites are a staggering 29 points each in WAB. So the points value of the 9 I have painted (with the officer) is 266! If you include the army general, which you are supposed to do in the key guard unit, you can add another 157 points to that. Over 400 points for 10 figures!</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">I've easily got enough Spartans to finish a unit of 16 but a unit of 20 would be nicer. Just think how many Persians I'd have to paint to balance them out, though. Maybe it's time to do a few generic City State hoplites to oppose them or be allies!</span></div></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-74528160969645463902007-10-14T19:40:00.000-01:002007-10-31T22:33:32.367-01:00Another Spartan Officer<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9QceqEM6DC8EMgFtKk8ptimw_1IEUuFOsOK-9OSbjw2VPYX-8nMFxNY7Q1D3X9eHSkhgomkGRJq4hn0uIC1e6WhckQVenr-cQWJC4ZDCawlVoYnNx0s59Qzz00ndStfg1qM/s1600-h/spartan+general+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121298498985534962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9QceqEM6DC8EMgFtKk8ptimw_1IEUuFOsOK-9OSbjw2VPYX-8nMFxNY7Q1D3X9eHSkhgomkGRJq4hn0uIC1e6WhckQVenr-cQWJC4ZDCawlVoYnNx0s59Qzz00ndStfg1qM/s400/spartan+general+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">I've finished another Spartan officer and this picture gives a better idea of the new Vallejo Bronze colour I am using instead of the Games Workshop Golds. It is much closer to the ancient bronze weapons I have seen in museums.</span> </div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-17304924773804211672007-09-24T19:31:00.001-01:002007-09-24T19:42:39.831-01:00New bronze Hoplite<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6NBsiwLNDbCPEaPJkbgYztKBBlf4ePPr532IQMw6zWP67omLjWRgOompD6M0CB9_l6Nco7fWsLIjpOMhNrGN8MWXKibfXKMCy_y9WP5EI2sXhMyXy8pLAWSKJUE3GPuaTKw/s1600-h/new+bronze+comp+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113873707416560658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6NBsiwLNDbCPEaPJkbgYztKBBlf4ePPr532IQMw6zWP67omLjWRgOompD6M0CB9_l6Nco7fWsLIjpOMhNrGN8MWXKibfXKMCy_y9WP5EI2sXhMyXy8pLAWSKJUE3GPuaTKw/s400/new+bronze+comp+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TpLbevWcwpF2DXQpM66ImWku_JLNaxlrHYhUlt4PDtOWGeSD-FkCYO4Cuxhh7ur9LHCeF1Zd5df3PEGDxD1KhzfkY5QBz-qg7EmBt1jL0mQ3KYJc2ZetHMKWv4Ghis8H3hc/s1600-h/new+bronze+hoplite+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113871920710165506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TpLbevWcwpF2DXQpM66ImWku_JLNaxlrHYhUlt4PDtOWGeSD-FkCYO4Cuxhh7ur9LHCeF1Zd5df3PEGDxD1KhzfkY5QBz-qg7EmBt1jL0mQ3KYJc2ZetHMKWv4Ghis8H3hc/s400/new+bronze+hoplite+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV47dtNrWfkWedkgbbynC5TUwzF_1WOx2NOeEaDJMmU3abZXq2Xn9_7HAa-LtjI1vtBShijdpF1ckgHqj8Jecos8ySyRyJ9hZpOUPBFY8Pi7MEI4jJNXcqxlAG1zyBoFtHbVk/s1600-h/new+bronze+hoplite+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113871834810819570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV47dtNrWfkWedkgbbynC5TUwzF_1WOx2NOeEaDJMmU3abZXq2Xn9_7HAa-LtjI1vtBShijdpF1ckgHqj8Jecos8ySyRyJ9hZpOUPBFY8Pi7MEI4jJNXcqxlAG1zyBoFtHbVk/s400/new+bronze+hoplite+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Dashed off another Spartan hoplite but I used a new colour for the bronze work. This is Vallejo model colour Bronze 70998. It is a much browner looking colour than the Games Workshop gold colours I have been using so far. In the comparison photo the new colour is the one on the right. You can't tell in these pictures because of the flash but it certainly looks much better. I will be repainting my existing figures with this duller colour.