Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: Aventine on December 11, 2015, 01:27:49 PM
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Some might have already seen the facebook posts about the expansion of the Sassanid Range by adding infantry. We now have the archers, javelinmen and spearmen finished. There is a command for unarmoured units and we are working on the armoured command pack now. It is our intention to have the infantry complete by Christmas. The only other addition would be more heads, the details of which we have not sorted out yet. Anyway here are some photos and a link to the slideshows on the site. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone. Keith and Adam.
(http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151211_113659.jpg)
(http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151211_113604.jpg)
(http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/SASS33-34.jpg)
(http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/20151028_083913.jpg)
(http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/SASS30b.jpg)
Site is here...http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/ (http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/)
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Wow!
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Very nice infantry figures, potentially useful for many different armies - (Khurasian, Ghazanid, & many more)
The only other addition would be more heads, the details of which we have not sorted out yet.
The choice of heads and horses is becoming confusing. Donnington's website (Ancient & Modern Army Supplies) has a dropdown feature when you order a pack that allows you a choice of options (different horses or weapons). This type of feature would be very useful. Also, it would really be helpful if the heads were also sold separately.
In addition, I am under the impression you released packs of Asiatic light cavalry. I can find them no place on your website. The Hun/Turk/Avar section lists only heavy noble cavalry.
Beautiful figures and service :), but you website could use some improvement.
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Wow, Keith, these are awesome :-*
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Delbruck
The website is like Aventine in general, started small and has grow like roots of a tree as it aged. I will try and address the issues you have raised but drop down menus are not an option with the software as far as I know. The best way is to ask in an email and I will sort it most times most bits have their own moulds so mixing and matching isn't usually an issue.
We had pondered listing all the packs as separate parts eg riders, horses, weapons but then it just gets way too much. We did this with the newer cavalry so you can select the riders then the horses for the same total price.
We will list the heads early next year by then I might have sorted out the mess they have gotten into. I hope to offer sets of 5 heads in a pack, I just need to organise the new moulds to do that and I want to wait to see what new ones Adam makes.
The Steppe light horse are here
http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/catalog/index.php/cPath/53_134_137 (http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/catalog/index.php/cPath/53_134_137)
For some reason the sub folders were not being displayed, sorted now and thanks for the heads up.
Cheers
Keith
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Great looking figures Keith - been watching them on the web site. Nice to see a non-globe hatted option at last. The bare headed options (facial characteristics give them a real plus) are would be handy in any number of dark age or even ancient armies like say Pontic or even Dacian. Interesting question about the shields - personally I would go with pointy end up!
Lots to ponder for the New Year - all the best for the Silly Season.
Garry
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Delbruck
The website is like Aventine in general, started small and has grow like roots of a tree as it aged. I will try and address the issues you have raised but drop down menus are not an option with the software as far as I know. The best way is to ask in an email and I will sort it most times most bits have their own moulds so mixing and matching isn't usually an issue.
We had pondered listing all the packs as separate parts eg riders, horses, weapons but then it just gets way too much. We did this with the newer cavalry so you can select the riders then the horses for the same total price.
We will list the heads early next year by then I might have sorted out the mess they have gotten into. I hope to offer sets of 5 heads in a pack, I just need to organise the new moulds to do that and I want to wait to see what new ones Adam makes.
The Steppe light horse are here
http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/catalog/index.php/cPath/53_134_137 (http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/catalog/index.php/cPath/53_134_137)
For some reason the sub folders were not being displayed, sorted now and thanks for the heads up.
Cheers
Keith
Your website might not be the best but your minis certainly are. Very impressed with the EIR I got.
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Just noticed Keith's post. Did you go to Italy to photograph these? Nice backdrop. We appreciate the comments. As for the shields, Keith and I did discuss this when we first seen them. Although there is no conclusive evidence as to which way up they should be we both agreed that the pointy end should be at the top. Unfortunately, there is very little in the way of illustrations showing this. The best known of these appear in the Osprey books by David Nicolle. These show the smaller version of the shield and both are held with the pointy end at the bottom. Photographs of the originals also usually show the pointy end at the bottom. Therein lay the problem, do we go with the best known illustrations (which may be valid for the smaller shields) or with the more likely option of them being held pointy end upwards? We decided to opt for the former as we felt it would be more familiar to our customers and attract fewer comments. Obviously we were wrong....
