Persians and Carthaginians - finishing touches

 

Hinchliffe Persian Chariot

Well, a game looms, and it looks like we're going to be dusting off the old WRG Ancients rules, which means I need to make sure we have a 'general' for each side. The Minifigs 'Darius' is a curious figure that looks nothing like the King depicted on the famous Alesander mosaic, but has been duely painted up and will serve. 

Darius

Here he is, waving a spear around for no good reason, and resplendent in armour and carrying a shield. Quite what he has on his head I don't know. 

I sense that our Persian general really aught to be mounted in a chariot: that being the fashion of the time. Sadly, I've never been able to get hold of an 'S range' Persian chariot for him to ride in. 

For reasons that escape me, all of my original 70s armies that might otherwise feature Minifigs chariots or elephants have either Hinchliffe or Garrison versions. 

I dug out a pristine unmade Hincliffe Persion chariot and painted it up to serve as a general should the need arise. The Persian army already includes a unit of Garrison infantry, so it's a slightly heterogenous affair. 

While we're talking chariots, these venerable charioteers belong to my original Seleucid army. The two on the left are Garrison, the rest Hinchliffe. 

These are the untouched Humbrol paint jobs from forty years ago. 

Would you believe it? The Hinchliffe chariot (EG03) is still available, along with the rest of the Ancient range, from Lancashire Games

Meanwhile, having forgotten that I'd already painted up a Hannibal to lead the Carthaginians, I painted up another one. Still, always nice to have a choice... of Hannibals. 

I also managed to add a cavalry unit to my Gallic contingent. Surprisingly hard work as it turned out. The riders had a bit of 'slippage' and hence vicious moldlines, as well as some tearing and fill-in around the cloaks, but nothing that couldn't be dealt with. 

The horse though! Having worked my way through the 'good' stock of this particular horse, I was left with a pretty rough batch. Lots of fill-in between the front legs and around the tail. A lot of time-consuming cleaning up and recarving to do, but they turned out alright in the end. 

After which I discover what a terrible fit the riders are to the horses! This is a version of the horse sold at the time - there was an earlier version too. Liberal application of greenstuff sorted that out. 

I was pleased to get enough figures for a unit of these chaps, as it's not an especially easy one to find on the second-hand market. 

Scipio

This is the figure of Scipio that appeared as part of the Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars range as PBP 8  - for 'Phil Barker Personalities'. 

The model is not taken from the book despite the code designation, but forms part of a small range of 'general' figures.

The figure appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue and can also be found in the 75 catalogue under the same code. 

I've mounted this chap onto a PBH 221 - which is similar to the PBH 65 that he would have ridden when first issued. 

All the PBP mounted generals are rather similar in appearance and somewhat difficult to tell apart. Compare with the other PBP figures by following the PB Personalities label. 

Seleucus

This is the figure of Seleucus that appeared as part of the Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars range as PBP 4  - for 'Phil Barker Personalities'. 

The model is not taken from the book despite the code designation, but forms part of a small range of 'general' figures.

The figure appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue, where the price is mislabelled at '10p' for a figure on foot, this was later corrected to '20p', the same as the other mounted figures. It can also be found in the 75 catalogue under the same code. 

I've mounted this chap onto a PBH 221 - which is similar to the PBH 65 that he would have ridden when first issued. 

All the PBP mounted generals are rather similar in appearance and somewhat difficult to tell apart. This one is most easily recognised by the split forward and backward plume, and the fact he is waving a Hellenistic kopis type sword. Otherwise, he would surely pass as any commander of a Successsor, Roman or Carthaginian force of the period - and possibly beyond. 

Compare with the other PBP figures by following the PB Personalities label. 

Porus

 

This is the figure of Porus that appeared as part of the Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars range as PBP 6  - for 'Phil Barker Personalities'. 

The model is not taken from the book despite the code designation, but forms part of a small range of 'general' figures.

The figure appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue and the 75 catalogue under the same code. 

