[15mm] After the deluge. Wargaming in the 3rd Millennium (Update 10 Jun)

[DivisMal]

I've been a bit burnt out recently and haven't painted much over the last year, but recently I finally gave in to temptation and bought some figures - well actually quite a lot.

So I started a crazy project which I have dreamed about for a long time: a 15mm Sumerian army. I’d like to thank fellow LAFer Loxislay here for bringing me to finally make an order - because he is currently the only excuse I have to dream about one day playing with that army!

In this thread I would like to report on my progress, exchange ideas with like-minded people and perhaps infect other "crazies" to wargame the 3rd Millennium BC!

[DivisMal]

First on the field of battle is a troop of spearmen, modeled after the depictions on the Standard of Ur (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_Ur).

 Whether this is really earlier set of equipment than the depictions on the Vulture Stele or from Mari, which carry shields, remains to be seen. I will mix both types in the course of the project.

The minis are from Museum Miniatures, and I'm very impressed by the quality. It's at least at the level of Xyston (in the historical sector), and in my opinion comes close to the brilliant work of Mark Copplestone.

The minis are attached to 80 x 40mm wooden plates with Patafix according to the „Berliner Basierung“ (a.k.a. Big Base DBA). The sand is from Tedi, a local poundland version, I can find out the type if needed. To me it looks very much like the sand of southern Mesopotamia. I might paint the edges of the base black at some time, but for the moment it looks fine to me to do rather simple bases.

Hope you like it and getting some feedback!

[DivisMal]

And here is my second base. This one is filled with models that were designed with the aforementioned Stele of the Vultures in mind. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stele_of_the_Vultures

Again, great minis that were a blot of fun to paint!

Here you can also see why I went for BBDBA: the spears are too long for smaller bases 

[SiLCY]

They look really good, always wanted to paint up some biblical era armies, cant wait to see more!

[Basementboy]

These look amazing! Always happy to see Sumer represented on tabletop, this looks great

[DalyDR]

Really like seeing this!

I started a 15mm Sumerian army 25+ years ago with Essex miniatures, but ran out of steam pretty quickly, and left it collecting dust on a shelf.  Maybe this will spur me to get on it again.  Visions of building ziggurats for terrain . . . !

[VonAkers]

Divismal
Chief they look really good , well done,  i also luv the larger basing and semi diorama look!
All you need now are some Ass Carts ... Huzzah !!

[DivisMal]

Thank you gentlemen! I appreciate the positive comments.

The next two bases are right now prepared for pairing.

Divismal
Chief they look really good , well done,  i also luv the larger basing and semi diorama look!
All you need now are some Ass Carts ... Huzzah !!

The diorama bases happened more by chance as I was experimenting with different base types: the long spears not only look ridiculous on standard DBA, but also make playing nearly impossible with only 20mm depths. DBA 25mm basing was my preferred choice, but after seeing that the spears still went way over the base, I tried some more and discovered Big Base DBA (a.k.a. Berlin Style DBA basing).
And I agree, now that I see them, I like it a lot.

Really like seeing this!

I started a 15mm Sumerian army 25+ years ago with Essex miniatures, but ran out of steam pretty quickly, and left it collecting dust on a shelf.  Maybe this will spur me to get on it again.  Visions of building ziggurats for terrain . . . !

That’s also my idea to reward myself after a couple of dozen sheepskin skirts! Maybe wreck pieces of the ark. Definitely a Humbaba and a Gilgamesh.

They look really good, always wanted to paint up some biblical era armies, cant wait to see more!

Sumer is really unique as there isn’t a lot available as enemies (except other Sumerian city states), but what I like about it is that simple beauty of the equipment. And of course the battle wagons!

These look amazing! Always happy to see Sumer represented on tabletop, this looks great

Thanks, it’s really great to see how many people have this strange liking for an army that can basically only battle itself!

[Vis Bellica]

I love the Museum Miniatures Summerians as well:





More at:  https://www.vislardica.com/blog/tag/Anc+Sumerians

[DivisMal]

Wow! Now that is an impressive collection!!! 
I hope to have enough endurance to come near to such an army!

[ithoriel]

Thank you gentlemen! I appreciate the positive comments.

The next two bases are right now prepared for pairing.

The diorama bases happened more by chance as I was experimenting with different base types: the long spears not only look ridiculous on standard DBA, but also make playing nearly impossible with only 20mm depths. DBA 25mm basing was my preferred choice, but after seeing that the spears still went way over the base, I tried some more and discovered Big Base DBA (a.k.a. Berlin Style DBA basing).
And I agree, now that I see them, I like it a lot.

That’s also my idea to reward myself after a couple of dozen sheepskin skirts! Maybe wreck pieces of the ark. Definitely a Humbaba and a Gilgamesh.

Sumer is really unique as there isn’t a lot available as enemies (except other Sumerian city states), but what I like about it is that simple beauty of the equipment. And of course the battle wagons!

Thanks, it’s really great to see how many people have this strange liking for an army that can basically only battle itself!