The best argument for this can be found in Simon James' excellent book 'Excavations at Dura-Europos 1928-1937' on page 186. Hope this helps. As for me, I will probably glue mine both ways as I am sure I have some Brad Pitt type shield swingers in my unit.
There will be a couple more sets of heads available after Christmas and I'm sure Keith will work out a solution for listing them as he always does! Adam
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awesome!! :-*
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Great work Adam. :)
I couple more suggestions, if you don't mind.
1) Since you already have Late Roman heads, please offer the Sassanid infantry with these (command, spearmen, javelinmen, & archers). In addition, offer them with Roman shields (auxiliary, and legionary oval & rectangular). These could be used as Palmyrans, Armenians, Late Romans, early Byzantines, and Sassanids with captured equipment).
2) With the release of Aurelian your Sassanids come at a perfect time, but it would also be nice to see about three packs of 3rd century Roman infantry.
3) It looks like the officer has a smaller wicker shield. Will these be available?
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Delbruck
1. They will be in the separate heads section as soon as we get the mould done early next year.
2. We have discussed this and will attempt to add the 3rd century infantry when we get a chance, no time for that set as yet.
3. Again it is just getting the time to make the mould. We have the shields sitting but with everyone ordering for Christmas we are really under pressure to keep the order moving.
Cheers
Keith
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This infantry really IS fantastic. A great addition to an already great range.
As a matter of fact, two of the Sassanid units in Sam Mustafas Aurelian http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/aurelian/ (http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/aurelian/) are from Aventine:
(http://www.ulmer-strategen.de/images/Tiles.jpg)
in the original, they look like that:
(http://www.ulmer-strategen.de/images/Kamandaran.jpg)
(http://www.ulmer-strategen.de/images/Mercenaries.jpg)
I'm really grateful to Keith and Adam - not only for producing such wonderful figures, but for sending me the shields even before listing in order to help me to keep the publication-deadline. And now I'm going to order these new packs...
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Some might have already seen the facebook posts about the expansion of the Sassanid Range by adding infantry. We now have the archers, javelinmen and spearmen finished. There is a command for unarmoured units and we are working on the armoured command pack now. It is our intention to have the infantry complete by Christmas. The only other addition would be more heads, the details of which we have not sorted out yet. Anyway here are some photos and a link to the slideshows on the site. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone. Keith and Adam.
(http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/SASS33-34.jpg)
Are the shields based on a Sassanid Leather and Cane Shield, from Dura-Europos, at Yale University Art Gallery (http://warfare.tk/Ancient/Shield-Dura-Europos-Yale.htm)?
Mirror site
Sassanid Leather and Cane Shield, from Dura-Europos, at Yale University Art Gallery (http://warfare.tk/Ancient/Shield-Dura-Europos-Yale.htm)
Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers (http://warfare.gqg/index.htm)
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Hi !
Superb minies as usual ;)
Totally agree with the Delbruck' suggestions !
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Hi,
These are so fabulous I may have to get some even though I've got loads of Sassanids already!
Can't decide which way up the shields look better which is the only criterion to use as the historical info is inconclusive?
Cheers,
Paul
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Keith,
These are wonderful looking figures and with lots of conversion possibilities.
For some time now I've been toying with the idea to 'divert' from my usual time frame and period ie. Western Late Roman (5th/6th C) to a slightly later early 7thC Eastern setting.( Rise of Islam) Would these figures be usable for that era?
I'm sure I can find enough Arab, and Berber figures but I have to admit I don't (yet) have many details about the Sassanid, Eastern Romans or Ghazanid ones.
Read on your website that you're also planning early Byzantines. Would these too be suitable for an early 7th C setting?
Thanks very much!
