Getting back into ancients.

[Tim Haslam]

I’m thinking of a classic Spartan force to get going with.
28mm I’m spoilt for choice.
Unfortunately Gorgon are probably off the menu in the current climate.

I’m thinking of crusader miniatures.
Using armoured hoplites as Spartan and unarmoured as Ekdromoi?

I like Victrix too, but currently putting fanatic Celts together at snail pace.

Thoughts?

[Tim Haslam]

Of course Wargames Foundry are lovely.
But price wise,  yikes they are expensive.

I’ve put a list together and worked out costings,

Gorgon (assuming I can get them over from the states cheaply) @£160
Foundry, £210
Crusader, £110
Victrix, £110

[SJWi]

Tim, I went through exactly your thought process but never considered the US due to shipping and import duties.  I actually bought a Victrix Spartan sprue off e-Bay as a test to see if I could face assembling the c120 hoplites + light troops I would need, and the answer was a resounding "no"!

In the end I bit the bullet and went Foundry, albeit I did manage to buy many of them when they had a good deal on. For me they are simply the finest Greek figures and most comprehensive range on the market.

I'm surprised at the cost difference you indicate between Crusader and Foundry. I would have assessed if at more like 50% not 90%. Still a lot though.

 

[Tim Haslam]

I’m rounding up figures here, and I’m pretty sure I have a source for 10% discount on the crusader stuff.
But yes agreed, Foundry are simply brilliant, still!
Does anybody stock them at discount?
Or do they ever have sales?

[SJWi]

Tim, they have sales a couple of times a year. Not aware of any other stockist. Best to keep an eye out on E-Bay but even there the prices aren't heavily discounted.

[Jjonas]

I’m thinking of a classic Spartan force to get going with.
28mm I’m spoilt for choice.
Unfortunately Gorgon are probably off the menu in the current climate.

I’m thinking of crusader miniatures.
Using armoured hoplites as Spartan and unarmoured as Ekdromoi?

I like Victrix too, but currently putting fanatic Celts together at snail pace.

Thoughts?

Thistle & Rose has put together their old Vendel figures stock again. I received a nice cast set of their Spartans in pilos.

The left hand figure is Vendel mixed in a unit of everything else, Foundry, Gorgon, and even a Victrix. But it isn't using the Vendel domed shield. I still find the Vendel overhand pose to be one the better ones, very classical.

https://ancientbattles.com/HeroesOfGreece/spartan%20shields/003.jpg

My attempt at the Spartans at Thermopylae with mostly metal and my home brewed decals:

https://ancientbattles.com/HeroesOfGreece/Spartan_shields.html

I know the shipping is horrid now, but the T&R owner is quite negotiable I reckon. I don't know how much the Gorgon Studios are running now.

[Tim Haslam]

Thanks Jeff,
I particularly enjoyed the article by Stefanos you put a link to on your web page.
I like the idea of regiment motifs. Would look good on the table top.

I’m thinking of going for Foundry models, as expensive as they are.
These guy have the linen armour and Pilos helmet, so possibly a bit later than the figures you showed me?

Do you think the Victrix shields would look better on the Foundry models?

[SJWi]

Tim, from my viewpoint Foundry is a good call. No-one else’s range comes close. However if you want plastic shields Victrix would cost a further £15 for 60-off plus maybe LBMS decals?

 Apparently Foundry used to produce their own decals but they are no longer available.

[Tim Haslam]

Thanks,
From a cost perspective I’ve disappeared down the mouse hole now, so another £15 is neither here or there!!

I just recall from the past that the WF hoplite shields are quite small and convex.
I think the Victrix ones are bigger and flatter?
Just wondered if anyone can confirm this?

Oh and transfers!! Yes more cost! Oh well, you only live once.

[SJWi]

Tim, I have an unpainted Foundry Spartan army at home so if you pm me your e-mail address I can send you some photos. I see that Little Big Men produce some Spartan Lambda transfers in their “generic” range which I will look at. 24 decals for £3 is quite reasonable.

