Thursday 30 November 2017

Wurttemberg Musketeers


Not quite the finished article, these 1/72 Hät Napoleonic Wurttemberg infantry still need based and a flag. I have stuck them onto a temporary cardboard base to see what they looked like.

Initially I started basing my Napoleonic troops on 60mm squares but I wasn't happy with end result both in dimentions and basing materials. I think I like the size and flexibility of the 40mm squares but need to workout what scatter materials look right. 

I need also to track down a 1/72 flag for the standard bearer. I made the standard bearer from the open handed figure from Hät's Bavarian infantry set. He needed a head swap and the front of the jacket was flat and lacked detail allowing for a bit of creative painting, adding in straps and facings in an attempt to blend him into the ranks.

I struggled with highlighting the black helmets I need to practice more and find the right colours. Apart from that I am pleased with the result so far.

I took the pictures using my new phone which is convenient since I don't need to set up lights. I can get clear and decent photos however the tradeoff is I am depending on the flash which can be harsh. My computer is again out of action so I am posting from my phone which is fiddly but I have been able to it all on one device.

It was also nice to have a bit of a change from ancients and I may continue with the horse and musket period. I may continue with some 20mm 1/72 Napoleonics or maybe start painting some 6mm AWI.

Tuesday 7 November 2017

Gallic unarmoured cavalry


I've had these Newline Designs 20mm Gallic cavalry stashed away for years. I was 2 riders short to make a 12 trooper unit so I pressed a couple of riders into service. The first was already painted, the spare rider from the armoured group. I glued a plume onto his helmet to make him more like the leader from the command set. Secondly I used a spare rider from the Gallic light cavalry set and gave him a boar standard from a Hat set (a legionary command set I think).

I was hoping to get these finished off fairly quickly but I found it difficult to get myself motivated to get to the desk. I spent a bit more time and effort on painting the horses I think they are a bit of an improvement on previous horses but still more practice needed, Bit by bit I eventually got them finished. Painting plaid is challenging and requires a lot of patients and when it came to the shields I just left them plain for now maybe add patterns in the future. I may paint up some Numidian cavalry next for Trebia but I am ready to have a bit of a change of era maybe even scale. 

When I was at uni I covered quite a bit of history of the American Revolution. Not so much the warfare side of things but I covered some military aspects with my dissertation in which I looked into mutiny in the Continental army and the motivation of the Continental soldier. Its an era I have always been fascinated with but not yet collected. 

I have never been enthused with the 1/72 offerings and their availability also a factor I took to looking at other scales. I was very tempted by the nice Blue moon 15mm sculpts but price and storage space is an issue. Baccus 6mm then came up as a way to get into a new era without hitting storage and wallet too badly. So I may shortly do some work on those or some 1/72 Napoleonics.  

Back to the subject at hand I recently got a new phone after my previous one stopped working. I was impressed with my wife's camera phone so decided to get something similar and I took these images with the new phone. I don't think the macro feature is as good as the Nikon, but it was so much easier to use and I think it has captured the detail well. The flash is also very good I think it illuminated the whole unit well. Hopefully to be seen at the Trebia soon but I am being pulled towards some horse and musket modelling which may detract me from my original plan.


1/72 Ancients

Tuesday 17 October 2017

Silvershields Paint guide

Just a modified version of the Hellenistic rank and file painting guide

Base/undercoat: Army Painter white spray paint

Base colours

Flesh: GW Tallarn Flesh
Tunics: VJ Royal Purple (thinned down a bit over the white gave them a bit of shading also)
Straps, scabard & sarissa: dark brown
Helmet & greaves: GW Boltgun Metal
Sandles: mid/light brown

Washes:

Linothorax: watered down GW Mud wash over the white undercoat
Everywhere else: GW Mud wash

Highlights

Face: GW Elf Flesh
Tunics: VJ Royal Purple (skipped this on the second batch) followed by VJ Purple
Straps & scabards: GW Vermin Brown
Sarissa: GW Snakebite Leather in thin varied length lines
Helmet & greaves: GW Chainmail

Sarissa and Shield

Tip and butt: Black basecoat, GW Chainmail for tip and VJ Brass for butt
Back of push pin shield: GW Vermin Brown


Sunday 8 October 2017

Seleucid Argyraspides


I had a good opportunity over the past few days to get these Silver Shield pikemen finished off and based for my Seleucid army. This follows from my Seleucid settler pikemen so not a great deal more to say on these 20mm Newline Designs miniatures.  

