Successor /Late Roman Heavy Cavalryman

This is the Successor/Late Roman Heavy Cavalryman that first appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PBC37s, and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PBC 37. 

As with all the 'PB' range it is derived from Phil Barker's pair of books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. PBC standing for Phil Barker Cavalry. This figure corresponds with illustration 37 in AMPW.

He is riding the ubiquitous PBH 65-217, the code '60-217' being stamped on the upper surface of the base in the usual fashion. This horse combines the original PBH 65 with its equivalent from the Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome range - aside form the number on the base there is no difference between them. 

This makes for a neat little figure that looks very appealing as a regiment of horse. As with several mounted figures in this range the shield does appear a little over-large. 

I painted a unit of these a couple of years ago and they can be seen here. 

 

Armenian Archer

This is the Armenian Archer that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 23s and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PB 23.

Both PB ranges were based on Phil Barker's books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. This figure is taken from illustration 23 in AMPW.

The 's' designation was used to distinguish the newer 25mm style of models from the preceding, smaller 1/72nd range. The transition was soon complete and the 's' - special - was dropped from the figure codes thereafter. 

The base is stamped PB 23 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

 

Persian Archer

 

This is the Persian Archer that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 21s and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PB 21.

Both PB ranges were based on Phil Barker's books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. This figure is taken from illustration 21 in AMPW.

The 's' designation was used to distinguish the newer 25mm style of models from the preceding, smaller 1/72nd range. The transition was soon complete and the 's' - special - was dropped from the figure codes thereafter. 

The base is stamped PB 21 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

Persian Infantry Officer with Standard

This is the Persian Infantry Officer with Standard that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 18s and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PB 18.

Both PB ranges were based on Phil Barker's books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. This figure is taken from illustration 18 in AMPW.

The 's' designation was used to distinguish the newer 25mm style of models from the preceding, smaller 1/72nd range. The transition was soon complete and the 's' - special - was dropped from the figure codes thereafter. 

The base is stamped PB 18 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

 

Persian Unarmoured Cavalryman

 

This is the Persian Unarmoured Cavalryman that first appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PBC 26s, and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PBC 26. 

As with all the 'PB' range it is derived from Phil Barker's pair of books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. PBC standing for Phil Barker Cavalry. This figure corresponds with illustration 26 in AMPW.

He is riding the Persian Cavalry Horse PBH 60, the code '60' being stamped on the upper surface of the base in the usual fashion. 

Although described an 'unarmoured' Persian cavalry are known to have worn their armour under their livery coats, whether the Greek style linothorax or some metallic type of armour.

Jewish Infantryman with Bow

 

This is the Jewish Infantryman with Bow that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 176.

Both PB ranges were based on Phil Barker's books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and The Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. This figure is taken from illustration 76 in the first edition of AEIR.

The code numbers for the AEIR range correspond to the illustrations in the book plus '100', i.e. illustration 1 is figure 101. 

The base is numbered PB 176 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

Plainly dressed and carrying his quiver at the hip, this figure could fit into many ancient armies as there is little to mark him out as specifically Jewish. It's a nice unfussy figure in an advancing pose that makes change from the usual Minifigs shooting archer. 

Mercenary Peltast with Thureos

 

This is the Mercenary Peltast with Thureos that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 10s and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PB 10.

Both PB ranges were based on Phil Barker's books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. This figure is taken from illustration 10 in AMPW.

The 's' designation was used to distinguish the newer 25mm style of models from the preceding, smaller 1/72nd range. The transition was soon complete and the 's' - special - was dropped from the figure codes thereafter. 

The base is stamped PB 10 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

The 'Thureos' in question refers to the type of shield - which Minifigs have depicted as a plain longish shield rounded at top and bottom. Troops armed in this fashion with spear and light javelins, and sometimes wearing mail armour, were a broad and common category of soldiery in later Hellenistic armies.

I have quite a few of these painted many years ago but only recently acquired a few unpainted examples. It's a figure that features in many contemporary collections and which turns up fairly commonly on the second hand market. 

I'm thinking this chap wouldn't look out of place alongside my Spanish Scutari - the shield is almost identical and the helmet rather generic.