</div></div></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-90118323691173584032007-09-09T19:30:00.000-01:002007-09-09T20:26:20.607-01:00WAB Thermopylae Scenario in Wargaming Soldiers and Strategy<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wbYxhlT-b1E7n2q6Whljgnc44w1wMTEPGd7W-h3D-e8HyqvsyELDxdltdV_XEjzyWN_GjEZJiURfKxxn9BvqJkkfHyofDybacgSQoS5ufgfOKBRZoRJmu64oRKN-aZlh0RQ/s1600-h/wss+cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108317149591180242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wbYxhlT-b1E7n2q6Whljgnc44w1wMTEPGd7W-h3D-e8HyqvsyELDxdltdV_XEjzyWN_GjEZJiURfKxxn9BvqJkkfHyofDybacgSQoS5ufgfOKBRZoRJmu64oRKN-aZlh0RQ/s400/wss+cover.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">WSS is a magazine I can only get intermittently as they only seem to sell it at the larger branches of WH Smith. I picked up the September issue today and it has a WAB scenario for Thermopylae in it.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">The good news is that you only need 1000 points of Spartans: which totals Leonidas, 20 Spartan bodyguard, 21 Thespian hoplites and 9 peltasts. Hooray only 51 figures! I've already got 15 of them done! Actually these proportions are rather puzzling. If you take the figures in the accompanying article of 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians and 900 <em>Pereoeci </em>then I would make up the 1000 points as follows.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Leonidas 185 points</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">12 Spartan Hoplites with light armour 293 points<br />24 Thesbian Hoplites with light armour 293 points</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">33 light infantry 231 points</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">That makes the proportions better but pushes the number of figures up to 70. But because I painted so many light infantry for Cynoscephalea I would then have 39 figures of the force painted. Perhaps a 12 man unit (even of Spartans) would just not hold. You would also not get the full rank bonus. Some experimentation would be needed. No wonder Thermopylae is considered so hard to game satisfactorily! Anyway, it has encouraged me to finish my unit of Spartans so I can test them out against a larger force made up of peltasts (standing in for Persians) to see what happens.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Then the bad news: 2000 points of Persians. That's 221 figures! Unlike Greek light infantry Persians had all those ornate tunics so they will take ages to paint. There is a "hordes" option where you only need 1000 points and keep recycling broken units. 110 figures seems a bit more achievable. At least Persians can be used for other conflicts, such as against Macedonians.</span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEWbwHGHO9Qhy3WKVaEPqO979Zld1iBGl_67zm4StE3dUXspdTfHpRxjLctxARK4mLF_NVv4xrPZnnj6hyoB1UYfT75A2dEa3S4kg-Mgopq2pNX4PKPqfOnDMpgS81ue4tMs/s1600-h/wss+thermopylae.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108317304210002914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEWbwHGHO9Qhy3WKVaEPqO979Zld1iBGl_67zm4StE3dUXspdTfHpRxjLctxARK4mLF_NVv4xrPZnnj6hyoB1UYfT75A2dEa3S4kg-Mgopq2pNX4PKPqfOnDMpgS81ue4tMs/s400/wss+thermopylae.