Starting a New Project

[markw]

I am starting a new project as I have recently ordered the Seleucid miniatures from Blitzkrieg miniatures. So I am hoping I can get some pointers in regards to books showing troop types and army organisation. There is plenty of info on the web but I like to have images in front of me when painting.

[SJWi]

MarkW, two of the books I can recommend are long out-of-print but you might find them. "the Seleucid Army" by Nick Sekunda published by Montvert.  The second is "The Seleucid Army" by Bar-Kochva.  Published in the '70s but still the classical reference.  Duncan Head's "The Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars " covers a lot more ground but is useful. For nice colour plates of "Successors ( albeit Macedonian) Sekunda's "Macedonian Armies after Alexander" in the Osprey MAA series is quite good.     

[sgzleada71]

those  blitzkrieg miniatures  seleucids look nice.   I look forward to seeing some posted pics. 

[markw]

Thanks for the information regarding colour plates and books.  The minis do look good and I am looking forward to painting them up

[Jjonas]

https://www.blitzkriegminiatures.com/tanks/Seleucid-Phalangite-Regiment-with-Command-Pack-28mm-p400284256
(Seleucids with odd head angles.)

Although these seem great at first glance, after closer examination I find them a bit odd.
They have good detail but everything is thick. The straps around the greaves are thick. This will make them easier to paint but it just is odd that such details had to be out of scale when others are crisp.

The phalangites turn me off because they are cocking their heads to the right and looking down at the rabbits. Why? Variant head positions should be an obvious choice in printed models, and yet all the heads have this same lean. The details on the scabbards and shoes are not realistic and seem to be easy Zbrush additions of primitives. The thickness of the sash makes it look toy soldier-ish. The thighs are too short making the pteruges look tiny. The whole look seems a bit squat and big heads to me.
I offer these criticisms so the line can be improved. I feel in units a lot of these disparities will be overcome, but they put me off investing in them for now.

I also would prefer rimless blank shield designs as the Vergina sun symbol is not my favorite Seleucid look
A shield pattern based on coins would be more favored, especially since the 3D sculpting process would make these easier to sculpt (below).

https://images.vcoins.com/product_image/1/3/6/3c6J86Gp5Qr7a8eM2CgLSM9ny4DioY.jpg
(Seleucid coin with shield design)

Seleucid phalangite, late guardsman, and light troops  from the Sekunda Montvert noted above:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ancientgreekmapsandmore/2133609418

Its easy enough to find all the images one needs via an internet search of Seleucid cataphract, scythed chariot, etc.

You may run into this Polemarch metal scythed chariot:
https://ancientbattles.com/antiochus_ptolemy/scythed%20chariot.jpg

Seleucid vs. Ptolemaic elephants:
https://ancientbattles.com/elephantarchia/elphantarchia_001.jpg
https://ancientbattles.com/elephantarchia/EL_04112018_001.jpg
https://ancientbattles.com/elephantarchia/Raphia_2017_MSF_001.jpg

Seleucid kings:
https://ancientbattles.com/antiochus_ptolemy/antiochus_ptolemy.htm
https://ancientbattles.com/antiochus_ptolemy/Antiochus_Basileus_002.jpg

Thureophoroi:
https://ancientbattles.com/thureophoroi/thureophoroi.html

[AdamPHayes]

I am starting a new project as I have recently ordered the Seleucid miniatures from Blitzkrieg miniatures. So I am hoping I can get some pointers in regards to books showing troop types and army organisation. There is plenty of info on the web but I like to have images in front of me when painting.

I’ll be interested to see what the actual figures look like as they all look like renders on the site. The Selucids don’t look as nice as the Romans but might be quite different in real life....

[markw]

Thanks for all the info, I can agree with you on the moods but I will save judgement until I get my grubby hands on them.

[sgzleada71]

any painted pics of the Blitzkrieg Seleucids yet ??

[markw]

They have been primed in two ways one was standard grey the bulk have been done in black with a white zenithal coat. Prefer the grey but wanted to try this new way of painting. Probably for an army over complicated, but worth a try.

[markw]

First test mini, sheiks to complete then basing. Learning about these minis. A pleasure to paint and pretty easy.

[markw]

Sorry Out of focus, I don't have a good enough camera.

[vodkafan]

Been following the thread, not familiar with these miniatures but the proportions on that test figure look fine to me. Good luck and I look forward to seeing more painted!

[sgzleada71]

Yeah looking good although the hands look a tad large.  ?

[GerryB21]

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10165477753610720&set=pcb.2289771331153027

Full Link to the sculptors facebook thread of his own painting of the army.