Hannibal and Scipio in 2mm!

[DaveCrow]

Hannibal and Scipio. Irregular Miniatures 2mm. Painted without a magnifier. These will be rebased for play.  For Age of Hannibal.

[Basementboy]

Lovely! How much trouble did you have painting at that scale?

[FifteensAway]

I can't speak for DaveCrow but I painted some 2 mm from Irregular many years ago that came as free samples with an order (which they did back then).  They were A. much more detailed than expected for so small and B. pretty easy to paint overall and C. took a little more time than I liked (but that is really more my fault than the figures).  I still toy with the idea of buying an army at this scale.  However, when I see people playing at 2 mm, they always seem to use what are, in proportion, massive labels to identify stuff and that puts me off - completely ruins the visuals of miniatures.  If I buy into 2 mm, I'll find some way to color code stuff rather than 'ugly' labels.

And, yes, nice work on those figures.

[Inkpaduta]

I do 2mm painting. Mine is never as good as the figures I seen online. Excellent job by the way.
Getting ready to play my 2mm WWI game.

[kodiakblair]

However, when I see people playing at 2 mm, they always seem to use what are, in proportion, massive labels to identify stuff and that puts me off - completely ruins the visuals of miniatures.  If I buy into 2 mm, I'll find some way to color code stuff rather than 'ugly' labels.

I've spent the best part of the last 24 years with Ancients in 2mm; not once have I used labels or colour coding.

Say I'm taking the part of Bolgius and invading Macedonia, do I really need or deserve labels telling me those big rectangles with pointy sticks are not skirmishers ? Same for Ptolemy Ceraunus, could he mistake a heaving mass, of mostly naked blokes, heading his way for anything other than trouble ?

Commanders in real life weren't stupid, they had a rough idea who and what they faced. Some may argue labels/colour coding is for their benefit not the opponent but is it that difficult to remember where you positioned your elite units or the cannon fodder ?

Of course generals sometimes did make mistakes and commit the wrong troops, other times troops charged the wrong opponent. In one of the Greek battles the Spartans either force marched or arrived late, whichever it was they had no kit so borrowed shields. The troops opposite looked over, saw no Lambada and figured they were facing ordinary Greeks not the feared Spartans; so they charged ahead and wiped the Spartans out 

[Basementboy]

Of course generals sometimes did make mistakes and commit the wrong troops, other times troops charged the wrong opponent. In one of the Greek battles the Spartans either force marched or arrived late, whichever it was they had no kit so borrowed shields. The troops opposite looked over, saw no Lambada and figured they were facing ordinary Greeks not the feared Spartans; so they charged ahead and wiped the Spartans out 

Hadn't heard this story before, is this Thucydides? Either way, will be relating this anecdote as soon as I get the chance

[kodiakblair]

Hadn't heard this story before, is this Thucydides? Either way, will be relating this anecdote as soon as I get the chance

Sorry friend I wish I could remember the source.

[DaveCrow]

Lovely! How much trouble did you have painting at that scale?

They are easier to paint than might be expected. Small brushes and block painting.  I put a brown ink wash over the top and that is what really popped the details.

I would like to say that I painted little faces, but I just dabbed a bit of flesh color where the heads should be.

As for telling troops apart at this scale, I have not found it too difficult. The blocks each have a distinctive look to start with. Arrangement on the bases adds another visual code. Painting shields, uniforms, horses etc, and variations in basing color are really quite effective.  At the army level that 2mm really shine for there are not a lot of fine grained difference between troops to track. Poor, regular, elite, legion, hoplite, skirmisher.  I don't use them for games where being able to see which of my several units of barbarians has shields or javelins vs slings is critical.

[DaveCrow]

Behold the might of Rome!  Well, half of it. These are for the Age of Hannibal Battle of Dertosa scenario. 20mm square bases. Still deciding basing treatment, sand, flock, or paint.

[DaveCrow]

Reviewing the troops in more detail.

[BeneathALeadMountain]

DaveCrow - they look excellent. If it’s any help when I want very fine basing for smaller models (10 & 6mm in my case but it should work) I use the Gale Force Nine urban rubble. I believe it’s dental plaster - I take some chunks and powder them using my wife’s excellent stone pestle and mortar. It generates a very fine material that doesn’t look big/clumpy next to the small models.

Andrew
BeneathALeadMountain

[FifteensAway]

Nice.

A few points:

On plaster first, love that idea but I'd go a lot simpler, just buy the raw plaster and avoid having to use mortar and pestle.

I would guess ancients is a lot easier to identify than later periods, for instance Horse and Musket with different nations but with similar uniforms - but see below.

Painting and basing can certainly make a difference.