There is almost enough for a Basic Impetus 2 Nikephorian Byzantine army. Just short a few slingers and some light cavalry. I need another unit of archers, but can do that by thinning out the ones I have and adding in the odd command figure. I think a bit of detailing, some flags and basing and they will look fine.
These Tin Soldier figures are a bit ordinary compared with the Hellenistic range (and even the Medieval range), but I like them.
The challenge as always is getting my act together and finishing them. In doing a bit of an initial search I came across this post by the Archduke Piccolo which is giving me inspiration for colourful shields, flags and pennants.
Great to see the dear old 'Tin Soldier' castings! I recognised them right off. Their Patzinaks were very nice, but there was only the one casting. I modified some of mine to carry javelins and shields.
ReplyDeleteI may have some spare Kataphtaktoi and Trapezitai kicking around that you could have.
Yes, Tin Soldier figures have charm.
DeleteThat would be fantastic if you had some cavalry to spare. I would be happy to cover costs. My email is mark_haughey AT yahoo dot com dot au. Cheers.
No worries about costs, mate. I'll see what i can find.
DeleteCheers,
Ion
What fun to receive a ready-made Army!
ReplyDeleteAlmost, almost. Still needs a few figures and a bit of work.
DeleteAre these 15s or 25s? If the former I have a box of bits and pieces that might yield a few slingers and light cavalry I could chuck in an envelope for you. Table Top & Minifigs, mostly.
ReplyDelete15s. If you have any odd figures you think might be suitable I am sure I could make use of them. For slinger base just need 3 figures and for light cavalry can get away with just 4.
DeleteAs I replied to the Archduke, I would be happy to cover costs. My email is mark_haughey AT yahoo dot com dot au. Cheers.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHi Mark
ReplyDeleteI have e-mailed the following, but you might see it first here:
I now have a much clearer picture of what spare figures I have available.
12 lance armed kavallarioi (Thematic or Tagmatic). Horses non-barded (apart from the super-heavy kataphraktoi, bards were becoming less common anyhow.
Only 2 have their original lances, and I think a couple more might be wanting lances added, the rest have wire lances.
12 kite shields for these
18 bow-armed kavallarioi. 12 to go with the lancers, 2 more for the kataphraktoi, and 4 more for bow-armed light cavalry. As the light cav was drawn from the
kavallarioi anyhow, I have assumed their dress would be the same. I can add more to this pile if you want.
The bow-armed guys don't get shields.
8 trapezetai, lance armed light horse as cast.
8 round shields, with central bosses, for these.
4 kataphraktoi - these are the fully barded fellows. the addition of two horse archers will complete a 6-figure unit (forms wedge (trapezoid, really)). These have been painted the same way as my others. I still think I might have some 'mint' guys kicking around somewhere, but can't find them. It is just possible I have given them to someone else some time ago, though.
4 Varangian Guard. These have been painted, but have kept their original axes (the ones I have kept I replaced the axes with spears.
If you have need for more skutatoi, I might be able to sling in some. A bit less sure about that. Foot bowmwn might be more problematic.
Just by the way, I began experimenting with bending the skutatoi shields into a 'semi-cylindrical shape - this for a unit still being put together. I have taken a bit of historical licence with them, using a shield design that was more fashionable some 4 centuries earlier.
Just a comment on my menavlatoi. These were simply the original, unmodified shutatoi, given a small plastic chad shield. Apparently they were pretty effective, historically, against heavily armoured cavalry.
Cheers,
Ion
Thanks. Responding via email.
DeleteSounds like you’ve got everything covered!
Delete