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Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: Tim Haslam on July 15, 2022, 03:15:11 PM

Title: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 10th August
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 15, 2022, 03:15:11 PM
I’m currently nearing the end of a vast Early Persian project in 28mm, based on Cyrus and his battles with the Lydians.
Of course I’m now thinking about expanding the army, bigger than necessary really, but you can never have too many Persian and subject troops, can you?

I’ve used a fair few manufactures, Victrix, Wargames Atlantic, Crusader, and Casting Room.
All are wonderful figures, and I’ve really enjoyed the project.

Pictures will be posted when it’s finally ready.

However, I’ve got a few spare unarmored Victrix Persian figures.
I can think of a few ways I can go with these.
One is to field them as Kappadokians.
For this I would simply need a head, preferably with a beard, and wearing a Phyrigian cloth hat, and a small round shield.
The answer is really easy, as there are some perfect heads in the Victrix Dacian set.
But I’ll need about 15 heads from a very large set costing me a bit too much?

So is there any other suggestions where I can get Phrygian style head gear and heads?
Any resin manufactures out there?

Or have any of you guys got a shed load of spare Dacian heads left over from a project?

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 15, 2022, 03:16:22 PM
Picture of the Victrix Dacian heads!
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 15, 2022, 03:21:34 PM
Here’s a picture of what I’m aiming for.
Plus an Egyptian marine, I’d really like these too.
Normally I’d choose Thistle and Rose figures for these Egyptian Marines, but postage to the uk and possible customs costs are going to kill that.
Any ideas on making these figures?
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: AdamPHayes on July 15, 2022, 05:06:05 PM
The 1st Corps Ptolemaic phalangite has a similar padded headgear. Might be a basis for a conversion?
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 15, 2022, 07:47:58 PM
Thanks
I did consider this route, as I’m a fan of 1st Corps.
However the bottom half of the figures are just not right and too much for my skill set to change.
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: bluewillow on July 16, 2022, 06:30:55 AM
Where are you Tim I have some spare from my project, I could post them too you.

Wargames Atlantic heads though

Cheers
Matt
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 16, 2022, 07:58:52 AM
Very kind Matt!
I’m based in Manchester UK?
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 16, 2022, 09:27:09 AM
Actually I’m confused?
(Easily done at my age)

Which Wargames Atlantic heads do you mean Matt?
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Khusru2 on July 16, 2022, 09:57:07 AM
Hi! Tim,
Have you thought of using hatless heads with beards? You could always add headwear for some, or all, of the heads required.
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 16, 2022, 09:10:29 PM
Ah! That would be easy lol..

It’s just a small unit, 12 or 15 models.
I’d like them to look different really.
I’ve also got some spare cloaks, from Irish and Celtic sets, but not sure a cloak would be worn in actual combat?
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: aphillathehun on July 17, 2022, 02:10:16 AM

One of the things I've thought about for doing guys like this is using the Aventine Sassanid unarmoured spearmen advancing and Sassanid javelinmen advancing and putting heads from the parthian horse archers on them.  But I think they now have heads cast on them(? not sure), so it wouldn't be as easy as in the past.  *I think*
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: bluewillow on July 17, 2022, 12:36:05 PM
Persian heads in caps I will look for them
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: FramFramson on July 17, 2022, 04:31:01 PM
If desperate, just merk some Smurf figurines.  lol lol lol
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 17, 2022, 05:24:54 PM
I think I may have a found a source of Victrix Dacian heads as requested!

However I’m still stuck with the ideas for making Egyptian Marines?
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Lowtardog on July 17, 2022, 06:15:22 PM
For D the Iranians, when I did a Persian army many moons ago I'm sure newline design made very similar figures
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Mithridates1 on July 18, 2022, 01:38:04 AM
Tim

On your quest for Egyptian Marines.  Apart from the old Vendels - which you mentioned, I am aware of only two others:

Eureka.  Eureka can vary between their ranges, I have some Macedonians which are small while the Paphlagonians are larger, the mounted version is comparable to A&A.

