Macedonian and Successor Elephants

 

Here are four 15mm Macedonian and Successor Elephants that I've just finished painting. In the photos above of early ellies with pikemen astride, the middle one is Xyston which I just painted, while the other two, by Gladiator Miniatures and Essex Miniatures, were done some time ago. In the photos below the later armoured Seleucid elephant in the middle is by Xyston while the other two are Forged in Battle. To finish there's a shot of my Seleucid Successor infantry and cavalry.

Mitanni and Canaanite Infantry

 

Here are some 15mm Mitanni infantry and Canaanite javelin men. The Mitanni infantry are by Chariot Miniatures and the Canaanite javelin men are by Essex Miniatures. I'll try the Mitanni against my Hittites in a Chariots Rampant game soon.

Mounted Sergeants

 

Here are a unit of mounted Sergeants with crossbow for a small Lion Rampant force of Teutonic Knights. The figures and horses are all Essex Miniatures. I have some plastic Fireforge sets to paint for the knights and other sergeants. For opponents I will use my Medieval Russians and Mongols. I'd quite like to refight the famous Battle on Lake Peipus in 1242 where Alexander Nevsky defeated the Teutonic Knights.

There is an entertaining 27 minute YouTube video of the battle scene, the Battle on Ice, from Sergei Eisenstein's 1938 movie Alexander Nevsky:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcPixaWL2Pg

Macedonian Hypaspists

 

Here's a guest post by Garry with some Macedonian Hypaspists he's just painted. Figures are a mix of Essex Miniatures and A&A Miniatures with LBM shield transfers and banner.

Hittite Spearmen and Sea Peoples

 

Here are some 15mm Hittite spearmen and Sea Peoples that I've just finished painting. Most of them are Red Copper Miniatures figures except for two Essex figures on a Sherden base (far right, second photo down). The resin figures were printed by Proxy Wargaming, a 3D printing service in Sydney, who provide a great service and really detailed figures with minimal clean up required. Their prices have gone up since I bought these and I actually bought most of my Early Hebrew army from Baueda in Italy who have very reasonable overseas postage (12 Euros). 

Below are some comparison shots of the Red Copper Pelset figures with Essex Pelset figures, Red Copper Hittite spearmen with those from Gladiator, Essex and Chariot Miniatures. They're obviously very detailed, as they're available as 28mm figures as well. The Hittite spearmen have no sidearm, like a dagger, axe or sword and one of the figures has a cropped beard (the Hittites were clean shaven). Many of the Sea Peoples figures have bronze forearm guards not something I've seen in any illustrations, reliefs or other 28mm ranges before but were used in early Mycenaean Dendra type armour. I'm working on some Syrian Chariots and a New Kingdom Egyptian camp so will post photos of these when finished.

Seleucus, Antigonus and Charioteer

 

Above is a guest post by Garry of two Successor command stands he has just painted. The first is of Seleucus, a Relic figure with an Essex officer and Aventine standard bearer. The second is Antigonus, a Relic figure with a Relic shield bearer and Aventine figures for the rest. The banners are by LBM with some VVV stars.

This week I received my copy of the new GMT Games, Roman chariot racing game, Charioteer, see photo below. This looks interesting, I've read the rules, they're only eleven pages, not overly complex but use a  mixture of cards and tokens to race the chariots. The game comes with six plastic counters for chariots  but I will use the Steve Barber quadrigae I've been painting for Circus Maximus. Hopefully I will get to try this out soon. 

Mitanni versus New Kingdom Egyptians ADLG Game

 

Mitanni (foreground) and Egyptians (background) deployed

Sides advance and exchange bow fire

More shooting

Pelset are impetuous and charge

Libyans are impetuous and charge

On Monday Craig came over to my place and we played a small 100 point ADLG 15mm game with the Mitanni taking on the New Kingdom Egyptians. I'd only just finished painting and varnishing the Syrian/Canaanite/Mitanni infantry, so I was keen to give them a run. The mixed units of swordsmen and bowmen seemed to be very effective but we forgot that they fight as mediocre in combat. I was pretty lucky with my shooting, rolling quite a few sixes, so the Egyptian infantry didn't last long and some were already disordered before they charged into combat. 

Mitanni chariots charge

Egyptian infantry are worn down by bow fire and combat

Egyptian chariots charge

Egyptians are demoralised

Here are a few shots of the Syrian, Canaanite and Mitanni infantry that I just finished painting. They're all Gladiator Miniatures figures sold by Fighting 15s. I just finished varnishing them this morning but didn't have time to finish off the archer bases with tufts and flock. Eventually I'd like to refight the Battle of Megiddo with these 15mm armies.

Syrian and Canaanite archers

Syrian, Canaanite and Mitanni infantry

Mixed units

Mitanni Maryannu with supporting infantry

About a month ago a pair of yellow-tailed black cockatoos visited and were feeding in our neighbour's trees and they were surrounded by at least a dozen king parrots. Very strange, maybe it was a territorial thing?

Sumerian, Hittite and Egyptian Reinforcements

 

Here are more 28mm Sumerian spearmen from Lagash, and a 15mm Syrian chariot, Hittite guardsmen and a New Kingdom Egyptian chariot that I've just finished painting. The spearmen are Warlord/Cutting Edge and Eureka Miniatures, the fifth unit I have painted, one more is planned for the army. The 15mm chariots and guardsmen are Gladiator, Peter Pig and Essex.

Last month before lockdown, we did a short mountain bike ride around the Glenburn Heritage Trail. This is a 12km loop for walkers and cyclists which has a suprising number of sites to see and is actually really interesting to visit. Some of the trees in the orchard at Colliers Homestead Ruins are still fruiting, including three prolific quince trees. From the Colliers Homestead Ruins the track climbs up gently to Atkinson Trig which gives a nice downhill run back to the cars.

North Buttress of Boorooomba Rocks

Glenburn Shearing Quarters and Shed

Glenburn Sheep Dip and Yards

Colverwell Graves

Glenburn Homestead

Snow on Mt Bimberi

Coppins Homestead Ruins

Colliers Homestead Ruins