bench update 30 June 2025

Back after a good break! And after a couple of false starts... my current project is LCh build for Ugarit Bronze Age. For this small item, I'm using the leftover Maryannu crew from the Trojan build (where I subbed in Amazons!).

Alongside the two crew required, I'm also using 4 Maryannu spears to form the elite required for Ugarit, also used in OMK Hittite. 

The latter seem not to have been rebased yet! An oversight on my part...

bench update 30 April 2025

I've added one more foot element (ordered 3Ax of the multi-spear period) the javelin armed Ps, and completed the paint on the CvGen. This permits a reasonable "a" Dark Age Greek army and an unconvincing "b".

It's tempting to use my many Atlantic Greeks to cover b and c but they won't look right compared to my Early Phalanx period Greeks. So I think the only change that may happen from here is chopping out a few minis to replace them with others.

Here's the morph army awaiting antishine spray

the hot glue blob!

Just to be clear I used the craft type hot glue gun, which doesn't burn through the polythene type plastics!

bench update 26 April 2025 post-basing

I spent a few hours getting the grey and sand caulks plus grit in for the Dk Age Greek "a" army today. 

They are by no means complete! White highlights to be picked out, some very clumsy cloak patterns to be corrected a bit, and grasses to be added.

The next piece of the project is to look at the "b" and "c" armies. I've roughed out a standard for a CvGen and probably just need that and two Psiloi with javelin to cover the "b" requirements. But "c" is where those rough citizen 3Ax become 4Ax or 4Sp. I have a concept for that but might do a text-base first. 

bench update 26 April 2025

Pretty much slop'n'go level of paint on the 6 extra minis but they can now be given a varnish/stain wash, then I'll see how I feel. Behind them, cavalry and LChGen. All I did for those was add some depth shading to the horses. 

Those green sawdust bases are because Atlantic didn't build their Cv minis with bases. I just used a sharp knife to help peel the caulk/flock layer off the original cardboard.

bench update 20 April 2025

So far the project is tracking well. These just need a few highlights. 

The next bit will be adding some HaT command from Carthaginian and Bd from Thracian, spare parts. The Atlantic Greek foot are all ready. 

Getting a mix to suggest 3Bd while still having predominant spears will be a challenge.

I/30a Dark Age/Geometric Greek project begins

I'm back to the project that was depressing me before, but with added minis and a tighter focus.

Requirements for the 30a army:

1xLChGen//3BdGen

1x3Cv

4x3Bd

4x3Axspear

2xPsjav or bow.

The minis I'm bringing to this narrower project are 

Atlantic Greeks, including a LCh conversion from a long time ago.

Esci barbarians converted to cloaked multi-spear toters. 

Mars late Mycenaean light infantry.

Despite the ugly flatness of the latter (and the expense) I'm really happy with those. They give me blade options I didn't have, and some of them are great for any Greek army - like the rock hurlers! 

So far I've trimmed out the 20 most usable looking of them. No rock hurlers yet! 

I'll need to pick out a General-looking mini...

bench update 12 April 2025

The Trojan-plus-allies Army is complete. I'm happy with the final compromise on the dismounted 4Bd.

The LCh General and 3 LCh all the way from Amazon country.

To left, Amazon dismounted and to right, Trojan dismounted. 

The 4x4Sp core. Rear rankers with no armor.

The heavy options: either 4Sp or Lukkan 3Bd. The latter are straight touch-ups from my Philistine army.

The light options which include a very handy 3Bw.

bench update 09 April 2025

I dug back through various spares, and I've done a little more rejigging of a Trojan 4Sp, added two Atlantic Trojans to spaces in a 4Bd I chopped spear/pike types out (third time I have edited this base) and have chosen some Amazon minis to become two of the 4Bd I need.

It'll all come together!

bench update 07 April 2025

The modular chariot crews went in fine - except the general. That 3-woman crew isn't coming back out without a fight!

After that success I spent a bit of time bringing the look of the Trojan bases together. 

Then, trying to assess what my best option is for the dismounted 4Bd for each chariot. I'm leaning towards using Amazon foot, because they make the most sense for the chariot crews.

bench update 05 April 2025

I thought I'd get a couple of shots on this stage, the modular crews.

1. Operate on each mini to be mounted

2. Use grouting to bed them onto card sabots that will fit in the chariots. I had been hoping to jam 3-woman crews in but one archer and one driver was about the limit. The general has her personal javelin hurler as well.

The grouting is a very tough variety of Selleys colored calk. It used to called terracotta color but now it's called rich earth.

bench update 16 March 2025

The Amazon chariot crews are now at the "assembly" point where I have decisions to make about fixing them to their chariots. I'm hoping to use a modular approach.

bench update 02 February 2025

This is the "add chariots to Trojans" sub-project. Caesar Miniatures has not produced such a set, and in any case we are in fantasy army territory here. So these will have a basis on Mitanni and Hittite chariotry - both by Caesar Miniatures again - with Amazon crew. Or I may end up with swapout crew, the Mariannu types being an option for Urartu, or the Northern Canaan armies, for example.

IV/4b Springald... in a very crowded home

The French have far too many elements! I am modestly confident some of the "extras" - that in some cases were just me thinking they ought to be in the mix - will find a new home. Or I'll tranship the Scots to a different box. 

bench update 26 January 2025

I am looping back to add a couple of springald engineers, and I'm 3/4 through basing the springald. The minis are Strelets medieval levy.

bench update 19 January 2025

Recording a conversion of HaT Greek Catapult to late feudal French springald!

The general idea is to make it look as though it is built into a clumsy wheeled box frame.