Footsore.  In their Mortal Gods range they have a pack of three Marines in the distinctive tunic/armour/shield.   A tad expensive but I was lucky to pick up some Immortals at a 3 for 2 pack deal.  So if not in a hurry a sale may come up again.   Good figures, well sculpted and a good size.

In the fantasy Crocodile and Dark Fable ranges there maybe some possibilities.    Don't recall that either has the distinctive armour, long tunic and long shield but worth a look if only for command/musicians/standard bearers perhaps.

Good luck

Garry
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 18, 2022, 12:31:17 PM
Footsore Miniatures!
I’d forget about them, thanks!
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 18, 2022, 09:38:13 PM
Bloody hell!

Those Footsore figures work out at £88 for 30 inc postage.
Thistle and Rose figures are £80 for 32 inc postage.
Approximately.

Of course my problem will probably be getting stung at customs!
So price including postage from the US is potentially cheaper!
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Ethelred the Almost Ready on July 19, 2022, 07:24:52 PM
Blimey, these aren't cheap either:
https://us.warlordgames.com/collections/new-kingdom-egyptian/products/later-new-kingdom-egyptian-guard-marines

Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 19, 2022, 08:59:20 PM
I saw those too.
I did consider that they were a possible stand in, but then remembered that those miniatures were quite small by comparison to others.
Plus the price is again too high.
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Jjonas on July 21, 2022, 06:17:32 PM
"I think I may have a found a source of Victrix Dacian heads as requested!

However I’m still stuck with the ideas for making Egyptian Marines?"

Newline makes Kappadokians with swords. Easily converted to javelinmen. Not sure about heads swaps.
This problem seems like something that home resin mold and casting would solve, since the Kappadokian hat needs extra bumps. But Dacians sound in theory to be ok except for the bumps and side flaps.

As for Egyptian marines in long skirts I think the only place to go is back to Vendel and Thistle & Rose.
scroll midpage (I know Tim knows thes):
http://marbles.frothersunite.com/jun03.html

Thistle & Rose. Egyptian Marines
P14 Egyptian Marines Standing spear & shield
P15 Egyptian Marines Advancing spear & shield
P16 Egyptian Marines Attacking spear & shield
P17 Egyptian Marines Command
P17A Egyptian Archers
P17B Egyptian Levy

(I know postage is killing us)


Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 21, 2022, 08:41:17 PM
Those seem to still be the favourite even after all these years!
 lol

Title: Re: Help with my Persian project?
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 23, 2022, 12:31:34 PM
Quite happy with this Kappadokian kit bashing!
All Victrix parts,
Persian body
Gallic cloak
Dacian head
Numidian shield and hand with extra javelins.
Lol
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 23rd july
Post by: Pattus Magnus on July 23, 2022, 02:33:49 PM
That figure certainly looks the part! That’s quite the list of kits the parts came from. Will you be trying to get together parts to make a whole unit following that pattern?
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 23rd july
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 23, 2022, 10:13:40 PM
We’ll, yes, this would be a very expensive way of building units normally.
However the Numidian, Persian and Gallic parts are all spare from previous projects.
Plus kindly fellows have given me some Dacian heads.

I only need a small unit, 10-15 tops.
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 23rd july
Post by: The Dozing Dragon on July 24, 2022, 04:23:45 PM
I was going to suggest Black Tree however their Egyptian range has gone off site for now.
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 23rd july
Post by: Pattus Magnus on July 24, 2022, 04:29:18 PM
If you can build those kitbashes with spare parts you already have, there’s no downside! They certainly look spot on the illustration!
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 23rd july
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 24, 2022, 04:43:46 PM
It’s a shame about Black Tree, they had some nice models.
Only seem to do Romans now?
Funnily enough I’ve got some levy spearmen from back when they were Harlequin models!

The whole Persian range was interesting actually.


