Making Late Makedonian Kestros (dart-slingers) (28mm)

[BjörnF]

A time ago I was reading Ancient Warfare and saw the Kestrophedros (dart-slinger) that was used by the makedonian army in the Third Makedonian War. I couldn't find any one making one so I asked Menhir (of "Fantasy Champions from around the ancient world"-fame https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nickryan/fantasy-champions-from-around-the-ancient-world-se if he wanted to sculpt a few for me.
Long story short: Now he is done with the first body and two heads.
If you want to see the result and follow my project (from render to metal) you can see my new blog: http://kestros.blogspot.se/

First body!

All comments and suggestions are welcome!

[BjörnF]

I have updated my blog.
Today's blog-update is about hair.
Was there a Makedonian haircut as a writer thinks? (I don't know, if anyone out their knows anything I would be happy to know more about that)
What about beards?
kestros.blogspot.com

[Whitwort Stormbringer]

Hadn't even heard of these guys -this should be an interesting project!

Sorry, can't help on the hair, but other miniature lines seem to depict Macedonians with a mix of bearded and clean-shaven faces.

[commissarmoody]

These seems like a great idea. looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

[BjörnF]

Today's update is about trying to understand why the Kestros was invented, and why it disappeared so quick. This is important for me because I want to play with my new figures and want to portrat them correctly on the battlefield.

My main idea is that it was a weapon invented to counter heavily protected Roman legionnaires and had no civilian use. Where did I get the idea from? The latest issue of Slingshot!

http://kestros.blogspot.se/2015/03/the-role-of-kestrophedrone-on.html

Do you have other thoughts about the weapon and why it was invented and why it disappaered? Let me hear it!

[Samnite308]

I had thought these darts were fired from a type of staff sling.  As far as figures go I think SkyRaider miniatures produced one as part of their 28mm Hellenistic range.  No idea if Skyraider is still around though 

[BjörnF]

Yes, I have also heard about the idea that it would be a staff-slinger. I don't have my Head's AMPW available right now, but if I remember it correctly the staff part was not based on any historical sources, but instead he thought it un-likely to shoot darts without a staff. There are a few slingers that have made hand slings and used them to shoot darts without problems, so I do not think that the staff is necessary. (But that is not just my thoughts; there are a few articles which support the idea that the kestros had no staff).

[Emir of Askaristan]

For hair cuts and headgear take a look at the Pella Mosaics of the lion and deer hunts. These would be contemperory and macedonian so a good source for you.

[BjörnF]

Thanks! I had forgotten about them.

[BjörnF]

The second body and two more heads is now sculpted for my Kestrophedrone project.

http://kestros.blogspot.se/2015/03/the-role-of-kestrophedrone-on.html

[Harry Faversham]

To form a full unit you'll need 180... I'll just get mi' coat!

[commissarmoody]

To form a full unit you'll need 180... I'll just get mi' coat!:'(

[BjörnF]

You can never have to many figures you know! :-)

Today is time for another blog update.
I will talk about why we (Menhir, the sculptor, and I) chose to reconstruct the kestros in the way we did. I try to explain why we didn’t follow some earlier interpretations and of course I will back it up with sources when possible.

http://kestros.blogspot.se/2015/03/some-of-main-problems-with.html

[BjörnF]

New up-date!

Now I have pictures of all three figures, and six heads, that Menhir had sculpted. Any more news? The 3D printer has shipped the prototype of the first figure and heads; hopefully they will arrive before the weekend.

http://kestros.blogspot.se/2015/03/all-three-bodies.html

[commissarmoody]

Always good to have more variety