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I don't know if Steve Saleh is planning to do any Persians for Artizan (there have been comments to that effect). Otherwise, I bought some Vendel figures and they seem pretty compatible. Perhaps I will paint one or two to see how they come out. </span></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-63926581727687889262007-07-26T20:29:00.000-01:002007-07-26T20:32:35.919-01:00First Athenian<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0Ca8KgRTAJvignFSAeFjAyPXrYf_pYwBXYUuGc65AZsMmhf84SraRcDdMDF7M8SJJF3CeXD1u-O2iYdlOSzy7cyVu31HoJsOxMXrvj8oo85D8sqaydJF1gkG_dXvMMD6XkQ/s1600-h/DSCN1917.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091621318905655698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0Ca8KgRTAJvignFSAeFjAyPXrYf_pYwBXYUuGc65AZsMmhf84SraRcDdMDF7M8SJJF3CeXD1u-O2iYdlOSzy7cyVu31HoJsOxMXrvj8oo85D8sqaydJF1gkG_dXvMMD6XkQ/s400/DSCN1917.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">I started this figure about two years ago and then gave up on it so it is nice to have finished it now. This is my first Athenian (or any other city state) hoplite and is one of the Foundry ones. I probably shouldn't have painted him with a red tunic as he looks rather similar to the Spartans. Blue for the next one I think.</span></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-47979418933075221272007-07-26T20:09:00.000-01:002007-07-26T20:38:44.331-01:00Spartan Unit Officer<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrxCg_jqPUZIBaMc9hBwabOAuehZyf6iemduGUFYtjqHMECc0n3N8KRVWz_gY1KQ5hKCFkOGzXBK_43yesNbnkTJesk44nXkpH5S-AecuBf5R4yyinQS8byKcnlM9lgPuw7w/s1600-h/DSCN1915.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091618724745408898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrxCg_jqPUZIBaMc9hBwabOAuehZyf6iemduGUFYtjqHMECc0n3N8KRVWz_gY1KQ5hKCFkOGzXBK_43yesNbnkTJesk44nXkpH5S-AecuBf5R4yyinQS8byKcnlM9lgPuw7w/s400/DSCN1915.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I have painted an officer to go with the first four hoplites. He is armed with a sword rather than a spear as he would have been in the phalanx but it's as good a way to distinguish officers as any. The sword is rather over-large and even after some filing is still out of scale but I suppose it will look alright in a unit. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I am now waiting for the next Spartans release from Artizan as that will provide some musicians; although it is annoying that they are going to package those with King Leonidas. There will be an awful of lot of Leonidas on eBay, I suspect. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf12-ByOHcKpH6MCgH9KPsNiN01I4DbwasNt6BKkpRzfnV22___uym4bCoxWgX7rOKwuSEoUje1Vplqve9hiv8ucWYJ5VcNU7Cj7LDvRnQOG2wYJhatIL44v4yHjlweVzt0X4/s1600-h/Bettany%2520Hughes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091618458457436530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf12-ByOHcKpH6MCgH9KPsNiN01I4DbwasNt6BKkpRzfnV22___uym4bCoxWgX7rOKwuSEoUje1Vplqve9hiv8ucWYJ5VcNU7Cj7LDvRnQOG2wYJhatIL44v4yHjlweVzt0X4/s400/Bettany%2520Hughes.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Bettany Hughes: would look nice in a peplos</span></em></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">I have just picked up the Bettany Hughes fronted series <em>The Spartans</em> which was written by Paul Cartledge whose new book on Thermopylae I have also just purchased. Hopefully this will keep me engaged enough to keep painting them. If Bettany Hughes can't, nothing can! Bettany's recitation in Ancient Greek of the famous inscription on the monument at Thermopylae ("Go, tell the Spartans..") was one of the sexiest moments ever in history TV!