I’m also looking out for some opulent looking Sultan style figure I could proxy as a Great King. I found a nice one seated on a rug from Midlam Miniatures.
I’m thinking the Great King in the old 300 Spartans movie, who sits and watches the whole battle.
Historically I’m pretty sure this happened at Salamis?
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 23rd july
Post by: Pattus Magnus on July 24, 2022, 04:59:50 PM
I just read Herodotus’ description of the battle of Salamis, and if he can be believed, Xerxes watched the battle from a headland. No specific mention of sitting on a carpet and eating peeled grapes, but those little details can add to the scene.
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 23rd july
Post by: Tim Haslam on July 24, 2022, 05:42:26 PM
Exactly! Lol
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 23rd july
Post by: Tim Haslam on August 10, 2022, 09:41:21 PM
New question concerning my minor nations in the army.

I have a box of GB plastic Arab infantry.
I fancied making some Arab levy archers for my army.

I’m thinking of using these but perhaps using some Irish heads from the Wargames Atlantic box set!
These have beards and some have braids.

Although I’m also considering the turbans in the Arab box.
What dates, roughly did the turban style head gear start to appear?
I’m assuming it’s definitely pre-Islamic, as it’s sensible head wear for the climate?

Accepted this ‘Arab’ levy unit will be a little Hollywood in style!
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 23rd july
Post by: AdamPHayes on August 13, 2022, 08:26:10 AM

Although I’m also considering the turbans in the Arab box.
What dates, roughly did the turban style head gear start to appear?
I’m assuming it’s definitely pre-Islamic, as it’s sensible head wear for the climate?

Accepted this ‘Arab’ levy unit will be a little Hollywood in style!

It’s apparently a subject of some debate. The turban was widely used pre-Islam but Arabs are generally shown bare headed with long hair @nd beards. I used a bunch of generic turbaned figures for my Lakhmid Arabs for the 6th Century battle of Callininicum. There were some raised eyebrows from experts in the Society of Ancients but we compromised on calling the headgear “headwraps” so that no bloodshed was necessary!
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 10th August
Post by: Tim Haslam on August 13, 2022, 12:28:05 PM
Thanks for the input.

Weirdly the Dark Age Irish box set from Atlantic has some braided long haired heads, so I was considering using these on my Arab bodies?
Maybe mix in the odd ‘head wrap’

Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 10th August
Post by: Tim Haslam on August 13, 2022, 03:49:45 PM
Here we go.
I think these work quite well actually!
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 10th August
Post by: AdamPHayes on August 14, 2022, 11:11:27 PM
Those look just the ticket...

I found this image in the Montvert about the Sassanians so a bit later but still fits with more ancient descriptions:

(https://myalbum.com/photo/mNRthhyWWZiq/360.jpg)

From what I have read the Arab tribes had their own variations on identifying "national dress" based on tradition and practicality, so it is pretty easy to rationalise your own take on it...

Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 10th August
Post by: Tim Haslam on August 15, 2022, 09:09:10 AM
Brilliant, looks almost like a Dark Age Irish type!
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 10th August
Post by: Jjonas on August 16, 2022, 04:00:13 AM
I agree those are some nice conversions for Kappadokians and Pre Islamic Arabs. That drawing from the Montvert is very useful. Sadly there just isn't much info on the various tribes. Also there are the Idumenarians which also are a large supply of Arab manpower. In 15mm there are lots of useful figures, but 28mm is a desert.
I would assume that there would be much variety based on regions.
Title: Re: Help with my Persian project? UPDATE 10th August
Post by: Tim Haslam on August 16, 2022, 05:55:05 PM
Cheers Jeff,
I’m really happy with the Kappadokians and how they’ve turned out.
Pictures of finished versions over on my other thread!

Arabs, well, they’ll do, it’s just another levy unit to add to the horde.
Like I said a bit Hollywood.

So,
Ideas for any other levy types?
I’ve got a plan for early coastal hoplites, or marine types, a bit Archaic.

Thanks for the input guys.