[Tim Haslam]

I’ve done that, thanks.

[armchairgeneral]

Just got some Spartans myself recently. Mostly WF single pose figures as cheaper though with cast on shields. Superb figures.

https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/single-pose-greeks

WF shields are more convex however I plan to use the 3v transfers as cheaper and easy to apply. The 20mm ones work fine and are £1.20 for 20.

http://www.3vwargames.co.uk/upshop/shop/20mmtransfers.html

Warlord Games sell hoplite Command sprues separately for musicians and add on crests to denote commanders.

[Jjonas]

Thanks Jeff,
I particularly enjoyed the article by Stefanos you put a link to on your web page.
I like the idea of regiment motifs. Would look good on the table top.

I’m thinking of going for Foundry models, as expensive as they are.
These guy have the linen armour and Pilos helmet, so possibly a bit later than the figures you showed me?

Do you think the Victrix shields would look better on the Foundry models?

Yes- the Stefanos is very interesting, controversial for historians, but grist for the wargamer's painting mill!

The only thing I don't like about the Foundry is the hillbilly beards and hairdos. Sadly most miniatures fall into this trap which is why you don't see my Spartans with pilos helmets online.

Even the T&R once Vendel fall into the Angus McBride Hairdo mischief. Its weird how McBride did proper beards and hair, but then others took off into Appalachia and drank the Mountain Dew.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/28mm-painted-ancient-greek-army-160-1853937067

These dudes- I have a few and never painted because I don't believe that Sparta was full of rastafarians and live with Jeramiah Johnson in an old trailer down by the river.

https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/products/wg022-armoured-spartan-hoplites-at-the-ready

How did they get from this to that?
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/17/44/ac/1744acc4e4d2ded58bc86e84586de1c8.jpg

This Gorgon figures is at the cusp between too much hair:
https://ancientbattles.com/Spartans/GS_Spartan_04small.jpg

This converted Footsore model still has too much hair, but I like the pose:
https://ancientbattles.com/HeroesOfGreece/Brasidas_008s.jpg

The Warlord Spartans are closer to the style, but I hate they are so ropey:
http://www.warlordgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/WGH-GR-31-Spartan-Com-11-600x364.jpg

Do you think the Victrix shields would look better on the Foundry models?
That I can answer yes. However I have a ton of old Foundry shields with the cords inside and mix them with others including the Gorgon shields on my Spartan efforts. I like the Victrix shields but they lack attachment joints and are very flat so its hard to get a clean fit - which means I'm always having them snap off. Hard to pin and who wants to have to glop on that much glue. But the flatter shields take the transfers better for sure.
 

Talos miniatures as seen here on this forum has the best heads I've seen for big Greeks in 28mm and I hope he continues... and I hope I get to paint mine soon.
https://www.puttyandpaint.com/Talos

Hope this rant helps your quest. Same as it ever was!






 

[Tim Haslam]

Thanks for that Jeff,
Well considering I’m thinking of using the Spartans as a good old fashioned WAB force, the cartoon hairstyles should work fine!

I think I’ll probably go Victrix for the shields.
I’m considering the theory of a shield emblem or device for each Mora.
Rather than the plain Lamba.

I’ve put my WAB force below for you to see,
CinC
3 X 21 Spartan Hoplites
2 X 15 Ekdromoi (peltast stats)
2 X 8 skirmishers

Only having around 100 figures keeps the cost down!

[Jjonas]

What no cavalry? How will you win the battle? (says Xenophon)

Note the disaster at Lechaeum was mostly caused by the Spartan cavalry being dipshits.  One of the real flaws of WAB is cavalry should evaporate skirmishers and they don't so yeah extra peltasts win and leave the cavalry in the bin. But I would say that is a tough Spartan nut to crack. I remember once I actually got a flank shot off with 12 slingers at double shot close range against a Spartan unit. They actually all hit, and unbelievably achieved 12 wounds against T4. Mouth agape. He promptly saved all but one of them. WAB.