Yes a whole regiment in purple tunics! I can hear the outcry already, in ancient times it was very expensive and rare I am lead to believe. However King Antiochus III Megas, having finally conquered Koile-Syria and taking possession of the Phoenician cities like Sidon, thought "why not" he was in a good mood! And every Hellenistic monarch should have some lavishly equipped royal troops to show off on the battlefield and if you can't do it when you conquer the purple dye producing region then when can you!? Antiochus later died attempting to plunder treasure from an Elymian temple.  Also I like the combination of purple and silver armour so, as I often do, I sacrificed historicity for aesthetics. 

Still quite a lot of units to do for a Lost Battles Magnesia re-fight. I am however working on a few more units for 2nd Punic War re-fights; some Gallic cavalry, Iberian Scutarii and I may do a few bases of Gallic foot while I paint the cavalry whilst the myriad of paints are lying around.  



1/72 Ancients

Monday 25 September 2017

Painting Marian Roman Legionaries

After painting a few Marian Romans I thought I write down the process to refer back to since it will probably be a while before I paint more of them.

Undercoat Black
Dry/overbrush Armour, Pilum & Sword: Boltgun Metal
Head arms Legs: Tallarn Flesh
Helmet: Boltgun Metal or Brass
Belt, Scabbard, Pilum shaft: Dark Brown
Sword Hilt scabbard edges: Brass
Tunic: Light grey or Terracotta
Sandles: Snakebite Leather
Crest: Black
Head, arms & legs: Delvan mud wash

Highlight Face: Elf Flesh
Highlight Helmet: Chainmail or Old Gold
Highlight Pilum & Sword:  Chainmail
Highlight Sword Hilt scabbard edges: Old Gold
Highlight Belt, Scabbard, Shoulder armour edges: Vermin Brown
Highlight Tunic: White or Red
Highlight Pilum shaft: Snakebite Leather


Shield: Medium Blue or Red
Wash: Blue wash or Red wash
Highlight Spine, edge Medium Blue or Red
Shield boss: Boltgun metal; highlight: Chainmail


Sunday 24 September 2017

Marius' Mules a Distraction


This post was supposed to be my completed Silvershields but they are still on the work bench. Struggling to motivate myself I painted a couple of these more recent Newline Designs 20mm offerings. These Marian Roman Legionaries are very nicely sculpted with very crisp details. Most notable is the tunic which has more depth and folds sculpted in than earlier Newline sculpts. A nice addition to the 20mm Ancient range with hopefully more to come.

I was hoping if I completed a few figures it would get me over the rut and back painting the larger batch of pikemen. It didn't take too long to paint four of them and they were fairly straight forward so finishing them was a tonic and a nice break from paining Hellenistic pikes after doing so many. Consequently I am back on working on the pikemen which are progressing nicely. Another thing that helps is visiting blogs and forums seeing what other painters have been working on. It's very inspiring and makes you want to get cracking!

Monday 11 September 2017

Lost Battle: Dertosa round 2

I wanted to get a game of Lost Battles in while I had the chance. I wanted to replay the Dertosa scenario but mix up the Carthaginian deployment from the last time I gamed it. The main thing I opted to change was to spread the LHI across the line to even out the weaker units keep the battle plan simple with the elephants deploying straight ahead to battle the legions. 

I also wanted to refresh the rules and see how quick I could set up and conclude the match. I still managed to miss the odd modifier in my rush although not the fresh lead legionary but the cavalry attacking from the rear and loss of lead bonus if enemies are in opposite adjacent squares. I'm sure I'll remember next time. It took me a while to work out unit morale I need to figure a way to streamline the morale working out. One thing I found useful was a mini white board I was able to easily update it with current FV, shatters, routs and other book keeping. I was having issues getting good pictures and I gave up in the end since it was slowing me down quite a bit.

