My Sassanid Project in 28mm (updated 04/06)

[rct75001]

The annual painting challenge on the Plastic Crack Podcast inspired me to make a start on a Sassanid Persian army that has been in the boces for a few years.  The lead is a mixture of Aventine, Gripping Beast and A&A.  Wide spread use is planned of LBMS shield and banner transfers.  I am painting these in response to a monthly theme as part of the challenge and am using the 28mm figures as a sanity balance while I paint huge numbers of Adler 6/8mm Napoleonics in anticipation of Leon shutting the doors on his wonderful 6mm ranges mid next year.

First up is the grand daddy - the Kings elephant.  I scoured the internet for inspiration on painted examples.  I have used various sources but leaned heavily on Phil Hendry's wonderful website and his rendition of the elephant.     







Next up I'll put some shots of the run of the mill spearmen.

Richard

[SJWi]

Lovely work. I too have a large-ish Sassanid 28mm army but nearly all Gripping Beast which to be fair I think are more from the 5-6th centuries. However I couldn't resist the Aventine "command elephant" which fits nicely with the Gripping Beast examples. One of my next projects will be to paint my Aventine 6th century Roman/Byzantine army which is currently sitting in a box somewhere.       

[Redshank]

Nothing short of phenomenal. So the detail on the flag and saddle-cloth (or whatever you call it for an elephant) are transfers?

Not my period at all, but I'm currently reading Tom Holland's Shadow of the Sword, which encouraged me to take a look.

[SJWi]

Yes they are by Little Big Men studios. Good look "Shadow of the Sword".  I read it when it first came out and  found it a "tough read"! 

[bluewillow]

Fabulous brushwork Richard

[Grumpy Gnome]

Looking good! I really like the patterned tunics.

[Mesh]

Absolutely fantastic, saw it already on the PCP and like they said, the pose makes it even more imposing. Definitely going to follow this thread

[Ten Fingered Jack]

The run of the mill spearman's shield bears the blazon of the Schola Gentilium, a mounted guard unit.

[Codsticker]

Not my period at all, but I'm currently reading Tom Holland's Shadow of the Sword, which encouraged me to take a look.

I quite like that book- I've read it twice so far.

[rct75001]

Thanks for all of the comments.

Here are a few more to add to the project. 

[DalyDR]

Beautiful work on that elephant.  I love those GB spearmen, too, globe hats and all.  I painted about 120 of them . . . ! 

Any particular game/system you're building this towards?

[Freddy]

Great looking army, I really like the pattern on the elephant riders' clothes.

[rct75001]

Beautiful work on that elephant.  I love those GB spearmen, too, globe hats and all.  I painted about 120 of them . . . ! 

Any particular game/system you're building this towards?

Thanks for the comment.

They are done for Impetus.  We play various Ancient armies on a regular basis always with Impetus 2.
 

[bluewillow]

Lovely mate, for the foot Royal guard pick up the aventine pieces they are fantastic.

[rct75001]

Lovely mate, for the foot Royal guard pick up the aventine pieces they are fantastic.

Yep - I've got them in the box.  Even if the Impetus lists has nothing for them.