Over the finish line...

Continuing the horse metaphor, finally completed this batch of horses. Only needed about 45 minutes to get there, but I've got so hacked off with the tedious process of doing so many at the same time I've struggled to pick up a brush...at least I can intersperse some different stuff with the riders to keep things interesting!

Plodding on...

Nearly there with my batch of 30 horses. Don't think I'll attempt this again; I've found the slow progress has really messed with my motivation. Just got iron bits to paint and bronze ornaments to highlight, and not forgetting the animal skins.

I've also taken a quick shot of the first batch of riders to go with these horses. These will allow me to expand my current unit of 12 Agema to the two units of 9 needed for Raphia.

A Horse! A Horse! - more Raphia WIP

Sorry, couldn't resist it! Somehow seems appropriate given the recent news regarding the finding of one of Yorkshire's Own ;-) There are thirty horses, to be precise.

Basic paint job finished on the horse flesh, still need to finish saddle blankets and tack. As you can see, I paint a number of different base colours and vary manes/tails, socks and blazes. The observant amongst you may have also spotted that I used three different primer colours to help build up the shading

I don't normally paint cavalry in this manner, as I generally attach riders to mounts prior to painting, but given my requirements for a total of six units of nine for the scenario, I decided to go a bit more "assembly line" in order to speed up the process.

I already have two units of twelve (one each of guard and line) and these will be adapted and reinforced so that I have two units of Agema and four units of line.

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 ;-)

Mercenary Phalanx & Asiatics Completed

Here's a couple more units finished for Raphia.

The Greek mercenary pike represent the 5,000 who fought for the Seleucids at Raphia, "armed in the Macedonian fashion".

Figures are by Foundry, originally painted about 18 months ago and parked. I've finished the basing and added some extra shields for the chaps that didn't get them first time around. Shields are from Crusader (I HATE Foundry bottle tops!), with home made transfers. The design is based on one of the frescos in the Aghios Athenasios tomb. I drew the image in MS Paint and used a sheet of transfer material bought from eBay.

Secondly, we have the second unit of Asiatic troops to add to err... the first. Basically the same paint job, with a different coloured hat (yes, I know it's called a tiara!). Sometimes a simple paint job works a treat.

More Asiatics WIP

These are nearly complete - figures are painted and based, just waiting for their shields and groundwork to be done. I'll get a shot of both units over the weekend when I've had chance to finish everything off.

I'm really pleased with the yellow tiaras, I think they've turned out really well.

Another unit for Raphia (almost!) down.

A Few More Asiatics

The element to the left has just been finished today to bring the unit up to full strength.

The second photo is the new arrivals from my last post prepped and reddy (get it?). I've used red oxide primer on these as red I'd the predominant colour on these figures. I realised that the first thing I'd done with the other batches was to apply copious amounts of burnt cadmium as a shade for the final red, so thought I'd try and short cut this process.

I'll probably change the head dress colour on the second unit to a) differentiate and b) stave off boredom! Let's see how that works out.