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Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: Digits on November 28, 2020, 12:58:26 AM

Title: A Greek Odyssey - The Spartoi
Post by: Digits on November 28, 2020, 12:58:26 AM
A few of us have been bouncing about ideas to play small actions with a few Ancient Greeks and their foes.

Being a huge fan of Jason and the Argonauts I decided I’d start with a few Hydras Teeth Skeletons.  Here is my test batch.  Skellies are Wargames Atlantic.  Shield decals are Little Big Man.  They don’t fit very well but hey ho.  They are a little small and I have never used them before but they will do I suppose.

I will be doing more of them, and have a sprue of unarmoured hoplites to have a few helmets etc to mix in.

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/E4A7BDC4_9872_43D0_B2AD_1707F56738F6.jpeg)

In time I will be having a go at a small batch of heroes, a few monsters and maybe some scenics. 
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth
Post by: Digits on November 28, 2020, 10:41:19 AM
As I mentioned, I’m only doing a few minis, including these fellows from the Footsore Mortal Gods range.

The Atlantis models cyclops was actually bought to play Sinbad!  However, there are various cyclops in Greek myth so now he will get painted.  My favourites being the cannibals living in Sicily.  With all the skulls and bones hanging from him, he seems to fit the bill. Anyway, eventually I will pluck up the courage to try and paint him.....

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/A77EBE6B_2966_4FA7_8338_8298AE72F3B7.jpeg)
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth
Post by: OSHIROmodels on November 28, 2020, 10:45:31 AM
Skellies look great  :)
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth
Post by: Digits on November 28, 2020, 02:35:06 PM
I thank you.  Luckily very easy to paint!
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth
Post by: has.been on November 28, 2020, 02:43:21 PM
Quote
I thank you.  Luckily very easy to paint!

You say that, but I'm sure there is more to it than undercoat them
matt white &...well that's it!

Post Covid I look forward to seeing them across the table.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth
Post by: fred on November 28, 2020, 03:09:03 PM
Looking good, that Cyclops is an impressively large model
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: Digits on December 03, 2020, 10:06:56 AM
Cheers.

So, a slow burn for me this month, real life throwing lots of work at me so no time for hobbies.

However, I am slowly putting together these skellies.  With limited parts in the box, with contains 8 identical sprues of four, you have to go some to try and get unique posing.

I’ve found it’s easier to paint and add shields last.

I also have this little fleece mini from Wargods.....really lovely but not imposing enough on its own.  Quick look in the garden for the right pieces of slate and I have given it a rock to perch on, along with a few steps.   Sand next....

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/4331A59D_38D5_4BBE_86A9_7824C5EFB1AE.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)

Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: dampfpanzerwagon on December 03, 2020, 10:26:47 AM
Looking good.

Tony
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: SotF on December 03, 2020, 08:29:04 PM
Just as a major note that you might want to fix with the earlier post on the cyclops, that's Atlantis Miniatures not Atlantis Models, they're different companies...the first is the miniatures and the other makes model kits of various types
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: has.been on December 03, 2020, 09:44:10 PM
As will all your projects this progresses well.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: Digits on December 03, 2020, 10:57:54 PM
Not quite all of them, one or two stall quickly!    :?



Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: armchairgeneral on December 04, 2020, 12:12:54 AM
I must admit I have been musing with the idea of a simple solo game where your mission is to move down the table with a suitably sized force of hoplites to retrieve the Golden Fleece and then head back.

Every move a unit of skellies appears randomly anywhere on the table (as they are coming out of the ground) and being magically animated automatically attacks the nearest of your units. The skellies would have no morale so the trick would be to deploy your forces to destroy each unit quickly enough to avoid being overwhelmed.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: has.been on December 04, 2020, 11:05:13 AM
Quote
skellies would have no morale

Wot? No GUTS?????
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: armchairgeneral on December 04, 2020, 05:03:40 PM
Wot? No GUTS?????

Still plenty of back bone though!
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: has.been on December 04, 2020, 06:26:41 PM
Quote
Still plenty of back bone though!

 lol lol lol
Nice that you are interested in the plot.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: Digits on December 04, 2020, 07:11:25 PM
Very good!

General, we are still to discuss how to play this but I like your idea.

Finally have a few hours off work this weekend so time to get the skellies based and a little paintwork......

Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: Digits on December 07, 2020, 03:58:14 PM
A bit rushed but didn’t have much time last night.  I suspect I’ve overdone my reflective light...still, for quick and dirty, it’s a useful objective.

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/DBA337CC_D78C_4E0D_96FD_EE70BBCF0E42.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: Zingara on December 07, 2020, 05:10:18 PM
has.been - would some of the mechanisms for Pony Wars work? I presume they have random units appearing. Keep up the good work digits (amongst all the other projects)
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: has.been on December 07, 2020, 05:31:31 PM
Pony wars would work fine, as would other sets like Fist Full of Lead.

Digits, might I suggest purchasing some glitter nail varnish.
It was a trick a friend used. Painted over a metal paint job,
like your fleece, & it really will sparkle.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: Digits on December 07, 2020, 05:49:29 PM
My daughter is up over Christmas....she might have some!  Light isn’t great here.....looks more golden in other light!  Typical.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: Burnin Coal on December 07, 2020, 08:14:09 PM
Great looking marker for a great looking project
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: Digits on December 08, 2020, 11:05:01 AM
Thanks.  Have another fourteen skellies assembled and primed for painting.  May have a go this weekend. 

I’m also on the look out for a pair of large bulls suitable for Colchis bulls.  Most people seem to go to the mechanical looking brass bulls available, but I thought they were just BIG bulls with brass hooves and fire breathing brass nostrils / mouths?

