Persian Infantryman of the Cardaces

This is the Persian Infantryman of the Cardaces that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 20s and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PB 20.

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 20 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 20 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

The Cardaces were apparently armed and equipped to fight in a comparable fashion to hoplites - or possibly peltasts - and were an innovation aimed at fielding a body of native close fighting infantry. The model doesn't look terrible convinced. 

Persian Royal Standard Bearer

This is the Persian Royal Standard Bearer that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 19s and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PB 19.

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 19 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 19 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

Persian Slinger

This is the Persian Slinger that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 22s and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PB 22.

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 22 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 22 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

Typical Minifigs slinger pose and nothing much to say about this chap. He wears what is described in AMPW as a 'spolas', identified as a kind of heavy sleeveless jerkin over his tunic. The sculpting is sufficiently vague that this can ignored and the whole painted as a tunic as more commonly illustrated. 

Persian Heavies

Progress on the Persians has been a bit slow what with one thing and another, but I've managed to finish another unit of Persian cavalry. I've also managed to get my paws on a decent amount of the PB Persians as well as a few of the preceding S range, so with luck and a following wind we might see a playable army by the summer. 

Persian Heavies 

As you see, uniformity is my thing! I think what I'll do is stick to uniform colours for the household units - i.e. the satrapy regular troops and royal contingent - and mix it up a bit for the levied troops. 

Eyes front... shoulders back! 

I'm trying to go for 'colourful' without falling into the 'explosion in a paint factory' trap that lies in wait when painting these classical Persians. It's a thin line... 

Who is that Alexander kidding.. get 'im chaps