Late Companions

 The title refers to the fact that these have been sat waiting to be finished pretty much since Victrix released them! I think I fell out with them because they’re somewhat on the large side. I’ve now painted up a pretty large infantry force and really need some cavalry, so needed to get my finger out. This is a bit of a test base to see what worked colour wise and I’m reasonably happy with the outcome 

More Hypaspists

 I’ve added another couple of bases to these and tried to give them a focal point with a snazzy leader. He’s based on the Agios Athenasios tomb paintings, with shields and helmet borrowed from other figures in the frieze. The helmet he’s wearing is converted to look like the one found in Phillip’s tomb (carefully not saying which Phillip; there is some dispute!)

Here’s another shot to show the trumpeter, also from the same source; I’ve just added the trumpet!

All together as a fighting line.

Hypaspists at the charge and other stuff

 Slowly working on adding to my Hellenistic troops and couldn’t resist the new Victrix Hoplite set. They’ve been lightly converted with head swaps and some feather transplants to add variety.

I’ve also added a couple of bases to my Early Parthian allies/mercenaries, including a base of the classic Parthian shot and some command to give the expanded unit some focus

Early Parthian Auxiliaries

 More from Victrix, this time from the Scythian/Parthian horse archer set. Think I’ll add a couple more basis and include a command stand

More Macedonian Obsessions

 So here we have the next batch of Victrix figures to feed my obsession!

They have been painted as fairly generic later hoplites, useful as either allies or enemies of the various Macedonian dynasties and Successors.

I’ve again tried to simulate a densely packed mass of close order troops, huddling together to get the mutual support of their neighbours shields. I think I would prefer the look of the shields overlapping the other way, but the pose of the figures doesn’t allow it

Macedonian Obsessions

 It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted on here, but I thought I’d post a few pics of some Victrix Macedonians I’ve been working on over the last few years.

This was the first unit I completed, but not the first one I started (see next one below)

This was the first unit I started but fell out with. I started again with the one above and then came back and substantially repainted this one until I was happier with it

Unit three was a bit more straightforward 

As was unit four. One thing to note her is the use of LBMS transfers over metallic paint; gives a really good effect

Unit five is a bit OTT, with inspiration taken from the Agios Athenasios to be painting, including the various tunic patterns, purple cuirasses and helmets

We finally have command group to finish off the progress to date 

Raphia - the game

Just a few quick and dirty shots to give an idea of how the game looked.

The Seleucid line

The Ptolemaic line

Initial deployment.

Close up of the Seleucid right flank, where much of the early action took place.

The wings close.

Crunch time!

Oops! Two dead elephants - the Africans certainly can't stand up to the bigger, stronger Indians.

The last Nellie doesn't last too much longer (apologies for the dodgy lighting!)

Action on the Seleucid left

An over enthusiastic Seleucid elephant crashes into the Ptolemaic Agema...

But doesn't last long!

Action on the other wing, with similar results in the elephant on elephant combats.

The phalanxes close in the centre with an almighty crunch!

On the right, a unit of Seleucid Agema manoeuvre into position as combat erupts along the whole line...

From the other side of the lines, the Ptolemaic Agema take their tole on the Greek mercenary phalanx unit.

The Agema beat the Greeks and advance in pursuit, revealing the flank of the next unit in line, who are charged frontally by the Argyraspides and in the flank by the Seleucid guard cavalry accompanied by Antiochus, with predictable results... A couple of other units also go down, leading to the demoralisation of the whole Ptolemaic army and a history changing Seleucid victory.

All the above pictures were taken with a iPhone; lots of other pics were taken with much more professional kit, so I'm sure better pics will be forthcoming... 

Rules were Simon's "To The Strongest!", named after Alexander's supposed answer on his deathbed when asked who would inherit his throne. They're still in development, but gave a good account of themselves in what was a large, complex game.