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| The original idea was to use these as either a big unit of 48 4Sp figures or split it into two units of 24. Then I started thinking that the various Arab and Turkish based armies covered a lot of different troop types but, in DBA where they would most likely be used, I didn't need 12 bases... so didn't really need to use them all as Sp... |
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| In fact, I could do a 6 base unit on deeper bases that would work as either 4Wb or 4Ax... |
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| And still leave me 6 bases of 4Sp... |
Hence two birds with one stone.
Two lots here:
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Quick update, I painted some hyenas (image attached) to join the prehistoric project. They are by Checkpoint Miniatures, bought to pad out a very specific order with them that was otherwise too small to justify the postage.Didn't take as long to paint as previous prehistoric animals - I think I have developed a routine. |
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I did the green and brown camo in the attached today. Airbrushed colour modulation with blutac masking. Lots more to do but interesting to see this stage before I add detailing, weathering, decals etc |
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| This lot could be either 3Ax or 3Wb... though ones like Dynastic Kurdish armies specify 5Wb or 7Hd! But then, Seljuk Turks use 3Ax and so can Anatolian Turkoman... though they also use 7HD! |
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| So still a lot more units needed - and I haven't even thought about the various irregular Bw or Ps types. And of course Central Asian Turkish needs 3 x 4Sp. |
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| So what am I painting up at the moment? Nearly finished what could be 2 24 strong or 1 48 strong (extra command element painted) unit of possibly 4Wb (Arab Conquest) or 4Sp (Umayyad Arab or Abbasid Arab)... never ending... and also couple of cavalry command elements nearly finished, plus the rest of a fancy heavy cavalry unit. |
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| At some time must take a break from them. Could go for 7YW - it would help offset my current mould splurge... so far I've had 10 moulds made for these over the years, 'need' a couple more at least to sort the French and Austrian cavalry but really can't justify the cost - though I am going through and sorting them out - A new mould costs about £100, and for ranges that are not really a major interest of mine? - though to be fair some of the moulds have paid for themselves. Might get back into trying to paint up some more for myself. Meanwhile French and Austrian cavalry moulds can wait. |
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| My second cult faction seems to be setting up a tradition - they all have eyes in them... honest, I'm just going with normal horror traditions and the third eye on the forehand is pretty well established. Not sure where (if anywhere) I go with expanding these cult figures - should probably do some for the Cult of Dagon? Figures have been painted as shaven headed - seemed right. |
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| I have to admit I like the idea of that face. It strongly reminds me both of the film Bleeders/Hemoglobin cover and The Scream. The theme from Hemoglobin is one of my favourites. |
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| One thing I'm finding is how useful a set of metallic paint pens I bought are, especially for shields, armour and standards. The set I got is one I'm happy to recommend! |
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| These units are coming along thick and fast... This lot definitely come under the fantasy umbrella as uniformed 'Turkoman' troops, either city or personal retinue in a standard uniform. Or perhaps would fit into some later armies that are a bit more realistic. |
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| Although I've described them as regular, I doubt that a unit like this would be trained so I've based them as 3Bw rather than 4Bw. A unit or two of infantry equivalents of the regular cavalry would finish this part of the fantasy Muslim armies. Add a load of the irregular Turkoman types - cavalry and infantry - should give a decent looking army. |
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| Another unit of Turkish style light cavalry gives me two units, the other one just being bow armed. That's more than enough for Turkish DBA armies, need more irregular Cv though. |
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| I admit I like these. The mix of J/Bw/Sh, Sword/Sh and Bw armed figures gives a good irregular mix. Probably a bit heavy on the J/Bw/Sh component though. I suppose it would work to simply mix figures from the two units up... |
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| I'm already working on the regular Turkish infantry component - archer unit nearly finished, lots of both regular and irregular spears and bows to complete. I also must start work on Arab cavalry... must see how well the Achaemenid Persian Sp/Sh figure works and what might need to be done to it! |
So leaving the 20/25mm fantasy moulds for a while and getting back to updating and consolidating more 7YW moulds...
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| This mould incorporates all the Hanoverian infantry that are available - 7H4 isn't. The cavalry will be sorted at a future date - they use French horses and use Prussians as officer and standard bearer... if I do a basically Hanoverian cavalry mould I may convert the Prussian tricornes to something a bit more Hanoverian! |
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| Not all of the British infantry but covers gaps - previously 7B2, 3 and 7 weren't available. They are now. The mould also includes all the artillerymen figures. |
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| This mould brings all the British cavalry riders together as well as the four generals. If I do a Hanoverian cavalry mould I'll include 7YG2 on that as well; likewise a France cavalry mould will include both 7YG3 and 4. |
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| One thing I felt I had to do was a unit of swordsmen... probably should be 2 handed swords but don't have any of them. |
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| The usual red fez with a white turban wrapped around it and striped robes. My orginal unit just had white robes with stripes; at the moment I'm favouring a few different coloured robes. Probably do a mix in future. |
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| For this lot I've gone for a plain black flag. I'll probably do more units with plain flags in future. |
This little project is getting very broadly based. Covering Middle Eastern DBX elemental armies and round based modern cult figures there's a 1,000 year spread. Also, with some units/figures in robes and others wearing tunic/trousers there's a range of basic nationalities. Frankly, not sure what to call them in 'Range' terms - they aren't all Arabs, or all Turks, or all Muslims... seems a bit bitty to just name each individual unit without a unifying 'theme' - I'll admit to be at a total loss as to what I should call them! Middle Eastern doesn't really seem to fit though is probably more accurate.
