Bondi and Spartans

Here we have a unit of Viking bondi (Crusader 28mm with LBM shield transfers) for my Saga Warband. Nice models, and the LBM shield transfers are superb.

And also a large batch of Zvezda Spartans done in red and bronze. There are 9 stands here (4 figs on 60 x 20 bases) that will factor into a big Greek-Persian Wars battle I am working towards later in the year. Not bad for 1/72 plastic.

Next, some hirdmen waiting for painting, and I might start on some 1/72 Persians.

Ulfednar!

I took a break from hoplites to do a few Vikings for my next Saga warband, hopefully in time for MayDay. These are Crusader 28mm, of which I am a big fan, their dark age ranges have lots of character and a very chunky feel to them. Here we have a lord and 4 Ulfednar / Berzerkers. The skins looked more ursine than lupine to me.

And here we have a bit of a swedge against some of the dinosaur herd belonging to the kids

Rodrigo Diaz and more Spartans

I chiseled away at the El Cid lead pile this week, here we have Rodrigo Diaz himself, mounted and on foot, with his vassal Alvar Minaya, also mounted and on foot.

These are nice and chunky Crusader 28mm, I really like their dark age ranges. Have done a lot of their Normans and Huscarls.

I also finished another battlegroup of Spartans, this is a mixture of the two Zvezda box sets, the new Spartans and the older mixed hoplites. I think Zvezda are my favourite 1/72 manufacturer, love those Corinthian helmets.

1/72 Hoplites

Last week I blew the dust off some 1/72 Greeks and Persians for a change. There are some Hat figures here, which are very so-so, flat poses and require you to make and affix own spear. Pain in the butt! I used VVV shield transfers.

I also found some Caesar hoplites that are much more 3-dimensional, and come with spears.

More Celts and some Saga

I moved this unit of Warlord Celtic cavalry off the workbench this week. Nice models, very animated. Clearly not just out for a pony ride

Mark Wall and I also managed a game of Saga this afternoon, my Spaniards (played as Normans) versus his shiny new Anglo-Danes. This scenario was all about holding terrain features. I manoeveed 12 knights onto the main hill very early on to soak up VP, then as his footslogger marched forward I sprung 6 knights into 8 unarmoured warriors and managed to lose what should have been a squash! (my 15 dice hitting on 4+ lose to his 8 dice hitting on 5+...I lost 2:3!). Mark's surname should be "Shield"Wall.

Half my strike force blown, I spent the rest of the game skulking, sniping and getting picked off unit at a time. At the final reckoning, a tie VPs 54:54!

ECW Parliament green regiment of foot

Over the last week I completed my third regiment of foot for my Parliament army. I need this unit and one more for my MayDay game. I decided to do these guys in hunter green tunics with buff facings because I like them. Not sure if there were any green coat regiments left by 1651, when New Model units were mostly in red coats, but who knows? These are yet more Warlord plastics, funny how I don't seem to get tired of assembling and painting them.

I think I have settled on running the battle of Inverkeithing (Covenanters vs New Model Parliament in 1651, following Dunbar) for my MayDay game using Warhammer ECW. I can do it a 1:20 or so figure scale.

Alford 1645

I completed a few bits and bobs last week including this very nice Celtic cart from Warlord that will come in handy for baggage or an objective in Saga:

I also converted a cavlalry trooper to be Montrose's Royal Standard bearer, here alone and beside an ensign from the Irish Brigade. The flags are from Battle-Flag and I highly recommend them (http://www.battle-flag.com/).

And a Lord Leven, also from Warlord, who stood in for Lord Balcarres in a refight of the Battle of Alford between the Royalists and Covenanters.

I used an order of battle for Warhammer English Civil that I found on their Yahoo which is a really good resource (http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/WECW/). There are a series of excellent Scottish scenarios for the ECW by David Whitfield. I played Alford with Mark on Saturday. We really enjoyed it.

The Covenanter artillery battery misfied 3 times and only hit 2 models the whole game before being overrun by Highlanders.

Montrose was instrumental in leading a counterattack with Highlanders against Balcarres horse which broke the Covenanter left flank.

Other highlights include disastrous advice from a pushy Presbyterian minister attached to one of the Covenanter regiments (run away!) at the worst possible moment which left the Covenanter right flank open. The Irish rolled them up.

Most of the Covenanter army fled into the marshes and were cut down. Strangely historical outcome....

Up next: Currently working on another Parliament regiment of foot for the battle of Dunbar.