15mm Trojan Wars - Acheans

After reading The Iliad, I decided to name some of the units I'd painted and needed to paint, just to give them their own personality and because I'm quite sad!! I went through the book again taking notes on who's who and what. The figures are a mixture of Essex, Chariot and Museum.  I've taken loads more photos so come back again if you like what you see!!!

Warriors from Mykene, led by their King Agamemnon, Chariot Minis.

A second group of warriors from Mykene, who were the largest contingent of the
 Greek army, arriving on 100 ships. Essex minis.

The men of Sparta, led by Menelaos brother to Agamemnon. Chariot minis.

Nestor led these brave men from Pylos

Warriors from Argos led by Diomedes, son of King Tydeus of Argos. Museum minis.

The Dendra armoured Athenians led by Menestheus, son of Peteos.
Museum minis

15mm Trojan Wars Chariots

Some more of my underused Trojan Wars figures. In this post we have some of the many chariots for both sides. The first four photos are the Achaean chariots, which are Essex figures and unfortunately not painted by me, I bought them on ebay several years ago for a bargin price 12 chariots for £38, the seller was rather gutted at the small price I paid for them, I on the other hand was quite chuffed.

The next four photo's are some of the many Trojan chariots in my collection. Some are my work and some are once again from ebay. The figures are a mixed bag of Essex and Chariot miniatures. For the Trojan army as a whole of used many different makes of figures to try and differentiate them from the Greeks. I did read that it's believed the city of Troy was closely allied to and possibly a part of the Hittite Empire, so I've used lots of Hittite figures for Trojans as well as the Mycenaean Greek figures. Some of these can be seen in the pictures below.

15mm Trojan Wars - Myrmidons

Another army in my vast underused collection, are for the Trojan Wars. The Achaians and the Trojans. For today's post I'll just concentrate on one unit. Achilles' Myrmidons. I bought these several years ago and they as well as the rest of the figures have joined the, "Why don't you ever play with me!" club. The figures are from Old Glory's ancient range and very nice figures they are too. Out at the front is Achilles leading the heroic charge toward the Trojan lines. After watching the Brad Pitt, Troy film, I decided to paint them rather dark and mimic their look in the film, which was a little fantasy based but hey, this period must be the original Fantasy Period, this is where GW got all their ideas from, one book is the god and its the only book you can use, in this case that book is The Iliad. I've read and reread the book several times, if your going to game the period, its the only resource needed. It was written supposedly in the second half of the 8th century BC by Homer, it tells the story of the events in the last year of the Trojan War, which led to Achilles' (Achilleus'), killing Hektor and determine the fate of Troy, (Illios).

100,000 Visits !!!

A big thank you to all my followers and random clickers, for helping "Don't throw a 1", reach over 100,000 visits in less than a year. Its a great milestone to achieve and I couldn't have done it without any of you.

Cheers

Ray

Here's a few links, to a some blogs that I enjoy reading, give them a go!!

http://stuartsworkbench.blogspot.com/  Figures and flags for Henry VIII's French Campaigns.

http://bigleesminipaintingblog.blogspot.com/ A variety of Wargaming activities and a member of Posties Rejects

http://whippedraw.blogspot.com/  A great all round Wargaming blog!

http://lordsiwoc.blogspot.com/ A Danish Zombie lover.

http://britisharmylineages.blogspot.com/ Great info on the British and Allied armies circa 1689-96

http://captainrichardsminiaturecivilwar.blogspot.com/ ACW figures at their finest!!

http://golcondarising.blogspot.com/ The 7YW in India, great painted figures and lots of info.

http://nba-sywtemplates.blogspot.com/ Fantastic FREE flags and uniform designs.

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/ Lots of Bods preferably plastic 1/72 scale.

http://peterscave.blogspot.com/ Another great blog mainly 1/72 scale painted figures.

http://sgtsteiner.blogspot.com Great all round blog, figures photos and batreps!!

