Category: Figure release

Posts detailing new figures to the ranges

Linothorax standing figures

We added the linothorax standing figures to the store in various guises. The figure was created to fill gaps in the ranges and so we can now offer Thorakitai/Thureophoroi in linothorax, Late period Hoplites, and imitation legionaries in the lighter armour. Other uses could be for eastern late republican legionaries as shown on the Glanum monument (although we think they are Pontic or Seleucid Imitation legionaries) which are shown with the unusual helmets and round hoplons. We can vary the packs to suit needs so just ask.

Imitation legionaries in linothorax

Late period hoplites

Thureophoroi

Allied/Merc. Southern Italian and Carthaginian cavalry

We have completed the cavalry for now, Thorakitai, Thureophoroi and Thracian next. After that we will complete the Hellenistics for now by adding Seleucid Companions, Agema and line cataphracts. Once they are finished it will be the Early Byzantines (yes I know we have all been waiting for them..lol).

This batch of cavalry come in mixed armours and mail with a command set. The variation is completed by using the different heads sets. Adam designed the figures to represent the troops gathered up in Southern Italy by both the Romans and Carthage, they will also prove useful in successor armies as Italian Merc. When the Attic helmets are added they become Carthaginians, the unit deal is a mix of armour to represent the spoils of war. If you want more mail then the packs are available in mail or mixed armour.

Cloaked cavalry in store

Adam delivered the Breastplate armoured cavalry with cloaks yesterday. They are now in production and the store has the photos of the packs. The figures are headless which allows us to expand on their usage by selecting the sets of heads that go with each pack, add a shield and a spear rather than a lance and they change again. They are a direct replacement for the old PYR13-14+15 packs and we added seleucid, Ptolemaic, Macedonian sets as well. Anyway here are the photos.

Indian elephant crews

We decided to take a small diversion and do some Indian Crew for the elephants, we have no intention of expanding this to include infantry or cavalry.

There are 2 crews which can be mixed, the archers are 2 part and have their bows cast separately. The legs have been carefully crafted to fit in either the front, middle or back position on the elephants.

New Hellenistic period elephant crews

Having added upgraded elephants to our store we decided to revisit the crews for them. Adam created completely new figures for the two basic crews which should cover all the sets for this period including the Carthaginians. The figures have no bases to help fit them into the howdahs, they have separate heads and a new feature in the store allows you to pick from 7 different head sets in a drop down menu. The heads are also available in a pack of 28 (HS1 in the successor section). We found that it is better to fit the mahout to the elephant before the howdah as it can be tricky to get him in place once the head and howdah are glued. The packs come with a small sheet of alloy to use(or not) as a base on which to mount the crew figures, this is best dropped into the howdah and the figures then glued to it, this allows you to be able to remove the crew when transporting or to exchange for a different set. Photos show the figures on the base and in a howdah.

Elephants now in Resin

We had been toying with getting the elephants cast in resin for years and finally late last year we did it. Adam re-modelled the 4 bodies and the 6 heads from the Hellenistic section(body 1+2 will go into the Sassanid range) and off they went to Rob at Hysterical Miniatures. We now have them in stock. Adam has adapted 3 howdahs to fit them and has started on new crew sets which will include astride sets(more on that as we progress). So what have we on offer, well it is a bit different in that we listed the bodies and heads separately, you pick a body then a head and then a howdah if that is the way you want to go, they are all priced a bit lower that the metal originals. The howdah tusks and tails will be cast in pewter. The assembly is easy, take the body super glue the head in place, drill the holes for tusks and tail and paint. The ones I have done needed no filler at all and very little in the way of clean up.

Now sporting more skin detail, thinner legs and an ability to use as astride mounts, we are very pleased with how this worked out and will be moving the Africans and the Sassanid King’s elephant to resin asap.

 

We will also add some unit deals with 2 elephants and crews once we have the figures completed. All this has taken time so the list of releases will be pushed back a bit, this needed to be done now so we had no choice. Byzantines will arrive.

New elephants nearing the store

Late last year we decided to move our elephants to resin and contacted Rob to tackle the project. Adam then decided to take the opportunity to update his original sculpts. We also added the option of using them all without howdahs, this will require new astride crew sets which will be added as soon as we receive the initial castings. We are posting this to allow customers the choice of getting the original metals now or putting off buying until the new ones are ready, only fair we think. It will be 6-8 weeks until they are all ready to list in the shop.

So what elephants are we working on this time, ELH001-ELH006 and all the heads that go with them. We intend to list the bodies(now in one piece) and the heads separately so you can build the elephants as you would like. No doubt Adam will refresh the crews as well.

What does this mean for our other projects, well to be fair to all waiting on the start of the Byzantines, it will add some time on to the start date. Rest assured that we want to start as soon as possible but we are committed to adding the seleucid infantry and cavalry listed on our to do list.

I will post the photos of the resin beasts asap( in other words as soon as I get my hands on them)