Anyway, struggling to find good bulls....
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: Captain Harlock on December 08, 2020, 11:32:47 AM
Thanks.  Have another fourteen skellies assembled and primed for painting.  May have a go this weekend. 

I’m also on the look out for a pair of large bulls suitable for Colchis bulls.  Most people seem to go to the mechanical looking brass bulls available, but I thought they were just BIG bulls with brass hooves and fire breathing brass nostrils / mouths?

Anyway, struggling to find good bulls....

Yes they are described as real bulls not automatons of some kind. I would go for a bull resembling more of an auroch. You will also need a dragon to guard the fleece. Great stuff!  :-* :-*
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: Digits on December 08, 2020, 12:35:13 PM
Indeed.  I’m always getting confused about the dragon (drakon) guarding the fleece.  I presume the hydra is simply the interpretation in the film as I believe the teeth of yet another drakon from Thebes were used and planted in the ground (by harnessing the bulls) which in turn became the Spartoi (skeletons)?   All very confusing and I’m sure many different versions of the myth.  I may be completely wrong....my Greek myth knowledge is from Percy Jackson, Wiki, and my audible books by Stephen Fry! 

Indeed, looking up “Spartoi” suggests a literal translation of “sown men”, not skeletons! (See painting below) but of course Skellies are way more cool!



I could go with either......hydra to honor the film or drakon to stick with myth.  Depends which model catches my eye!
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: Captain Harlock on December 08, 2020, 02:47:53 PM
Indeed.  I’m always getting confused about the dragon (drakon) guarding the fleece.  I presume the hydra is simply the interpretation in the film as I believe the teeth of yet another drakon from Thebes were used and planted in the ground (by harnessing the bulls) which in turn became the Spartoi (skeletons)?   All very confusing and I’m sure many different versions of the myth.  I may be completely wrong....my Greek myth knowledge is from Percy Jackson, Wiki, and my audible books by Stephen Fry! 

Indeed, looking up “Spartoi” suggests a literal translation of “sown men”, not skeletons! (See painting below) but of course Skellies are way more cool!



I could go with either......hydra to honor the film or drakon to stick with myth.  Depends which model catches my eye!

Τhe original myth says that he sawed the teeth of a dragon, using the bulls, and then armed warriors grew instantly (not skeletons). Once Iason threw a stone among them, they started killing each other. The fleece was guarded by another dragon. The ancient greek dragon (drakon) was basicaly a giant snake.  But I think that everybody loves the iconic  movie and the creatures of Harryhausen, so you can mix and match both sources.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - The Spartoi
Post by: has.been on December 08, 2020, 02:55:42 PM
Quote
Anyway, struggling to find good bulls....

May I suggest childrens' toys.
Cheap shops have tubs of larger beasts (40mm/54mm)
The 'Jungle' sets include Wildebeest &/or Water Buffalo.
The 'Farm' sets have cattle.
I'm sure that, with a little Milliput (or similar) you could
approximate something suitable.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - The Spartoi
Post by: Digits on December 08, 2020, 04:56:00 PM
The one I like is Bears Head (sure I’ve seen it on here) and I’ve ordered one, but he only has one pose and I’m not even sure it’s available yet for despatch (website says March!)

I may have to settle for one.....hmmmph!
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - Hydras Teeth & Golden Fleece
Post by: SotF on December 10, 2020, 03:27:59 AM
Thanks.  Have another fourteen skellies assembled and primed for painting.  May have a go this weekend. 

I’m also on the look out for a pair of large bulls suitable for Colchis bulls.  Most people seem to go to the mechanical looking brass bulls available, but I thought they were just BIG bulls with brass hooves and fire breathing brass nostrils / mouths?

Anyway, struggling to find good bulls....

Reaper's Brass Bull might work. They don't look mechanical, more scaled than other and could work well for a Colchis bull...I've got two of the metal ones that are more metal painted due to being used as D&D Gorgons, but they still look a lot like metallic bulls

You might also want to consider Eureka's Aurochs, if you want a more realistic look.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - The Spartoi
Post by: Bloggard on December 10, 2020, 11:13:22 AM
lovely stuff.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - The Spartoi
Post by: Zingara on December 10, 2020, 05:57:52 PM
Great stuff Digits. Got me looking at those Skellies. I was not needing 32 of them though... and then I'd need some hoplites …. I'll content myself for the time being with seeing how your project evolves (along with Peninsular Napoleonic, along with …).
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - The Spartoi
Post by: Digits on December 12, 2020, 10:54:58 AM
Wow....my Bears Head bull arrived...March Indeed!

Phil, if you see this....cheers, but do update your website mate, you may put a few people off purchasing.

It’s a beautiful model, a good muscular sized beast that’s perfect (or would be if there was one in a second pose 😉).

I’d looked at reaper bull but again, not remotely as described in the texts and yes, aurochs may we’ll be more realistic...but I’ve never seen one in an aggressive enough pose...they all look....tame.  No, this is the right one I think.

I will base it up and post pics soon.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - The Spartoi
Post by: Digits on March 01, 2021, 11:46:16 AM
Not touched this for a few months.....but finally, my Christmas present to myself....a Grand Manner painted ship, has arrived.  Pained me to have to pay for a painted one, but he’s done a good job of it.

Now, maybe I can put a bit more paint on a few minis....


Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - The Spartoi
Post by: has.been on March 01, 2021, 01:15:03 PM
Nice boat, but based on the (totally authentic) Jason & the Argonauts
there should be a figure head at the stern, with eyes you can flip open too.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - The Spartoi
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on March 01, 2021, 03:29:15 PM
Some great work in this thread, both yours and the ship.
Title: Re: A Greek Odyssey - The Spartoi
Post by: Fremitus Borealis on March 01, 2021, 03:38:40 PM
Wow that ship is beautiful ! :o