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Bettany decribes racy Spartan women:</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpXeWBDcOGo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpXeWBDcOGo</a></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-13916170056910836472007-06-28T07:23:00.000-01:002007-06-28T07:39:57.075-01:00First Four Hoplites<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-v8t0XdVQz4l56XxPtVd5Iqb55G5xISgwL70O97YavtpCBj1NQnABjPrITfjqJAdZhRsh4yZpLXGUkPZWlJc88XDlqjveBkCwQG5dHThNhocifYGPwsiHhrb3WjLaHXXSvr0/s1600-h/DSCN1880.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081031927460121554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-v8t0XdVQz4l56XxPtVd5Iqb55G5xISgwL70O97YavtpCBj1NQnABjPrITfjqJAdZhRsh4yZpLXGUkPZWlJc88XDlqjveBkCwQG5dHThNhocifYGPwsiHhrb3WjLaHXXSvr0/s320/DSCN1880.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACigigjFZjg1HT8TttqfohU3jQP4_78RQ-h9sFvbqLLPIvcrj5dA07U01pt6-Sqa81bUVUUDhzrD-0nJLWjmeFX3VmQqQX5ojVx6Qr8SntHRUUviPWCv85BBQgn2iTyg6rlM/s1600-h/DSCN1879.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081031832970841026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACigigjFZjg1HT8TttqfohU3jQP4_78RQ-h9sFvbqLLPIvcrj5dA07U01pt6-Sqa81bUVUUDhzrD-0nJLWjmeFX3VmQqQX5ojVx6Qr8SntHRUUviPWCv85BBQgn2iTyg6rlM/s320/DSCN1879.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">I have now painted four of the new Artizan Hoplites; one each of the overarm spear set (you get two of each). I am working on a command figure and then I will stop for a bit as I am doing some Darkest Africa stuff. I have decided to paint the shield devices rather than use transfers as I want my Spartans to have plain bronze surfaced, rather than painted, shields. There will just be some painted devices on the metal. I think that this is more "spartan" and slightly more primitive given that I would like to think that Spartan Hoplites spent more time on their drill than on what was on their shields. I will reserve the painted shields for the more effete Athenians.</span></div></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-33492905375141085272007-06-18T20:56:00.000-01:002007-06-18T20:58:41.227-01:00Artizan v Vendel<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcfqCnYu-5rUHUzYYr2pkrxGN6KuVCjbpwODT4XWFtzNGPmpl3lPGdW2qUtLWuRTJrEO78s4XlXvWXPOQoaKJrOhq6xwhznZe8knb0WsnvzRV0RQCw_QafYbQXCRKCkjVlzk/s1600-h/artixan+vendel+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077527094798658274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcfqCnYu-5rUHUzYYr2pkrxGN6KuVCjbpwODT4XWFtzNGPmpl3lPGdW2qUtLWuRTJrEO78s4XlXvWXPOQoaKJrOhq6xwhznZe8knb0WsnvzRV0RQCw_QafYbQXCRKCkjVlzk/s320/artixan+vendel+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Here is one of the new Artizan Spartans with a Vendel Persian command.</div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-75140465575492048412007-06-17T20:57:00.000-01:002007-06-17T21:05:18.234-01:00Another Spartan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TS03I6OMmbisJumjxurFmJaJL30z9jhGEIpnvoCHG9nkUn2pOjcS7VJDZ1N-Wd_rqlQ_Jp9rhszZNg0vA-OdUYh5D0wCMUFnF7th-vv6MZ9xAC52KVlVjECDCI4oTrBnYeE/s1600-h/spartan+hoplites+1%60%26+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077156366106569426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TS03I6OMmbisJumjxurFmJaJL30z9jhGEIpnvoCHG9nkUn2pOjcS7VJDZ1N-Wd_rqlQ_Jp9rhszZNg0vA-OdUYh5D0wCMUFnF7th-vv6MZ9xAC52KVlVjECDCI4oTrBnYeE/s320/spartan+hoplites+1%60%26+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiRHZ2v-y90qMCJ4MhGIXlKX4NBRHDL7nCQtsuAhkBvKNc4MlRFsJQ0G40PbByyOTtZrS_m-D2DBWS4ReFYeTy8smDPkQLnRHdzFLWTdXVmuCmeCUs4u3pMeKLWVSOceFRog/s1600-h/spartan+hoplites+1%262+b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077156271617288898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiRHZ2v-y90qMCJ4MhGIXlKX4NBRHDL7nCQtsuAhkBvKNc4MlRFsJQ0G40PbByyOTtZrS_m-D2DBWS4ReFYeTy8smDPkQLnRHdzFLWTdXVmuCmeCUs4u3pMeKLWVSOceFRog/s320/spartan+hoplites+1%262+b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">I've decided to paint one of each of the new Artizan Spartans I ordered so now have two hoplites finished and two more nearly ready. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">These are Persian Wars era Spartans so I have decided to paint them with plain bronze shields and simple shield blazons. I've decided to paint these rather than use transfers as I want the backgrounds of the shields to reamain bronze rather than painted. I will use the painted backgrounds and, therefore, transfers, for other Greek city states. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">The spears are Gripping Beast. They are a little fat but I like the way I can carve the end to form the bronze butt at the base of the spear.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">These really are very easy figures to paint, even for me!</span></div></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-46836252526458940152007-06-13T18:46:00.000-01:002007-06-13T19:33:23.219-01:00Spartan Officer<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzvgRccDXEtUDgQ3-mCd4MRcW2GCfZgQKhcqsqX2ftdWY4HvIsVSgDvAPcFtvzWH0v1QhjQvPqVGzjPh1d45yAd_iLRgoGs6KsGCBaz7RGvLC0Ja5KRNGQbMUIrp6Z2-nMOM/s1600-h/spartan+emissary+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075649459650898498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzvgRccDXEtUDgQ3-mCd4MRcW2GCfZgQKhcqsqX2ftdWY4HvIsVSgDvAPcFtvzWH0v1QhjQvPqVGzjPh1d45yAd_iLRgoGs6KsGCBaz7RGvLC0Ja5KRNGQbMUIrp6Z2-nMOM/s320/spartan+emissary+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeug_XtDtlnxd0VS_aoc4d-CIF86AVlhpIhp2-vHc_fD18yR4t8yHj2MXON6n-6h8dYnXqPY9A5Nmz6mKIwXKmRbIDoS0j0aK2TCFm1Zu7YUgk3HWvFa2OWa1Mnb8Ba_dTbE/s1600-h/spartan+emissary+2.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuinp5C5pQHomG0m7liPhvwI-2IfI3InBhVXYY0mXoc7aD5oMkeXEJ95CfEEJkZ_2t-LKDTDjH34_MyRRfnD8V3UvEZjeqoqwzWQnNbnTAYgWh3haWy5vBr2kB4i2WnsUQ7Q/s1600-h/spartan+emissary+4.jpg"></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Here is the first figure I have painted from the <em>Artizan</em> Spartan command pack. The figure is what <em>Artizan</em> refer to as "Command Staff" as opposed to the "unit command". </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALTW211pgiYzXh4nrJw-aOcJAibeUjNDAiOODqrGdRFZNboO8Q6iwVljAETRsAf-yd_Ss0KoKr7aZoxTteWtlK1g64RGXFQ3-u9lYWGLcBOCdHQ1VuNdkP1aBST-zhEZK9-s/s1600-h/spartan+emissary+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075649524075407954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALTW211pgiYzXh4nrJw-aOcJAibeUjNDAiOODqrGdRFZNboO8Q6iwVljAETRsAf-yd_Ss0KoKr7aZoxTteWtlK1g64RGXFQ3-u9lYWGLcBOCdHQ1VuNdkP1aBST-zhEZK9-s/s320/spartan+emissary+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />He carries the typical Lakedaimonian staff, the<em> bakteμrion.</em> More likely to be carried by envoys travelling abroad on diplomatic missions than in battle, nevertheless, it is as typically Spartan as the <em>triboμn</em> cloak which, again, was unlikely to have been worn in battle. So what role this lovely figure will have in my classical Spartan army I am not yet sure!