Despite getting distracted by a new 15mm army I have managed to add another cavalry unit to my early 70s Minifigs Carthaginian army, and I've started work on a new Persian army too. As to the 15mm army (Ancient Britons) it did rather remind me that I do own a number of the original Minifigs 15mm armies - the so-called 'strip' Minifigs because the models were cast in strips of five infantry and three cavalry (if memory serves). I suspect my new 15mm figures are somewhat bigger than the old Minfigs - it'll be interesting to compare them. Perhaps another time.
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| Carthaginian Heavy Cavalry |
This is my second unit of Carthaginian Heavy Cavalry. I've given these guys blue shields and a horse motif - a transfer from the Warlord Games Hoplite set.
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| Cataphracts |
A while back I painted up six cataphracts that came along with a Successor force that I bought to supplement my own Seleucids. I thought it was about time I added another six figures to make a decent sized unit, and here they are. These are the original 'thick' spear style figures.
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| Spot the difference |
I took a picture of one of the original six alongside one of the new ones to show the difference - and it's quite a difference as you can see! Minifigs modified the original PB ancients figures with thinner spears/javelins at some point.
I'm not sure whether I prefer the thicker versions or the thinner ones. The slender spears are certainly more realistic, but also very fragile, and long spears like this kontos or pikes usually end up bent out of shape.
As it happens, I have a stash of the thicker spear-armed riders, but no more of the slender versions. I guess I'll pick up some of the slender spear-armed chaps at some point and then divide the unit to make two armed the same way. Meantime we'll have to muddle along.
As well as doing service as Successors I can see these chaps squeezing in with my Persians - Darius is supposed to have re-armed some of his heavy cavalry with the longer spears after his defeat at Issus.
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Hannibal
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Before I forget - I've also added a general to my Carthaginians in the shape of the Minifigs PBP Hannibal. I'm not sure whether these guys are going to see a wargame anytime soon - I started collecting these armies for the sake of it, without any clear intention to play wargames. But now I have a commander there is the possibility at least! I'm not sure I'm up to the intricacies of the WRG Ancients rules that we all played back in the 70s, and for which I've base these armies.
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| Persian Cavalry |
This is my first unit of Persian cavalry. I've gone for a uniform approach and based the tunic and trouser patterns on the reconstructions in Nick Secunda's Osprey book - mostly taken from the Issus Mosaic if I remember correctly.
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Persian Lights
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And these are the Persian light cavalry - the unit works out a little too wide for my photo background - sorry about that! I'll take a few photos of the units on the gaming table once I've a few more - my photo booth is great for single figures but tricky for units - hence some of these pictures are a little dark.
Note that the rider is the same code as the rider for the first unit of cavalry. This is the thick-spear - so I assume early - version of the model and, as you can see, it has the spear held across the body. When the model was updated with the thinner spear I imagine that pose wouldn't have cast very well, so the whole arm was remodelled with the spear upright - is my guess! Whatever the truth of it - it makes a nice variation on the figure.
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| Indian Infantry |
Although Darius is supposed to have had Indians as part of his army at Gaugamela, these were all cavalry as far as I'm aware. I shall take a few liberties and include these infantry, because I rather like them and... well I've painted them now, and I can't see ever getting enough to field an entire Indian army. Once again, the unit is rather too wide for the background. These things are sent to try us.
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Persian archer, Armenian
and Persian standard bearer. |
And finally, here's a few Persian infantry samples I'm trying out for colour schemes. Not entirely happy with the Armenian in the centre, but it's getting there. I was hoping to find a transfer for the banner but haven't found anything appropriate to fit.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
