OG Gaesatae (aka Nekkid Gauls) WIP +1

Finished detailing the shields with LBMS transfers. Painted the spines and metal bosses, as well as the edges of the shields. I'm not sure if these patterns would have been prevalent at Magnesia with the Gallic units there, but they certainly add color to the otherwise naked infantry.

The figures themselves were given a light flesh wash as I thought the Miniwax Tudor stain gave them too stark of an appearance. I'm happy with the results. However, if I were to do this over, I would've given them a wash of Miniwax Bombay Mahogany, or another stain with a more reddish tone.

This was a good experiment with using Miniwax stain. I was quite impressed with the way it flowed into the recesses and crevices. Better than when I've used an acrylic paint wash - which sometimes tends to dry in areas opposite where it should. After finishing these guys (flocking the bases & adding shields), I'll move on the the OG Gallic cav & Scythian mounted archers.

Old Glory Gaesatae WIP

Decided to try a faster way to paint these guys up using a close flesh-colored spray paint. The paint is called "Sweet Cream" and was found at Michaels. Here's how the figures look with a coat of it.

I also bought a can of Miniwax Tudor stain - this is my second attempt at using a wash like this. Earlier I had used the wrong type of stain - oil based. That mistake was very messy, and put me off for a long time.

I tried to read up on experiences others have had using this particular stain. From what I read, it appeared this was the favorite choice of shade. There was another color that also looked promising - Bombay Mahogany. Now that I've given them a coat of Tudor, it does seem a bit too black. Maybe the Bombay Mahogany might've been a better choice for flesh - since it was a bit redder. I may end up giving the figures another coat of flesh wash - to soften the look. I also think I should've painted the other parts of the figures before adding the wash; like helmets, etc.

Here are the shields which have LBMS transfers added. They were a bit fiddly to apply, but once I got the hang of it, it wasn't too bad. I only ended up destroying two transfers - and these were the first couple of ones before I figured them out. In any case, there's no way I could've painted them free-hand.

It's imperative to use a sharp hobby knife to cut out the tiny areas where the transfers need to clear the shield bosses. The only way I can safely add LBMS transfers - as they have adhesives - is to wet the shield surface and also the transfer when applying them. This allows the transfer to be properly positioned before pressing them down - which I use cotton swabs to do.

Scythed Chariot by 1st Corps

This is a fairly straight-forward model. I'm not sure if I have the horses spaced out correctly as the scalloped out parts of the yoke don't exactly line up where it meets the horses. I had to do this because of how the two poles from the chariot body only allows so much space for the horses. I bent the poles slightly to allow the two inside horses to fit between them.

I didn't realize until after I ordered that it came with two types of drivers - randomly selected by 1st Corps. This one appears Persian - with a conical helmet. The other type of driver is more "Seleucid" with the same kind of helmet and face mask like their Hetairoi and Agema cavalry.

The driver's right hand was drilled out to accept a whip. The kit comes with a metal one, but I plan to add one from melted plastic sprue - for it's flexibility.

This will be the lone chariot in the Seleucid army. It's mainly for looks and the fact that no Seleucid army would be complete without at least one. I can forgo camels though. In WAB - and historically - they are one hit wonders; if they hit at all.
ADDENDUM - base flocked & whip added.

Next up are Old Glory Gaesatae; followed by Old Glory Gallic Noble cav and Scythian mounted archers. Once these are done, the Seleucid army will be complete.

Magnesia Playtest

Using some stand-ins until we get our actual figures in and painted, my buddy Adrian and I ran a playtest this morning. Bruce D. also was there and he played the Seleucids. It was a really good to play this game as we were all a little rusty with WAB; having not played it for quite some time. Only Adrian has the newer 2nd Edition rulebook, but we managed to incorporate the changes as we stumbled upon them.

Bruce played the Seleucids very well and Adrian played his Romans somewhat (too) conservatively. This led to us calling it at the top of Turn 6, as most of the heavy infantry hadn't even moved into contact yet.

The skirmishers on both sides did very well. Although the Dahae (or their Samurai stand-ins) were a bit too intimidating with their BS4. So much so that the Roman left hardly budged. The screen from the light horse even prevented the newly painted Companion wedge from entering the fray.

On the Roman right, their allied forces under Eumenes did very well. They had a strong contingent of Cretan archers who pretty much scared the Tarentines and Scythed Chariot (actually a Trojan War model standing in) from getting to close. They also destroyed a small Thracian Peltast unit. But the Peltasts did well in holding them off for awhile.

The Velites on the Roman right didn't fare too well against a small unit of Guard Hypaspists - well the Hypaspists do have a BS4 and had heavy armor and shields. Good for them!

In the center, as already noted - the heavy infantry didn't come into contact. The only blood the phalanxes drew was actual blood from Bruce's hand when he was moving his skirmishers. A pike actually stuck into his hand with the poor phalangite dangling below it. Too bad I didn't get a picture of it.

The elephants did manage to cause some fear in the Romans though.

Bruce's plan to move them out of stampede range of his own troops worked out when one of them lost its round of combat. They are practically indestructible with their metal barding, but didn't get enough lucky dice to kill enough Romans to win.

Again, the game was a great refresher of the basic and special rules. We will definitely be having another playtest or maybe two if we have time. When I got home the Old Glory figures I've been waiting on have also arrived!

As the Cable Guy (Jim Carey's version) would say, "Red knight's going down, down, down, down."

Seleucid Companion Wedge

Well my 1st Corps figures finally made it in, after over a month waiting. I ordered it via Scale Creep Minis - but the initial order Mark received from 1st Corps didn't include Scythed Chariots. Along with the chariot, I needed four more cavalry figures to complete the wedge. I managed to finish them up today.