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| While Steven was visiting we used his 15mm Christmas armies to have a little altercation. I'm the good guys at the bottom, he's out and out evil at the top... picture shows the armies positions after a few moves and the 'tough' part of my army is about to hit. As attack, I just thought 'charge' using my faster and better elements take out his... well, better elements. From this point on all the action took part on that flank while everyone else just stood and watched. |
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| So Buddy and Jovie took on Jack Frost, Santa went after the Psycho Shooters disguised as prezzies while Rudolph sneaked round the side... |
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| Rudolph didn't last long. Mind you, Buddie and Jove didn't either... At this point I was convinced Evil was about to win... |
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| Santa (Ably supported by the Snowman) found himself facing Jack Fost as a couple of snow trolls starting sneaking behind them. |
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| But the gods favoured Santa and Jack Frost just melted away. Taking into account losing the general and some dead evil shooters the forces of good won the day! |
An interesting battle that finished up depending on luck more than anything - Jack Frost failed to turn anyone into a frog early on, many of the characters proved to be very fragile and combats tended to be short and brutal. Personal I seemed to just roll 1s and 6s - the 1s mainly being in the middle of the battle. Steven also threw a few 1s and 6s. It was quite spectacular. In retrospect I should probably have gone after Steven's weaker flank but the plan (mad charge into combat as soon as possible) worked so...
Meanwhile, both armies have been left with me so will be a available while when Steven visits over the New Year.
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| Steven has been spending a few days with us and he brought a couple of 15mm Hordes of the Things Christmas armies he's just finished. This lot is the Good Christmas army (Khurasan Miniatures). - text by Steven. |
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| And this is the Evil army (Alternative Armies). Both armies are just what the respective manufacturers provided in their ranges, and bear little resemblance to the Christmas armies in the HOTT list. I tried to theme the basing for each army so they were distinctive but still definitely snowy. So the good army got a blue undercoat underneath the snow flock, and a quite uniform covering, to give a crisp, clean look. The evil army got a darker, more muddy, patchy look. |
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| Good Stronghold. I added a skirting board made from card, a wall socket, plug and wire for the Christmas tree (hidden from view in this photo) and sculpted a cat on a rug. The cat is painted to look like my own cat, Henry. |
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| Santa is the good (Hero) general. The holly bushes are clump foliage with tiny balls of green stuff painted red. They were rolled as tiny as I could manage, but technically are still way too large. |
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| With faithful Rudolph as a Flyer. Unbelievably I never realised, until Dad pointed it out, that the antlers are bent down. Now it is all I can see on this model. |
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| The snowman (Hero)... The little girl miniature, being a 15mm scale child, is tiny. |
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| Toy Soldiers (Shooters). The challenge here was to make each one as identical as the others. |
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| Evil Magician General. Jack Frost, an interesting painting challenge to make him look icy. I painted the base to look like magical iciness is spreading around him and cracking the earth. |
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| Snow trolls (Behemoth). Pretty distinctive with their Christmas hats |
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| Winter wolves (Beasts) by Demonworld, added to give another option (and because I had spares from the prehistoric project). |
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| Evil Snowmen (Hordes). It was interesting to paint such a variety of colours on them to give a chaotic, haphazard look. |
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| Evil Gingerbread Men (Warband). The first group I painted in this project. |
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| Psycho presents (Shooters). It was fun painting the variety of colours on these. |
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| Evil Christmas Trees (Lurkers). These were actually very finicky to paint and difficult to make look good |
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| Goth cavalry conversion with a long spear - so best match amongst the Gothic armies would be Lombards. Another unit like this and I have a complete DBA army with 12 elements of Kn... |
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| Simple conversion of a Sarmatian cataphract - remove the bowcase, add a sword scabbard and shield. Being a Gothic army, standard bearer is the Sarmatian standard bearer with a shield - I didn't bother losing the bowcase. At some point I'll do a few more Goth conversions - infantry, probably use the Sarmatian infantry, change the shield and a longer cloak. I might put a 'coffin' shield together - the 28mm one I already have is too big but would form a good template if photocopied then reduced in size. Initial cavalry figure probably the same as for the Rhoxolani - cut down the Kontos as a javelin and give them a Gothic shield. Not sure where I'll source the archer from yet. In terms of time, this unit took about 3 times as long as any of the Arab units - I was painting them in tandem... |
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| 3 x 8bw, front rank tear drop shields borrowed from the 25mm Normans Range! |
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| Again, more fantasy Fatimids I suppose, but they look OK and give a good basis for a DBA Fatimid army. |