Say whut!? Possible opponents include Elamites, Gutians, Lullubi, Amorites/ Martu and there's even a slight chance of one of the opposing Sumerians having Meluhhan allies, if the Meluhhan colony in Sumer wasn't entirely traders and the families and servants/ slaves. There is even a grafitto that may show Old Kingdom Egyptians in combat with Sumerians. To be fair I suspect it doesn't but that won't stop me painting Egyptians, if I ever get that far in the projects

I do my Sumerians in 6mm, when I'm not diverted into Gangs of Rome, say, as at the moment.
I use 60mmx60mm bases and put 48 close order, 32 tribals, 24 skirmishers or 6 "donkey carts" to a base. I like the effect of massed ranks but also the chance to do a little bit of diorama work too.
"Donkey Carts"


I have a built but unpainted Ziggurat made largely from MDF bases and my version of Humbaba, complete with serpent tail but omitting the serpent headed penis for modesty's sake, is a Microworld "Great Dingonek" mini which now looks like this

It's always a delight to see people delving into the Early Bronze Age which seems to me a rich source of inspiration for wargamers. Just enough info to make educated guesses but not enough that anyone can get bogged down in "rivet counting!"
More power to your elbow!

[Gibby]

I've been a bit burnt out recently and haven't painted much over the last year, but recently I finally gave in to temptation and bought some figures - well actually quite a lot.

So I started a crazy project which I have dreamed about for a long time: a 15mm Sumerian army. I’d like to thank fellow LAFer Loxislay here for bringing me to finally make an order - because he is currently the only excuse I have to dream about one day playing with that army!

In this thread I would like to report on my progress, exchange ideas with like-minded people and perhaps infect other "crazies" to wargame the 3rd Millennium BC!

Excellent start to this project. Your figures look great. I really like Museum Miniatures' Z ranges and still have my Trojan War forces to do. After a bit of a hobby slump myself it may be one of the projects to get back going with. Dave at Museum said to me that they definitely have plans to keep expanding the Bronze Age ranges at some point!

[DivisMal]

Excellent start to this project. Your figures look great. I really like Museum Miniatures' Z ranges and still have my Trojan War forces to do. After a bit of a hobby slump myself it may be one of the projects to get back going with. Dave at Museum said to me that they definitely have plans to keep expanding the Bronze Age ranges at some point!

Thanks, the Trojan wars range is also verrrrry tempting. But I know once I start it, I’ll have to decide which Myceneans I want (early c. 15th ct. or late 13/12th ct.) and will inevitably come up with Egyptians, Hittites and Israelites, too! Have you seen the excellent Red Copper Miniatures somd by Baueda? I have their Sea People and they are on par or even better (yet more fragile) than Museum Miniatures.

About the latter. More Bronze Age? That is pretty exciting news! I need to contact them! We definitely need a couple more packs with different weapons (not necessarily new poses)!

[DivisMal]

Say whut!? Possible opponents include Elamites, Gutians, Lullubi, Amorites/ Martu and there's even a slight chance of one of the opposing Sumerians having Meluhhan allies, if the Meluhhan colony in Sumer wasn't entirely traders and the families and servants/ slaves. There is even a grafitto that may show Old Kingdom Egyptians in combat with Sumerians. To be fair I suspect it doesn't but that won't stop me painting Egyptians, if I ever get that far in the projects

I do my Sumerians in 6mm, when I'm not diverted into Gangs of Rome, say, as at the moment.
I use 60mmx60mm bases and put 48 close order, 32 tribals, 24 skirmishers or 6 "donkey carts" to a base. I like the effect of massed ranks but also the chance to do a little bit of diorama work too.
"Donkey Carts"


I have a built but unpainted Ziggurat made largely from MDF bases and my version of Humbaba, complete with serpent tail but omitting the serpent headed penis for modesty's sake, is a Microworld "Great Dingonek" mini which now looks like this

It's always a delight to see people delving into the Early Bronze Age which seems to me a rich source of inspiration for wargamers. Just enough info to make educated guesses but not enough that anyone can get bogged down in "rivet counting!"
More power to your elbow!

🤩 wow! Those 6mm minis look brilliant! Are they from Microworld? I was very much tempted to go really small, but I fear I lack the skill for that!

Concerning the enemies, you seem to be well informed! Professional background?  I‘d be interested about the evidence for Old Kingdom Egyptians fighting Sumer.

In the meantime there’s still a lot to do, before I can think about enemies, but I‘d like to have some northern „barbarians“, like Kura Arax people (roughly I‘m looking for anything late 4th-3rd Millennium BC).

Last: that Humbaba is great! Brilliant idea and great execution. I have something different in mind, but that is a long way to go.

[ithoriel]

The 6mm Sumerian figures I have are a mainly Rapier Miniatures with some of the recent Baccus figures to add a bit of variation. The ones in the picture are all Rapier.
The various enemies are a mix of Rapier and Baccus.

The Microworld Bronze Age stuff was too expensive to import by the time they were produced. The Great Dingonek had been bought back before shipping across The Pond became so expensive.

As to using 6mm figures, I find smaller figures easier to paint because there's less detail to paint. As my hand/eye coordination and eyesight deteriorate I find myself drawn to smaller and smaller scales! 

 I am neither a professional nor an expert just an enthusiastic and well read amateur.

If I can work out which book had the image of the grafitto I'll scan and post it.