They are a mixture of 1st Corps Hetairoi and Agema sets. The main difference is the horses have different types of barding, and also the Agema guys have full leg armor. I wanted the unit to have a little variety. Their helmets are identical though.

I regret that I couldn't complete the chariot model for tomorrow's playtest for our Magnesia game scheduled for Enfilade! in May.

I've also been waiting on (for over a month) another order to complete the Seleucid army. I ordered some Old Glory stuff from Warweb. The delay was that they didn't have all the items in stock; they should be here any day. For tomorrow's game Samurai will be substituted for Dahae, Turcopoles for Gallic Noble cavalry, and Hoplites for a Gallic Warband.

Terrain

Since I'm still waiting on some orders to complete the Seleucid army, figured I'd paint up some terrain that's been sitting on a shelf for a couple of years. I bought this for $20 at a local convention a couple of years ago. It was a on sale due to the bottom being a bit warped. As it made of foam this was easily leveled. It is from Monday Knight Productions.

The entire piece sprayed with a black undercoat.

It was then dry-brushed with craft store paint. Red mixed with a little brown, yellow and white was used for the smaller bricks.

Grays were than applied to the streets and walls. Finally these where lightened with white. The piece is probably good for 20mm or so, but here it is with a couple of Foundry figures.

Here is an Old Glory 25mm figure running up a street.

This is a VFM figure; which is a larger 28mm.

I plan to use it in a Verdun scenario using The Great War rules.

Chiron and Medusa

Still waiting on the Old Glory and 1st Corps orders; decided to paint up these mythological characters

Got these awhile ago off of ebay from Miniature Giant for about $1.00 each.

They join an earlier completed Pan (also from Miniature Giant), and a Reaper Hercules.

I actually ordered two Medusas; and used one - we'll just her head - for a Mycenaean standard.

Incidentally, it seems I can't upload images like I used to. I now have to go to HTML mode to get them in. Hope it corrects itself later, I'm not used to seeing all this computer script.

Relic's Antiochus - Painted

Being a king, the color selection was mainly purple - actually various shades using different mixtures of red and blue. The sculpting is really impressive. For instance the horse barding has multiple faces on it; all excellently done. On the horse's head plate there is a human face (Antiochus' ?) and also a leopard's below it.

Mike from Relic had cautioned me that there would be a gap between the horse and rider. I didn't really notice it on the trial fit before they were painted. However, after painting there was a substantial gab - mainly on the right side. I'll fill it up with putty - right now the two pieces aren't glued together yet.

Here he is with the gap filled with a little bit of putty & painted over.

Again, a really nice sculpture; and if you like your 28mm figures on the larger side, this one will not disappoint you.

Now if those Old Glory Scythians and Gauls, as well as the 1st Corps Scythed Chariot and rest of the Hetairoi figures can get here...

Relic's Antiochus

Got this big guy yesterday - man he is huge compared to the other folks in his army; but...this will undoubtedly ID him as The Army General. Very well sculpted and what impressed me on first glance is the head armor and barding on the horse. If you're gonna have a Seleucid army, you gotta have this guy. I hope to start on this guy this weekend - updates will be posted.

The figure was well-packaged in two separate ziplock bags - one for the horse and one for multi-part Antiohcus. Mike's service at Relic is top-notch and highly recommended. I wish him and Relic the best.

How to Convert Toy Palm Trees

Or close enough. These are plastic trees that decorated my oldest son's birthday cake, along with dinosaurs, about 10 years ago. Luckily they were saved from being thrown away and I added some paint and flocking. Surprisingly the acrylic paint covered the plastic very well; even without primer. Clear matte acrylic was sprayed as a sealer

They look about right for 28mm. They will be used along the River Phrygius for the Magnesia game. The Romans used the river to protect their left flank.

This is what the trees looked like prior to the painting and flocking; actually I've already dry-brushed some of the trunks and bases. Left over lead was glued under the bases using Epoxy.

Cavalry Wedges

While awaiting the arrival of some orders to complete the Seleucid army - I figured I may as well build the movement tray for the Hetairoi wedge. The photo below shows a test fit with the figures I have now. The Relic Antiochus figure will actually be in the lead position, and the leader in silvered armor, a Magister Militum figure, will be moved to the second row alongside the standard bearer.

Some left over plywood from Joann's was measured and cut. Styrene plastic was glued on for the edging. As you can see in the picture, the edging wasn't too precise as I added acrylic caulking to blend it into the ground work.

The photo below shows the caulking applied, as well as magnetic sheeting.

Here's the wedge tray flocked.

In comparison to this wedge tray, I made one out of styrene plastic several years ago for some A&A Companions. This tray is rectangular and without the edging blended in. It was someone's suggestion that blending in the edging would make it look nicer - so I did it this time around.

Can't wait until the orders arrive to complete this army, so we can do some playtesting.

On a side note, we've had some fairly cold weather recently, it snowed a couple of days this past week. Slippery road conditions aside, still pretty nice. The dogs enjoyed it.

1st Corps Hetairoi - Finished

The clean and defined sculpting really allows for quick painting of these figures, including the horses. Choosing a basic and uniform color scheme also helped. The only thing I found somewhat negative is how the riders sit on the mounts. Or should I say how they don't sit well on their mounts. I used some Green Stuff to help them sit better. The riders legs also look a bit too far outside of the horses bodies too. However, this will be a minor thing as they will be in a wedge formation. I'm hoping I get the remainder of this unit soon.

These are closer to 25mm than 28mm - and I've also ordered a Relic Antiochus figure who is definitely larger - listed as 29mm - so hopefully he won't too odd leading this unit. He looks too good to pass up for a Seleucid army.