Early Italians

I happened to mention that I was researching some info on Early Italians at the club when I was told, firmly, to publish my findings. Sorry about the formatting but what you prepare seems to bear little relation to what actually gets on-screen.



Apulian

ANC 20159 - Apulian Infantry                                     XYS
ITA 14 - Apulian Infantry, tunic, jav & hoplon            TS
ITA 15 - Apulian Command, officers & horn              TS
ITC 04 - Apulian Heavy Cavalry, jav & round sh        DONb
ITC 07 - Apulian Cvalry, jav                                        DONb
ITF 20 - Apulian, jav & hoplon                                   DONb
ITF 21 - Apulian, jav & hoplon                                   DONb
ITF 22 - Apulian, Et-Cor, jav, hoplon                          DONb
ITF 23 - Apulian, Pilos, jav & hoplon                         DONb
ITF 24 - Apulian, triple disc, jav & hoplon                 DONb
ITF 25 - Apulian Officer, sw & hoplon                      DONb
ITF 26 - Apulian, jav & hoplon                                  DONb
ITF 30 - Apulian, horned, jav & hoplon                     DONb
ITI 18 - Apulian Javelin & shield                               MMa

Campanian

ANC 20170 - Campanian Hoplites                             XYS
ITA 9 - Campanian Hoplite, cloak, sp & hoplon        TS
ITA 10 - Campainian Hoplite, triple disc cuirass,
               sp & hoplon                                                  TS
ITA 11 - Campanian Unarmoured Cavalry, jav          TS
ITA 12 - Campanian Armoured Cavalry,
sp & scutum    TS
ITF 01 - Campnian Hoplite Officer                            DONb
ITF 02 - Campanian Hoplite, long sp & hoplon         DONb
ITF 03 - Campanian Hoplite, long sp & hoplon         DONb
ITF 04 - Campanian Hoplite, triple disc cuirass,
              long sp & hoplon                                          DONb
ITF 05 - Campanian Hoplite, central disc,
               long sp & hoplon                                         DONb
ITI 15 - Campanian Cavalry                                       MMa
VIL 15 - Campanian medium cavalry 4-1st c BC      MY
WE-RA03 - Campanian Cavalry, jav & sh                 FIB
WE-RA05 - Campanian Hoplites, long spear & sh    FIB

Etruscans

ET 001 - Etruscan Hoplite, front rank                   MIR
ET 002 - Etruscan Hoplite, second rank                MIR
ET 003 - Etruscan Infantry                                    MIR
ET 004 - Etruscan Infantry, sword & axe              MIR
ET 005 - Etruscan Axemen                                    MIR
ET 006 - Etruscan Light Infantry, javs, no sh        MIR
ET 007 - Etruscan Bowmen & Slingers                 MIR
ET 008 - Etruscan Infantry Command Group        MIR
ET 009 - Etruscan Cavalry Command Group        MIR
ET 010 - Etruscan Heavy Cavalry                          MIR
ET 011 - Etruscan Light Cavalry                           MIR
ET 012 - Light Chariot, King Porsenna of Clusium    MIR
ET 013 - Etruscan Hordes                                     MIR
ITA 16 - Etruscan Hoplite                                     TS
ITA 17 - Etruscan Hoplite                                    TS
ITA 18 - Etruscan Cavalry, cuirass, sp & sh        TS
ITC 08 - Etruscan HC, monte,sp & sh                DONb
ITC 09 - Etruscan HC, attic, sp & sh                  DONb
ITC 10 - Mtd Etruscan Officer/Gen                   DONb
ITC 11 - Mtd Etruscan Std Bearer                     DONb
ITF 33 - Etruscan Slinger, wide hat                    DONb
ITF 34 - Etruscan Officer, Etr-Cor, sw & hoplon        DONb
ITF 35 - Etruscan Std Bearer, attic, hoplon                 DONb
ITF 36 - Etruscan Hoplite, attic, long sp & hoplon     DONb
ITF 37 - Etruscan Hoplite, negau, long sp & hoplon    DONb
ITF 38 - Etruscan Hoplite, italian, long sp & hoplon    DONb
ITF 39 - Etruscan Hoplite, italian, long sp & hoplon    DONb
ITF 40 - Etruscan Hoplite, monte, long sp & hoplon    DONb
ITF 41 - Etruscan, negau, pilum & hoplon                    DONb
ITF 42 - Etruscn, thracian, pilum & hoplon                  DONb
ITF 43 - Etruscan, crest, musc, pilum & hoplon            DONb
ITF 44 - Etruscan, crest, greek, pilum & hoplon           DONb
ITF 45 - Etruscan, Etr-Cor, scale, pilum & hoplon       DONb
ITF 46 - Etruscan, monte, scale, pilum & hoplon        DONb
ITF 47 - Etruscan, attic, disc, pilum & hoplon             DONb
ITF 48 - Etruscan Javelinman, jav, no sh                     DONb
ITI 10 - Etruscan Chariot                                             MMa
ITI 16 - Etruscan Javelinmen                                       MMa
VIL 7 - Etruscan Heavy Infantry 7-6TH c BC            MY
VIL 8 - Tarquinia 1st class warrior 5-4th c BC           MY
VIL 11 - Hoplite south Etruscan 6-3RD c BC            MY
VIL 12 - Etruscan Axeman light Infantry etc             MY
WE-RA01 - Etruscan Hoplites, pilum & sh               FIB
WE-RA02 - Etruscan Hoplites, long spear & sh        FIB
WE-RA09 - Etruscan Heavy Cavalry, jav & sh         FIB

