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Showing posts with label Perry Miniatures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Perry Miniatures. Show all posts

Sunday, 2 June 2013

Raphia - the game

Just a few quick and dirty shots to give an idea of how the game looked.


The Seleucid line


The Ptolemaic line


Initial deployment.


Close up of the Seleucid right flank, where much of the early action took place.


The wings close.


Crunch time!


Oops! Two dead elephants - the Africans certainly can't stand up to the bigger, stronger Indians.


The last Nellie doesn't last too much longer (apologies for the dodgy lighting!)


Action on the Seleucid left


An over enthusiastic Seleucid elephant crashes into the Ptolemaic Agema...


But doesn't last long!


Action on the other wing, with similar results in the elephant on elephant combats.


The phalanxes close in the centre with an almighty crunch!


On the right, a unit of Seleucid Agema manoeuvre into position as combat erupts along the whole line...


From the other side of the lines, the Ptolemaic Agema take their tole on the Greek mercenary phalanx unit.


The Agema beat the Greeks and advance in pursuit, revealing the flank of the next unit in line, who are charged frontally by the Argyraspides and in the flank by the Seleucid guard cavalry accompanied by Antiochus, with predictable results... A couple of other units also go down, leading to the demoralisation of the whole Ptolemaic army and a history changing Seleucid victory.

All the above pictures were taken with a iPhone; lots of other pics were taken with much more professional kit, so I'm sure better pics will be forthcoming... 

Rules were Simon's "To The Strongest!", named after Alexander's supposed answer on his deathbed when asked who would inherit his throne. They're still in development, but gave a good account of themselves in what was a large, complex game.

Monday, 27 May 2013

A Bit More Raphia WIP

Line cavalry virtually completed, just need to finish off the bases (there's another four bases to go with these, so four units of nine in total). All Aventine, with a high proportion of head swaps.


Last of the Arabs assembled and stuck on bases, just the ground work to do. They'll then be added to the other five bases to represent the 10,000 required. Perry Ansar figures, a couple of Victrix and Warlord heads, Aventine shields.


Finally for today, a unit of Asiatic archers, about 40% done. Crusader figures

Thursday, 16 May 2013

Last of the Arabs for Raphia


Phew! Glad these are done!

I've now completed enough figures to represent the 10,000 Arabs who turned up (I hesitate to use the term "fought") for the Seleucids at Raphia.

I've used a 60x60 base to mount these on. In theory, I should have put eight figures on each base, but due to the dynamic posing of the figures, I've generally been able to get away with six or seven.





Next up, more cavalry.

Saturday, 23 March 2013

More Arab WIP

This is yet another batch of Arabs. Slightly different this time, with the addition of ten Copplestone Somali archers to the mix. I think they match pretty well.

Still have to paint in various necklaces and highlight the leather quivers; they're otherwise done, bar basing.

Monday, 18 March 2013

Playing with Plastic part 2 - more Arabs

Just finished these off. Still need shields and basing. I'm doing another batch next, which I'll mix together with these to add a bit more variety of colour and pose (I've got some Copplestone Somali archers to mix in as well for a really wild look!)

Helmets are cannibalised from Victrix hoplites and an odd Warlord Games Macedonian pikemen.



Sunday, 3 February 2013

Playing with Plastic

I've been messing about with Perry plastic Ansar tribesmen that I've been painting up as Arab allies for my Seleucid Raphia forces.

A bit of green stuff has been used on some of the less "Arab" looking figures (once I've removed their trousers!) to add the characteristic blanket wrap. Helmets have been pinched from some Victrix mercenary hoplites to give them a bit more of a Hellenistic look - remember, the rationale is that they've been bribed by access to the Seleucid armouries ;-)



Wednesday, 2 January 2013

Getting on the Bandwagon - 2012 Review

Seems to be the done thing ;-)

I'm actually quite surprised at how much I have actually got done over the course of last year. One thing the blog is really useful for is to keep track of what I've completed. Here's the list, in reverse order:

32 more Pink Pike to add to the 64 done in 2011
16 Asiatic Levy
16 Arab Allies
32 Foundry pike, to make up a previous unit of 64 up to 2 units of 48
2 Hellenistic cavalry generals
16 Archers
12 Hellenistic Agema cavalry
24 Thureophoroi
12 Hellenistic Heavy Cavalry
32 Roman/Allied Leves
64 Blue Boys advancing pikemen
4 figure foot command vignette

Total 236 foot and 28 mounted, all Aventine, with the exception of the Foundry pike (obviously!), the Asiatics (Crusader) and the Arabs (Perry conversions).

Some of you may also remember that I made the terrain for our Heraclea game at Partizan earlier this year, which consisted of six 4'x2' boards, giving an 8'x6' playing area. We were also able to use at the other Partizan show to fight a first century Roman Civil War game, with last of additional "dressing" provided by Simon AKA BigRedBat.

Raphia is the game for this year, with still lots to paint. I'd like to thank everyone that looks in from time to time, particularly those who leave comments; your kind words really do help when the painting mojo occasionally goes AWOL! Hits have now exceeded 25,000 - can't tell you what that does for the ego ;-)

Saturday, 22 December 2012

Seleucid Allies - first batch complete

Basing complete. Slightly more arid than my normal style, but I think it's appropriate for these guys. Still similar enough so they will mix with my slightly less arid standard.

I've gone for a double based look to these. It works particularly well for the Arabs; I don't think I'd have fit them on single bases!

32 more Asiatics to go and only 80 Arabs!

Some pike up next.

















Sunday, 16 December 2012

More Seleucid Allies WIP

First batch of Arab allies and Asiatic levy. Just need to finish off the bases and paint some more; another 32 Asiatics and a mere 80 Arabs...

Shields are the excellent Aventine thureoi.

Next project: more Pink Pike!









Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Arab Tribal Allies for Raphia

These are Perry plastic Ansars that I'm pressing into service as the above.

The Seleucids had 10,000 of these at Raphia. Detail is scarce for what Arabs looked like at this period, but these figures fit what little I've been able to turn up. For shields, I'm going to use thureoi, based on the logic that they've been part paid by being equipped from Seleucid arsenals. Bit of a cop out, but if appearance is difficult to identify, the type of shields used by Arabs at this time is impossible.

I've played around a bit to get a decent flesh colour and I'm quite happy with how this has turned out.