The Battle of Dertosa

Both armies sent out their skirmish screens which the Carthaginians had shored up with elephants. The main Roman line of legionary infantry, commanded by Publius Scipio, was spread evenly flanked on their left by the Italian allied cavalry and the right by the the more numerous Roman Equites lead by Gnaeus Scipio. Opposing the Equites was a screen of Moorish light cavalry followed by Punic heavy cavalry and opposing the Italian allied cavalry Hasdrubal lead his Iberian noble cavalry hoping to smash through the allies and flank the Romans. 

Hasdrubal despite the eagerness of the Iberian levy infantry did not trust their lack of experience and spread them across his infantry battle line which was anchored on his veteran Africans in the centre and the African regulars on their right and left. Hasdrubal planned to press the Roman centre hard with his elephants and veterans whilst expecting the centre right and left to hold their own whilst the cavalry flanked the Roman wings.  

As the skirmish lines clashed the Roman light infantry made head way against the Balearic slingers in the centre and the elephants on the Carthaginian right. The Carthaginians offered nothing in return!  


The Roman Equites gave a thunderous charge and the Moors fled before expending all of their javelins. Spurred on by this, the Equites pushed their mounts to exhaustion to inflict some losses to the heavy cavalry behind the Moors. The Punic horse counter charged causing casualties and breaking half of the Equites and causing disruption to the rest. However Gnaeus and the remaining Equites prevailed eventually and broke the Punic horse who had not recovered from the initial Roman charge. The Italian allies did not fair as well facing the better Iberian cavalry with half the numbers and nobody was surprised that they did not stand long. 

The Legions on the Roman right inflicted losses upon the Africans and shattered the Iberian levies outright after they witnessed the Romans at work with their Gladii. In the centre the African veterans and elephants had a bitter contest with the Romans legions. Some legionaries were shattered in the onslaught. 

The Roman right continued to press on and broke part of the African regular line causing the rest to rout along with the light infantry and the elephants further down the line. The victorious Romans advanced to threaten the left flank of the veterans in the centre.


The rout of the elephants did little to deter the veterans but the advance of the Roman right inspired them to fight harder for survival. They had been suffering at the hands of the worn Romans but the veterans shattered more legionaries in the centre and the Roman lights fled the field not liking the way the battle was going.  


Hasdrubal and his Iberian horse then came around to attack the rear of the Roman left which had steadily been worn down by the elephants and heavy infantry. The charge from the rear broke half of the legionaries and routed the rest wiping out the Roman left. Publius then lead his legionaries to a final push to defeat the veterans opposing them their attack broke the Iberian levies and half of the veterans.The remaining veterans refused to give way and finished off the Roman centre the Romans taking Publius in their flight. 

Gnaeus eventually arrived to attack the exhausted veterans who finally had enough and broke. Hasdrubal stared across the field with his fresh Iberians and fancied his chances against Gnaeus' remaining blown cavalry, but the victorious legionaries on the Roman right, were starting to regroup and ready themselves to finish off the remaining Punic forces who themselves were at breaking point. Hasdrubal swallowed his pride and withdrew, the Romans could only watch too tired to pursue, after this Pyrrhic victory, took solace in winning the field.

Battle Results

It took roughly 3 hours to get set up and resolve the battle the Carthaginian withdrawal had a bit to do with time constraints as well as the situation on the table. The time included some interruptions, taking pics and recording a few notes (that I then struggled to read!). Not too bad, if I can streamline the morale modifiers or just get my head around them that may speed things up also. 

I again enjoyed the fact that the broad sectors of the battlefield allowed the use of a skirmish line to cover an advance or protect a battle line and also allow gradual wear of the army. The legionary infantry are really tough to rout you pretty much need to surround them or beat them to a man. This can be difficult without a decent cavalry or leadership edge. 

