Pontic Pike

Well finally finished my first block of Pontic pike, only two more to go, I continued with the mythical beast theme adding Ceberus to the units banner, not 100% happy with the result as I tried to copy a ancient Greek vase of Hercules capturing the beast, it was depicted with one red, one white and one black head and body, as my feild was alradyred I decided to paint a yellow head instead. I probaly would of been better off just depicting the head instead of the whole body, at this stage it will stay as it is, I may revisit at some stage though.

All of my pike are with charged pikes so fitting them has proved a challenge, I have decided to add small rank numbers on the back in rank numbers and colours for each rank so placing them down come game time will be easier.

cheers
Matt

Pontic sythed chariot

Latest off the table is my Pontic four horsed sythed chariot, I can see it running down Romans, Celts and Greeks causing mayhem amoung undrilled troops at least! Although a one hit wonder in WAB I still had to have one! This is a lovely First Corps model which came out last year, somewhere at the back of my table is the yoke, when I find it I will attach the reins at some stage to finish it off, I also did think about adding some victims but decided against it. Some pike and more light infantry to come, later this week.

cheers
Matt

Sugar and Spice and all things nice Ticonderoga Moab

Well Australia's largest Sydney wargames convention MOAB (Mother Of All Battles Convention) has come and gone and its time to take stock of the purchases and sales.

I thought it was busier than most years on Saturday and Sunday, however Monday was quiter, talking to the trader the buyers seemed to have stayed away or kept thier money in thier pockets. I still however manged to pick up a few bargains, on the bring and buy I picked up the score of the show IMO 120 Perry and Foundry AWI figures for $65 I am still amazed by this now! I also picked up some 28mm Gripping Beast cathaginians and some A and A Late Roman infantry. On the Retail front I bought a bunch of Crusader Macedonians figs to flesh out some units I already have and add to some armies for variation, and a ECW building to add to my collection.

Between Scott, Nathan, Louis and myself we run a Ticonderoga participantion game, figs from Scots and my collection. We played the game each day to completion using British Grenadier rules. Enjoy the pics from Nathan. A mix of Front Rank, First Corps, Eureka and Conquest figures, terrain and table and barricades by me.

GW Galloper Gun

Although Games Workshop comes in for a lot of bashing amoung historical gamers it does make some very fine models, every now and then I splash cash on some of thier kit, although these days mostly second hand items at bring and buys or on fleabay. Back in the late eighties and nineties I regulary played competition Warhammer on the Sydney circuit, before GW even had a shopfront in the country. I regulary placed in the top five with my Empire army, and played just about every month at my local club (Western Wargamers). I have had several armies during the years, Empire (some of the older metals are still in my Renn collection), Bretonian (some of the older metal commands are in my norman army and baron wars armies), Undead, and wood elves.
My painting style really developed during this time and still in some ways reflects the early GW style or base, wash, highlight. Late last year I purchased from a bring and buy, an Empire army and more recently High Elves which my two sons play with .....honestly :). I plan to paint both of these armies for them during the year fro them, so every now and then I will post them up here.

cheers
matt

Mithridatic Cataphracts

Pontus, my continued obsession with the east for the 2011 build list. Mithradates IV Eupator was Rome's biggest threat in the east from 120BC to 63BC. Mithridates is remembered as one of Roman Republic’s most formidable and successful enemies, who engaged three of the prominent generals from the late Roman Republic in the Mithridatic Wars: Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Lucullus and Pompey.
My Pontic army has now been completly purchased lead wise and all I need to do is put some paint on the figures, three pike blocks of 24 (two in trousers and armour, one in no armour (ex slaves), two units heavy cavalry both Cataphract, one Pontic and Cappadocian, two units of light cavalry, one Scythian and one Armenian, one four horse sythed chariot probably for the king himself!, Bosporan hill tribesmen warband, thracian mercenary light infantry, mercenary missile troops including cretan archers, Bactrian sligers, and finaly a Galatian warband (gaulish dressed types apparently!). I may add to the army some imitation legionarys (probaly cathaginian heavy inf figures)so the army can cover the whole period.

I have decided to use Greek mythology beasts for all of my unit standards for my pontic army, it is a chellenge freehand but I am happy so far at my first attempt, anybody guess what it is!!!!!

cheers
matt

Gallic Flasher Fanatics

Some Black Tree Design Celts I bought at our clubs great marulan car boot sale last month, I needed to paint them as they wouldn't fit in the fully packed to the top celt box with 400 odd figures! I enjoyed painting these guys and tried using some old GW inks (from the 80s), I like the blue the best, the green is OK and a little disatified with the red, I have started like everybody else to use silfor tufts which add a wild grass look to bases and will continue the theme with the rest of my romans and celts, I guess I will also revisit my painted ancients also.

















cheers
matt

More Pulp

The latest addition to my snow based pulp games a 28mm Mammoth taxi!







cheers
Matt