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Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: craigrdavey@gmail.com on 06 September 2023, 02:49:10 PM

Title: Macedonian Obsessions - added Hoplites & Horse Archers
Post by: craigrdavey@gmail.com on 06 September 2023, 02:49:10 PM
I’ve not done very much painting over the last few years, having burnt myself out on a couple of joint projects with BigRedBat (no hard feelings!) and pursuing other passions.

I have however been slowly working through some Victrix Macedonians and thought I’d show my progress to date.

This is the first unit I started painting about three/four years ago. I lost patience with the methodology I was using and started a second unit, utilising different techniques

Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: craigrdavey@gmail.com on 06 September 2023, 02:52:12 PM
So this was unit two. As noted above, it was actually finished before the previous one
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: craigrdavey@gmail.com on 06 September 2023, 02:55:04 PM
By unit three, my methodology had evolved a bit further. I think I simplified it a bit too much, so whilst quicker, to my mind it was less effective
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: craigrdavey@gmail.com on 06 September 2023, 02:57:32 PM
Back in the swing of things with unit four. The shields worked out pretty well, with an experiment whereby I used LBMS transfers over a bronze metallic base, rather than the usual white. I also put a bit more effort into the faces
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: craigrdavey@gmail.com on 06 September 2023, 03:01:08 PM
Unit five was a bit all in, with all pikes replaced with metal and shields sourced from Potbelly in NZ. Theses were then trimmed down to the correct size.

For those interested, they’re based on the figures in the Agios Athenaois tomb paintings, including the various tunic colours used and the purple cuirasses and helmets. Probably a stretch to equip the whole unit, but who knows what the Argyraspides looked like? 😉
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: craigrdavey@gmail.com on 06 September 2023, 03:03:05 PM
Last post for now, a command base, equipped as the last unit and painted using the same source
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: SJWi on 06 September 2023, 03:04:46 PM
Nice. Strangely enough earlier this afternoon I finished the last three units of my Seleucid/Late Macedonian army.  Mostly Aventine but with some Gripping Beast scythed chariots, 1st Corps cataphracts and a few Foundry skirmishers . Its only taken me 6 years.   
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: Ray Rivers on 06 September 2023, 04:16:42 PM
Those are some fantastic minis!  :-*

I think we ourselves are our worst critics and that sometimes can be disheartening. Your troops will look great on the battlefield and hopefully you will keep it up.
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: Pattus Magnus on 06 September 2023, 04:48:31 PM
Yeah, those look excellent!
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: Roo on 06 September 2023, 07:33:46 PM
Wonderful stuff…a welcome return to the brushes
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: Freddy on 06 September 2023, 07:51:58 PM
Those are some great looking Macedonians!
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: nikkobourges on 06 September 2023, 08:33:46 PM
Hello,
Very nice pike's blocks !!!
Nikkobourges
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: Unlucky General on 06 September 2023, 11:40:07 PM
Thanks for posting this lot. I admire your results greatly. You mentioned simplifying your techniques. Do you drop some detail in the rear ranks?
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: craigrdavey@gmail.com on 07 September 2023, 08:40:18 AM
Thanks for posting this lot. I admire your results greatly. You mentioned simplifying your techniques. Do you drop some detail in the rear ranks?

Wish I was that organised! No, I try to paint all the figures to the same standard as far as the vagaries of ageing eyesight allow, usually in batches of eight figures.

My painting is always a process of experimentation, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad. Generally I’m trying to speed up the process and even within a unit there might be variations of techniques. One thing that took me far too long to realise was that I didn’t need to paint much/any detail on the arm behind the shield; quick block in and done. I also changed the way I did the cuirasses, as most of them can’t be seen once the shield is on and the figures are ranked up. I deliberately placed the figures as close together as I could - I don’t like seeing pike in what I consider open order!

On the flip side, I increased the amount of effort I put into the faces as I went on. Once everything is based up, the eye is drawn principally to the faces and shields, so efforts were concentrated there. Hope that helps!
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: Ran The Cid on 07 September 2023, 03:33:37 PM
I'm a "glue the shield on, then paint" sort of guy.  All sorts of details stay primer brown behind that shield.

Lovely work BTW.  I have a few units of Carthaginian spearmen that may borrow from your work.
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: Easy E on 07 September 2023, 03:42:48 PM
Always nice to see more Pikeman about!
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: joekano on 07 September 2023, 06:17:47 PM
They all look fantastic!
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: Aventine on 08 September 2023, 10:45:56 AM
Great to seee you back at it again Craig, always a joy to see your work.

Keep going, you will never seem to get to the end of this one.

Cheers
Keith
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: craigrdavey@gmail.com on 08 September 2023, 09:00:46 PM
Great to seee you back at it again Craig, always a joy to see your work.

Keep going, you will never seem to get to the end of this one.

Cheers
Keith

Cheers Keith,

I still keep a close eye on what you and Adam are up to 😉

Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions - Hoplites
Post by: craigrdavey@gmail.com on 09 September 2023, 07:01:04 PM
So here we have the next group of Victrix figures to feed my obsession!

These have been painted as fairly generic later hoplites, useful as allies or enemies.

Once again, I’ve tried to get a feel for a densely packed mass of troops snuggling in close to get the benefit of the protection afforded by their neighbours’ shields. I think I’d rather the shields had overlapped the other way, but the pose of the figures only allowed what you see.
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions
Post by: AdamPHayes on 10 September 2023, 06:43:29 PM
Loving the densely packed units, proper phalanxes!
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions - added Hoplites
Post by: craigrdavey@gmail.com on 12 September 2023, 04:44:47 PM
Some light cavalry. These are from the Victrix Scythian/Parthian set. I think of them as early Parthians working for one of the Successors
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions - added Hoplites & Horse Archers
Post by: Ray Rivers on 12 September 2023, 09:18:40 PM
Those cavalry came out quite nicely.  :-*
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions - added Hoplites & Horse Archers
Post by: vodkafan on 13 September 2023, 12:01:00 AM
Lovely work on those Parthians
Title: Re: Macedonian Obsessions - added Hoplites & Horse Archers
Post by: nikkobourges on 13 September 2023, 07:00:31 AM
Hello,
Very nice early Parthians and later hoplites !!
Nikkobourges