Best 15mm Hoplites?

[Jeff965]

Good stuff Harry, nothing like Wargames pressies is there? Hope I didn't put you off, Xyston are lovely figures but there is the extra work before you start painting. I've got loads of unpainted Renegade Romans but I'm being tempted by all the nice plastics out there, go figure.
Even more preparation before painting .

[Harry Faversham]

Sorry to ressurect this oldie, but even more advice from the Brethren would be appreciated! 
15mm Spartan shield transfers, whose are best, and wot's the best way of proceeding? I'm a fan of Little Big Man, but their set doesn't seem to have a white circular surround to guide you in cutting 'em out. Will they look OK cut as a red triangle with the white bit inside the V left in, or will that stand out like a blind cobblers thumb?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I intend doing white shields with red markings.

[julesav]

Sorry Harry - I hand painted all my Spartan Lambdas! Other Greeks used the rather simple Veni Vedi Vici transfers from Magister Militum. They are not as complicated or fancy designs as the lovely LBBM stuff but they do the job. I left the rims of the hoplons in bronze, painted coloured discs on the central bowl area of the shield, gloss varnished them and then added the VVV decals. In addition to delicate cutting out some of the decals needed a slit cut from centre to rim to allow them to fit to the bowled shield properly! Enjoy!

[Harry Faversham]

Might try doing the Lambas with a fine red marker pen, thanks for the tip... should have gone to specsavers!

[Harry Faversham]

Has anybody tried mixing 'Forged in Battle' Hoplites with Xyston in the same unit? i wanted to add Xyston Officers and musicians to FinB rank and file if they'll mix?

[Harry Faversham]

Nice frocks... but can they fight?  

[Mad Doc Morris]

So these are exclusively Westwind's or mixed with Xyston?
Anyway, nice and colourful.

[Harry Faversham]

They're mainly 'War and Empire', the bloke blowing the trumpet thingy is Xyston, and there's a couple of 'Tin Soldier' (quaint looking monkeymen) figures hidden in the rear rank.
How's this for a master modeller in general and figurine painter extraordinaire in particular with nigh on half a century's skill, knowledge and experience?
Just added the Spartan contingent to my ancient Greek collection, finished and based their King, resplendent in blood red cloak and carrying his highly polished shield with the legendary ^. Did all that, then realised old Leonidas's shield was actually glued on upside down... V!!!

[Harry Faversham]

Hope this doesn't get savaged as racist by the pc brigade, what shade of Vallejo brown would be best for my next project... Persian Immortals? I'm after a distinct contrast to the Greek skin tone but don't want them to look cartoony... any suggestions would be really welcome.

[A Lot of Gaul]

I have found this article from the CoolMiniOrNot site to be very helpful:
http://www.coolminiornot.com/articles/1310-ethnic-skintones

Cheers,
Scott

[Harry Faversham]

Thanks Scott, just what I was after. 

[FierceKitty]

Just in case (you probably don't need the information): it's not a v; it's the Greek letter lamda, which points up, not down. I've seen a few sad faces when proud gamers first produced their Spartan armies.

Xenophon comments that the Persians were lighter in skin tone than the Greeks, if my memory serves me truly.

[Harry Faversham]

I know exactly wot it is, and which way up it should be... now!!! 

 

[tyrionhalfman]

A really interesting thread, with a nice collection of minis. Thanks for sharing

Just in case (you probably don't need the information): it's not a v; it's the Greek letter lamda, which points up, not down. I've seen a few sad faces when proud gamers first produced their Spartan armies.

How's this for a master modeller in general and figurine painter extraordinaire in particular with nigh on half a century's skill, knowledge and experience?
Just added the Spartan contingent to my ancient Greek collection, finished and based their King, resplendent in blood red cloak and carrying his highly polished shield with the legendary ^. Did all that, then realised old Leonidas's shield was actually glued on upside down... V!!!

Oh dear, at least you noticed it and not someone else the first time you fielded them.

[Harry Faversham]

I only noticed it when Herself said 'They didn't have that V thingy on their shields in 300 Spartans', dear. I patiently explained to her that the senior Occifers did so their minions could recognise 'em in the heat of battle, and to stop prattling of things she didn't know...
I then went to the very bottom of our garden to rant and rave at the Gods for making me such a thick bastard!