There is no code number on the base, instead - in common with all the personality foot figures - the base is marked with a name: in this case Porus. 

Minifigs retained the spelling from the AMPW book - Porus - as opposed to the more usual Poros, although the figure does not appear in the book as an illustration.

I've been after this chap for a while and was pleased to get him. The model had been used as a standard bearer and had a home-made standard attached with contact adhesive.

The pose is obviously based on a standard bearer and I'm not completely confident that this example isn't missing something. However, there's no sign of cutting or re-modelling as far as I can tell, so perhaps this is as they came. I shall keep an eye out for another example.

Darius

This is the figure of Darius that appeared as part of the Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars range as PBP 3  - for 'Phil Barker Personalities'. 

The model is not taken from the book despite the code designation, but forms part of a small range of 'general' figures.

The figure appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue and the 75 catalogue under the same code. 

There is no code number on the base, instead - in common with all the personality foot figures - the base is marked with a name: in this case Darius. 

 

Alexander the Great

 

This is the figure of Alexander the Great that appeared as part of the Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars range as PBP 1  - for 'Phil Barker Personalities'. 

The model is not taken from the book despite the code designation, but forms part of a small range of 'general' figures.

The figure appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue and the 75 catalogue under the same code. 

Like all Minifigs mounted models, he would have carried the code number on a tab between his feet. However. the figure is an easy one to spot because of his unique lion-skin head gear.

The horse is a more-or-less contemporary PBH 65-217. 

Julius Caesar

 

This is the figure of Julius Caesar that appeared as part of the Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome range as PBP 16 'Caesar mounted'  - PBP standing for 'Phil Barker Personalities'. 

The model is not taken from the AEIR book despite the code designation, but forms part of a small range of 'general' figures.

The figure appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue and the 75 catalogue under the same code. 

The horse is PBH 221 - a cover-all mount suitable for most riders. I don't know which horse came with the model as advertised and suspect it was pot luck! As far as I know Minifigs never made specific horses for the mounted personality ranges. 

Although both these figures have been stripped of their original paint you can still see traces of it here and there. Curses! I don't know what kind of primer or paint was used but plainly they made things to last in those days. 

Hannibal

I am almost certain this is the figure of Hannibal that appeared as part of the Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars range as PBP 7 - for 'Phil Barker Personalities'. 

The model is not taken from the AMPW book despite the code designation, but forms part of a small range of 'general' figures.

The figure appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue and the 75 catalogue under the same code. 

As a mounted model this figure carried no code, which makes it hard to tell the various mounted PBP models apart, so my identification is tentative. If anyone knows better please tell me! 

The horse is PBH 65-217 which served in both the PB range as a general mount. I don't know which horse came with the model as advertised and suspect it was pot luck! As far as I know Minifigs never made specific horses for the mounted personality ranges. 

It's a nice leader figure and would sit well at the head of a unit of Carthaganian Noble Cavalry. 

 

Ptolemy

 

This is the figure of Ptolemy that appeared as part of the Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars range as PBP 5  - for 'Phil Barker Personalities'. 

The model is not taken from the book despite the code designation, but forms part of a small range of 'general' figures.

The figure appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue and the 75 catalogue under the same code. 

Unlike the troopers in this range, the base doesn't carry the code number, and instead is stamped 'PTOLEMY'.

Although intended as a commander he makes a very attractive officer for any Hellenistic infantry unit. 

Philip of Macedonia

 

This is the figure of Philip of Macedonia that appeared as part of the Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars range as PBP 2 - for 'Phil Barker Personalities'. 

The model is not taken from the book despite the code designation, but forms part of a small range of 'general' figures.

The figure appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue and the 75 catalogue under the same code. 

Unlike the troopers in this range, the base doesn't carry the code number, and instead is stamped 'PHIL'.

Despite his claims to kingship this model makes a nice officer figure for the phalanx and - I suspect - would stand in for an officer of pretty much any Hellenistic army of the period.