Carthage withdrew LHI & 2 x AHC with Hasdrubal with 2 x AHI routing. Rome won the field with 4 spent ALE & 1 x AHC remaining. 

Total losses:

Roman losses: 2 x AHC 6 x ALE shattered; 3 x ALI 2 x ALE AC routed; 4 x ALE 1 x AHC
spent. 

Carthage losses: 1 x LLC 1 x AHC 2 x LHI 4 x VHI 1 x AHI shattered; 1 x LLI 3 x AHI 2 x AEL 1 x ALI routed; 2 x AHC 1 x LHI AC withdrawn. 

Rome VP before handicap: 125
Carthage VP before handicap: 113 

Tuesday 29 August 2017

Painting Hellenistic Pikemen Rank and File

Just a quick painting guide for my Seleucid Phalangites. I try to keep things as simple as possible and I depend a lot on the science of the washes to provide the main shading with only a basic highlight of the original colour. Also its a handy future reference for my future pike blocks I have found quite often that I come back to a project and think "how did I do these last time!?". Using a white undercoat was something I had not done since I first started painting in the mid to late 90's. I have become a fan of the Army painter spray paints an basically use the methods from their painting guides the main being undercoating in the dominant or main colour.

Base/undercoat: Army Painter white spray paint

Base colours

Flesh: GW Tallarn Flesh
Tunics: GW Enchanted Blue (thinned down a bit over the white gave them a bit of shading also)
Straps, scabard & sarissa: dark brown
Helmet & greaves: VJ Brass
Sandles: mid/light brown

Washes:

Linothorax: watered down GW Mud wash over the white undercoat
Everywhere else: GW Mud wash

Highlights

Face: GW Elf Flesh
Tunics: GW Enchanted Blue
Straps & scabards: GW Vermin Brown
Sarissa: GW Snakebite Leather in thin varied length lines
Helmet & greaves: VJ Old Gold

Sarissa and Shield

Tip and butt: Black basecoat, GW Chainmail for tip and VJ Brass for butt
Back of push pin shield: GW Vermin Brown

Monday 28 August 2017

The Seleucid Settlers


I finally got round to completing the last 60x60mm base of Newline Designs 20mm African pikemen for my Seleucid phalanx (see this earlier post for more info). I also decided to add rear rank bases some with command figures, this had something to do with making units deeper for To The Strongest! or Basic Impetus but also I just wanted bigger units! There are quite a few pictures so I apologise for the bombardment. 

So for the "rear bases" there are four bases of 60x30mm with eight figures a piece, two of those bases have command figures included. I placed the command miniatures to the rear so I took a photo of them before basing. The pictures below show the newest painted elements. They were sprayed with Army Painter white which greatly aided me. Also again using drawing pins for the shields shaved a lot of painting time from the project. I have made a painting guide for anyone interested in a step by step account.




The Seleucid Phalanx Assembled

For my Seleucid army I still need to complete the "Silvershields" these are currently being worked on and number half as many miniatures as the phalangites below. In Lost Battles for Raphia and Magniesia, the pikemen who are not the Silvershields are simply named "the Settlers". Although I keep referring to these as "Seleucids" they are from Newline Designs 20mm Ancient Carthage range and are sold as "African Pikemen" they look Hellenistic and I have kept them generic so they may be fielded in any army needing some pike blocks. I went overboard with the picture having arranged the whole lot up and then making them into a 12cm square to take more pics. 





Sunday 30 July 2017

Hannibal's Libyan Veterans



Just another refurbishment, expansion and rebasing of an older unit. I also wanted to add some command figures too and have a go free handing an embossed style bronze shield. These are some of my favourite 20mm miniatures from Newline Designs very useful for other 'imitation legionaries'.

Hopefully I will get some more games done soon but I will probably have a big push on painting. I plan on getting the bulk of my Seleucid pikes done. I also want to get some more Iberian Scutarii and Celtic cavalry painted up and some light infantry types. The hope is that I can get more bases for Lost Battles and get the battles looking larger... I think this will take quite a while I'm not the fastest painter!