Generic 'Italian'

ITA 13 - Command Pack, officers, std  bearer,
         (suit Campanian, Etruscan or Samnite)                  TS
ITA 19 - Mounted Hoplite, slung sh                               TS
ITC 05 - Mounted Apulian/Samnite Officer, round sh    DONb
ITC 06 - Mounted Italian General                                   DONb
ITF 19 - Italian Officer, sw & hoplon                             DONb
ITF 31 - Italian Peasant Archer                                       DONb
ITF 32 - Italian Peasant Skirmisher, jav & sh                 DONb
ITI 12 - Italian Hoplites with
             Etrusco-Corinthian helmets                                MMa
RC 86 - Italian Hoplite Style Infantry                             IRR
RC 87 - Italian Infantry Javelinman                                 IRR
RC 88 - Italian Cavalryman                                             IRR
VIL 6 - Later Spearman, Greek ‘hoplon’                        MY
VIL 9 - Vil / Italian / Etruscan bowman                         MY
VIL 10 - General in chariot                                            MY
VIL 16 - Light Cavalry 6-1st c BC                                 MY
VIL 19 - Light infantry running with javelin                  MY
VIL 20 - Vil/Italian/ Etruscan light infantry Psiloi         MY
VIL 21 - Vil/Italian/ Etruscan light infantry Slinger      MY
WE-RA04 - Italian Light Infantry, jav & sh                  FIB

Latins

ITA 5 - Latin Infantry, cuirass, sp & scutum                 TS
ITA 6 - Latin Light Infantry, sp/jav & sh                      TS
ITA 7 - Latin Command, officers & std bearer             TS
ITA 8 - Latin Cavalry, sp & small round sh                  TS
LAT 1 - Heavy Cavalry, sword shield & helmet         MY
LAT 2 - Light Cavalry spear and shield                      MY
LAT 3 - Heavy Spearmen/sword with shield & helmet     MY

Ligurians

AUC 23 - Ligurian Spearmen                                 MMb
AUC 24 - Ligurian Foot Command                       MMb
AUC 31 - Ligurian Axemen                                  MMb
CAR 15 - Ligurian Javelinman                             MMa
LGF 01 - Officer, tunic, Villanovan style helmet,
                Celtic long shield                                  DONa
LGF 02 - Standard Bearer, tunic, Celtic long sh        DONa
LGF 03 - Hornblower, tunic , Celtic long sh             DONa
LGF 04 - Warrior, tunic, jav, Celtic long sh             DONa
LGF 05 - Warrior, tunic, spear, Celtic long sh         DONa
LGF 06 - Warrior, tunic, spear, Celtic long sh         DONa
LGF 07 - Warrior, tunic, spear, Celtic long sh         DONa
LGF 08 - Axeman, tunic, axe, Celtic long sh          DONa

