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 Maryannu 4

 

Here are four more Mitanni Maryannu chariots, 15mm this time. Figures are by Gladiator Miniatures and Chariot Miniatures. Unfortunately these are no longer available with the closing of Fighting 15s and Magister Militum. I had a hard time fitting the crew into the chariots, something I remember from my last batch of these figures. There are very limited options now for metal 15mm Biblical figures with Essex Miniatures and Old Glory 15s being the main ranges left.

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.

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?

Invincible Meshwesh

 

Here are some Libyan warriors, the Invincible Meshwesh, that I will use for a 15mm Kushite army. The figures are by Gladiator Miniatures, sold by Fighting 15s and are chunky little fellas with a lot of character. One of the four poses in the packs was armed with a bronze khopesh sword which I removed and replaced with a javelin as I'm using them for a seventh century BC Kushite army.

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