Willie
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Hi WillieB
If I can answer the second part of your question first. The short reply is 'yes'
Keith and I are agreed on this. The 'Early Byzantine' range we plan will cover the period from Belisarius to the end of Heraclius' reign. It should run from the end of your Late Roman 5th/6th cent. period to the end of the Sassanian period. This also coincides with the upper end of the time frame for our own Sassanian range (just ignore the really early looking figures) They will therefore cover the early rise of Islam period, but do read some of the other comments on this thread about later use.
We also include two distinctly different sets of archery equipment with the cavalry packs roughly ranging from the 4th century to the 11th century.
The Sassanian infantry and the various Steppe nomads we have released recently have been designed to be as versatile, both in nationality and time span as possible. The infantry could be useful for a great number of nations from the 3rd century to the early medieval period depending on which head is fitted. As soon as the last infantry command pack is released I will be working on some additional head packs to that end. Just as an example of the versatility of these various units. The Steppe nomads would be useful as Khazars fighting for Heraclius as mercenaries or as prisoners recruited by the Sassanians. They would also do as Huns fighting for Belisarius or as Turks fighting for Sassanians. Sassanians from our range could be used with Belisarius fighting Goths! The permutations are endless and we still have to do German cavalry which will be included in the Byzantine range.
Hope this helps! Adam
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Hi Druzhina, just noticed I missed your question on the origin of the shield we supply with the infantry. We supply both the large 'mantlet' type shield and the smaller shield, both of which are from the Yale University Collection published by Simon James in his excellent book 'Excavations at Dura-Europos 1928-1937' Final Report VII. Length for the large 'shield' is given as 1.55M+ but it is incomplete so this is an informed estimate I would imagine. Simon James has examined this shield and concluded that although the remains are roughly rectangular the fact that the ends of the cane rods have been cut obliquely strongly suggest the end was pointed like the other shields in the collection. The smaller shields are 1.01 - 1.02 metres in length. Adam
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Most helpful Adam.
My Byzantines are a mixed bunch dating from the early 1980s - largely Hinchliffe with some Essex and Lamming. Look forward to your range - particularly some General figures.
Garry
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Thanks very much Adam!
I'm always a bit 'shy' to step into a new period or sub- period in this case. Too often I had to give up a project for lack of figures but now, knowing that one of my favourite manufacturers will support it, it's time for the next phase. The Heraclian period is exactly what I had in mind but those Bellisarians will no doubt prove to be equally irresistible.
And yes, those Steppe Nomads are extremely versatile. For the time being I've press-ganged them ( and some of the Avars) as bodyguards/ opponents for Aetius in the West :)
Wouldn't mind doing them again for another era.
Thanks again Adam. Now I really have something to look forward to this year!
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We have the last infantry packs ready and in our store. A set of armoured spearmen standing behind the large pavais thrusting overhand and a command set for them and the rest of the armoured infantry.
(http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/SASS41.jpg)
(http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/SASS41a.jpg)
(http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/SASS39.jpg)
And some WIP
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12573102_930021067081020_8737110573375117937_n.jpg?oh=09700b7d2bb5c69164a44e9777d0c049&oe=5730BB6D)
Cheers
keith
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Great sculpts and poses Keith. Good to have the option of decent heavier infantry, the draco comes up very well and the officer looks a solid dependable sort.
Just a question. Are you planning on having any musicians in the command group - afterall a levy needs every encouragement it can get! (A drummer would be nice). If not it occurs to me the bowman flourishing his bow above his head could be modified to carry a trumpet, as could the unarmoured command chap pointing with spear.
Look forward to the Samnites.
Garry
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Garry
Adam is looking at a musician now, we have another mounted general in the wings so we can add the extra figure in with him when the time comes.
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Thanks for that advice Keith. The General will be very handy.
Garry
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General and musicians added today.
(http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SASS5a.jpg)
(http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SASS42.jpg)
More info and photos here
http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/ (http://aventineminiatures.co.uk/)
Cheers
keith
PS Heads are being sorted into sets for a mould next week.
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Word fail me Keith - 2 drummers!!! Splendid looking fellows and a quite regal General.
Garry
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And such nice drummers, too. The general is super!