</span></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-23031952380838320742007-06-12T20:17:00.000-01:002007-06-12T20:24:39.534-01:00Arizan Spartan Part 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbVvvimupazl9eX27O61i5pBFTOSEEu1hbQWnQkE9v1pLLfK3tenBWx-vcuak0bnYMH75Rqc5J-WR1l5XIZXAU6737r0vZpLz55n3WX11KXbEeyyxJNlY4vmnsQWY7ZWzkno/s1600-h/classical+Spartan1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075291564321090018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbVvvimupazl9eX27O61i5pBFTOSEEu1hbQWnQkE9v1pLLfK3tenBWx-vcuak0bnYMH75Rqc5J-WR1l5XIZXAU6737r0vZpLz55n3WX11KXbEeyyxJNlY4vmnsQWY7ZWzkno/s400/classical+Spartan1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Well, I've finished my first one and I'm reasonably happy with it. Pretty easy to paint although maybe the arms and legs are lacking in a little muscular definition compared with some of his Foundry Greeks.</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uYxMJXtgdbs_5w9Uf4vSb-o4uOtovEOdOGgNAdD-wJYsv00nUZnKFCMOjyYO1EEWaNPRUvs1X21xkbw4Zujgfh2u87DeZ4LSXISV3A_P86HFjYgMEZrVDhRTnZe5b9-9cvA/s1600-h/spartan+o%26a2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075291465536842194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uYxMJXtgdbs_5w9Uf4vSb-o4uOtovEOdOGgNAdD-wJYsv00nUZnKFCMOjyYO1EEWaNPRUvs1X21xkbw4Zujgfh2u87DeZ4LSXISV3A_P86HFjYgMEZrVDhRTnZe5b9-9cvA/s400/spartan+o%26a2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9lDcz2wLVDJbVjC8WoWotX0pxNXz2UdEXhOlvIVECh-paHVi9V3FQfMfvJY-AEMgJLDYy2tgstNoaNV_i1TSWR8AEqoH-aaDu_tTdi97xM4G1-Rk2vC7zhwJCKt5zMPyL-U/s1600-h/old+%26+new+spartans1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075291298033117634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9lDcz2wLVDJbVjC8WoWotX0pxNXz2UdEXhOlvIVECh-paHVi9V3FQfMfvJY-AEMgJLDYy2tgstNoaNV_i1TSWR8AEqoH-aaDu_tTdi97xM4G1-Rk2vC7zhwJCKt5zMPyL-U/s400/old+%26+new+spartans1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The comparison photos show that they match with the Foundry Spartans perfectly and hence with their other Greeks (I'm sure I have a part completed Athenian hoplite somewhere!). Nearly finished an officer so hope to have him up in a day or too.</span></div></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18757636.post-76322842970314843032007-06-10T21:12:00.000-01:002007-06-10T21:21:33.930-01:00Artizan Spartan Part 1<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7NAMuLExjTncx6EgbKUKhR2Vfjfr3YRjIOjgqnV1cYJdFJZYLwxPHufdxcKgHx9WPwgc6ICRpNMrTS0dPEmodLvfQ3FzBEr8MH2tQLa4aJJaUJx-m7y7nBN3_R_7b3CPMSY/s1600-h/classical+spartan+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074564245969250722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7NAMuLExjTncx6EgbKUKhR2Vfjfr3YRjIOjgqnV1cYJdFJZYLwxPHufdxcKgHx9WPwgc6ICRpNMrTS0dPEmodLvfQ3FzBEr8MH2tQLa4aJJaUJx-m7y7nBN3_R_7b3CPMSY/s400/classical+spartan+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I ordered my Artizan Spartans (the first two sets of armoured hoplites and the command pack) on Wednesday evening and they arrived Friday morning! First impression are very good indeed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Unlike most of the later Spartans he did for Foundry Mike Owen has sculpted these figures with beards but no moustache, which is quite correct. Also the shields are that little bit bigger: also correct. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Size-wise they are completely compatible with the Foundry Greek figures (not always the case when a sculptor works for another manufacturer).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I will do a proper review when I have actually finished a figure; which will hopefully be later this week as I have started one as a test.</span><br /></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com1