August: a wicked month

Things have been somewhat slow as I've had to deal with holidays etc.

But here is the next base about two thirds finished, just a few shields and the groundwork to go.

First two bases finito

Finished and based. Photography is not my strong point, so I apologise for them.

Next part of this Phalanx, which includes the command base, on its way.

First two bases almost finished

Okay first two bases almost completed, just a couple of shields to attach then its basing. I have decided to stick with FOG, so they will be based as a double base (60X40) with four double bases bases making a battle group of eight single bases, as per the rules.

Once these two are based, it will be on to the next which will include leaders etc. I have a long way to go yet, but I'll get there in the end.

A quick word about Aventine Miniatures, not only are they fantastic figures that paint so well, but I rate their service second to none. I ordered some figures on a Tuesday night (at around ten thirty), I received them on the Thursday morning. Hows that for a record? Other figure manufacturers and suppliers take note.

 I am using the 'Dip and Highlight' method of finishing the figures, as used by the great and good of wargaming. But have used the 'Army Painter Quick shade' on some and GW's 'Devlan Mud' wash on others. There is little difference in the result, but GW has the edge due to it being water based and flat finished, thereby negating the need for a white spirit brush cleaner. However, the gloss finish of the 'quick shade' is much tougher and solves the need for a gloss varnish pre-mat finish.

No new figure, but...

Something to be going on with.

First Base

First eight finished. Not sure about basing yet, depends on the ruleset I go for. At the moment it looks like FOG (in which case the 60x40mm base would be right), but I do have a tendency to change rule systems like underwear.

Before I base them however, I'm trying to work out where the 'file leaders' should be in relation to the phalanx. Logic dictates they should head each column, but that would mean too many file leaders on the front base. So if anyone has any ideas please share them.

So far...

The first of my phalanx. 1 Finished and shielded. Three awaiting their shields

(Aventine Miniatures)

For the moment...

The first of my phalanx has arrived and the first of those are midst painting. In the mean time here is a map of Epirus and its surrounding states.

Just to fill a space

While awaiting the arrival of the start of my Pyhrric army, here is a base of my Republican Roman Principes. The base it self is still to be finished. Aventine Miniatures figures, unfortunately the photography fails them.

It begins...

Pyrrhus was the son of Aeacides and Phthia, a Thessalian woman, and a second cousin of Alexander the Great (via Alexander's mother, Olympias). Pyrrhus was only two years old when his father was dethroned, in 317 BC, his family taking refuge with Glaukias, king of the Taulantians, one of the largest Illyrian tribes. Pyrrhus was raised by Beroea, Glaukias's wife and a Molossian of the Aeacidae dynasty.
Glaukias restored Pyrrhus to the throne in 306 BC until the latter was banished again, four years later, by his enemy, Cassander. Thus, he went on to serve as an officer, in the wars of the Diadochi, under his brother-in-law Demetrius Poliorcetes. In 298 BC, Pyrrhus was taken hostage to Alexandria, under the terms of a peace treaty made between Demetrius and Ptolemy I Soter. There, he married Ptolemy I's stepdaughter Antigone (daughter of Berenice I of Egypt, Ptolemy's mistress and a Macedonian noble) and restored his kingdom in Epirus in 297 BC with financial and military aid from Ptolemy I. Pyrrhus had his co-ruler Neoptolemus II, puppet of the now-deceased Seleucus, murdered. Through his marriage to Antigone, she bore him a son called Ptolemy and possibly a daughter called Olympias.
In 295 BC, Pyrrhus transferred the capital of his kingdom to Ambrakia (modern Arta). Next, he went to war against his former ally and brother-in-law Demetrius, and, by 286 BC, he had taken control over the kingdom of Macedon. Pyrrhus was driven out of Macedon by Lysimachus in 284 BC.
In 281 BC, the Greek city of Tarentum, in southern Italy, fell out with Rome and was faced with a Roman attack and certain defeat. Rome had already made itself into a major power, and was poised to subdue all the Greek cities in Magna Graecia. The Tarentines asked Pyrrhus to lead their war against the Romans.
Pyrrhus was encouraged to aid the Tarentines by the oracle of Delphi. His goals were not, however, selfless. He recognized the possibility of carving out an empire for himself in Italy. He made an alliance with Ptolemy Ceraunus, King of Macedon and his most powerful neighbor, and arrived in Italy in 280BC.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhus_of_Epirus)

And thus like King Pyrrhus of Epirus, I begin to recruit my army.