& I suppose I better link in my pal Fran, otherwise he'll throw his rattle out of the pram...........again.

http://theangrylurker.blogspot.com/

25mm Nubian Spearmen, Spanish Reconquista

Today's post is once again one of my long hidden gems, dusted and photographed just to appear here for your viewing pleasure!! he he!
This unit of Nubian Spearmen was painted many moons ago and like the Black Guard in my previous post, have only made one miserable appearance on a wargaming table, which is such a shame, because in my opinion they look quite good, but I'm biased of course, as I painted most of them. Around ten of these figures were part of my bring and buy bargin at a Birmingham wargame show around 12 years ago. The figures are all from the excellent Gripping beast range. They are based on a picture in the Osprey book,  "The Armies of Islam 7th-10th century Men-at-arms No125. These and others make up my Moor army to oppose the infamous Charltono Hestona  El Cid.
Hope you like them!!!

Ray

Ben Yusef's Black Guard

Now these, (I'm sure the other Rejects will confirm),  haven't been out of their box for some time, infact I've only ever had one game with them and that was many moons ago.  As the title suggests these fine looking fellows belong to Yusef Ibn Tashfin , better known to us today as Ben Yusef.
Ben Yusef was the second ruler of the Murabitun Empire, better known as The Almoravids in Spain, who were the first Saharan Islamic religious movement to establish a large state, which expanded northwards to include half of the Iberian peninsula. The first Muribat ruler Abdalluh Ibn Yasin re-introduced the old military system of tribal drum groups and many other peoples joined the empire, including large numbers of black Africans recruited as slaves, ex prisoners and many Andalusians.
Ben Yusef  created a Hasham Guard of some 2,000 African Infantry also known as The Black Guard, on his way to conquer Andulas, with the eventual defeat of  El Cid at Valencia in 1099.

The figures are by Gripping Beast, I bought some of these figures painted, along with some other El Cid and the Reconquista  figures that I'll post at a later date at a wargame show in Birmingham around 12 years ago, (I think!!), so I had to paint the rest to match in and have got to be the easiest figures I've ever painted, spay black and drybrush grey, with a little colour here and there.        
So there we have it Ben Yusef's Black Guard.

Ray

25mm Ulfhednar

Posting the Viking quiz, the other day has finally made me get my finger out and photograph some of my massive Dark Age collection. First up are the Ulfhednar, I painted these soon after Gripping Beast released them, it must be 10 years ago?? They're not the best paintjobs you'll ever see, and my painting has got a little better since (I hope), but as a warband I think they look mighty cool. I just wish Little BigMan had released their shield transfers before I bought these, one day I may invest in them and go through the Vikings with a fine toothcomb.

The Ulfhednar (singular Ulfhedinn), mentioned in the Vatnsdoela saga Haraldskveaoi and the Volsunga saga, were said to wear the pelt of a wolf when they entered battle. Úlfhednar are sometimes described as Odin’s special warriors, with the pelt from a wolf and a spear as distinguishing features.

I'll ask of the berserks, you tasters of blood,

Those intrepid heroes, how are they treated,
Those who wade out into battle?
Wolf-skinned they are called. In battle
They bear bloody shields.
Red with blood are their spears when they come to fight.
They form a closed group.
The prince in his wisdom puts trust in such men
Who hack through enemy shields.

from the  a skaldic poem composed by Thorbiorn Hornklofi in Haraldskveaoi 
the late 9th century in honour of King Harald Fairhair, as ulfheðnar ("men clad in wolf skins")

Viking Quiz

I found a very interesting Viking Quiz online today at the Anglo-Saxon Archaeology blog. You have to answer 10 sometimes very difficult questions on all things Viking. You can then review your answers to see where you went wrong!! Each time you play the quiz you'll some different questions, so try and remember some of the details.
So fellow Viking lovers, your challenge, without cheating is to beat my score of 80%, I have to admit that was my third go, and I thought I was quite well read, I don't think so......

Ray

6mm Prussian Army for the Franco-Prussian War, Ebay Sale, Now Sold!

Some more blatant advertising once again, this is the second part of fellow Reject, Richard's 6mm Franco-Prussian army. Several people have asked what rules the armies are based for, we used to use a Warmaster variant that Richard found somewhere online and had some very good games, but alas the fine fellows have joined their French foe on Ebay for the measly sum of £35. So grab yourself a bargin and click this link!!

Here are the details for the Prussian Army

16 Line Infantry regts

6 Stands of Jagers

1 unit of Cheveuxlegers

3 units of Dragoons

3 units of Lancers

1 unit of Cuirassiers

24 stands of Artillery

22 Limbers

14 Command stands

in total 900 little blighters, again a mixture of Irregular and Heroics and Ros figures.