Lucanian

ITC 03 - Lucanian Heavy Cavalry, jav & round sh      DONb
ITF 15 - Lucanian, musc cuirass, jav & hoplon          DONb
ITF 16 - Lucanian, central disc, jv & hoplon             DONb
ITF 17 - Lucanian, triple disc, jav & hoplon             DONb
ITF 18 - Lucanian, jav & hoplon                               DONb
ITF 29 - Lucanian, jav & hoplon                               DONb

Oscan

ANC 20157 - Oscan Javelinmen with Scutum                          XYS  
ANC 20158 - Oscan Armoured Infantry with Hoplite Shield    XYS
ITI 11 - Oscan Spearman                                                            MMa
ITI 12 - Oscan Hoplite                                                                MMa
ITI 14 - Oscan Cavalry                                                               MMa
ITI 17 - Oscan Javelin & shield                                                 MMa
RA 06 - Oscan Armoured Peltast, jav & sh                               FIB
WE-RA07 - Oscan Heavy Cavalry, jav & sh                            FIB
WE-RA08 - Oscan Unarmoured Peltasts - jav & sh                 FIB

Samnites

ITA 1 - Samnite Infantry, jav & small round sh                        TS
ITA 2 - Samnite Infantry, sword & oval scutum                        TS
ITA 3 - Samnite Infantry, sp/jav & small round sh                    TS
ITA 4 - Samnite Armoured Infantry, sp & oval scutum            TS
ITC 01 - Samnite Heavy Cavalry, jav & round sh                   DONb
ITC 02 - Samnite Cavalry, jav & round sh                              DONb
ITF 06 - Samnite, jav, scutum                                                 DONb
ITF 07 - Samnite, central disc, jav & scutum                         DONb
ITF 08 - Samnite, triple disc, jav & round sh                         DONb
ITF 09 - Samnite, triple disc, jav & scutum                           DONb
ITF 10 - Samnite, jav & scutum                                             DONb
ITF 11 - Samnite, musc cuirass, jav & scutum                      DONb
ITF 12 - Samnite, triple disc, jav & scutum                           DONb
ITF 13 - Samnite, jav & scutum                                              DONb
ITF 14 - Samnite, jav & scutum                                              DONb
ITF 27 - Samnite, jav & scutum                                              DONb
ITF 28 - Samnite Officer, scutum                                            DONb
SAM 01 - Comando                                                                Str
SAM 02 - Fanteria                                                                  Str
SAM 03 - Fanteria in Combattimento                                    Str
SAM 04 - Cavalleria                                                              Str
VIL 17 - Samnite Heavy infantry 4-2nd c BC                      MY

Syracusan

VIL 18 - Syracusan Hoplite 5-3rd c BC                                MY

Villanovan

VIL 1 - Light Chariot 2 horse 1 crew                                    MY
VIL 2 - Light Cavalry                                                           MY
VIL 3 - Spearmen Swordsmen with round shields              MY
VIL 4 - Auxilia with oval shields, spears and axes             MY
VIL 5 - Light infantry with Javelin and Bows                    MY
VNC 01 - Mounted General                                               DONc
VNC 02 - Mounted Standard Bearer                                  DONc
VNC 03 - Mounted Noble                                                  DONc
VNC 04 - Mounted Warrior                                               DONc
VNC 05 - Mounted Warrior                                               DONc
VNCH 01 - Two-Horse Chariot, gen & driver                  DONc
VNF 01 - Noble, sw & scutum                                          DONc
VNF 02 - Standard Bearer                                                DONc
VNF 03 - Spearman, sp & scutum                                    DONc
VNF 04 - Spearman, sp & scutum                                    DONc
VNF 05 - Spearman, sp & scutum                                    DONc
VNF 06 - Axeman, quilted tunic, axe                              DONc
VNF 07 - Noble, sw & round sh                                      DONc
VNF 08 - Noble, sp & round sh                                       DONc
VNF 09 - Spearman, sp & round sh                                 DONc
VNF 10 - Spearman, sp & round sh                                 DONc
VNF 11 - Spearman, sp & round sh                                 DONc
VNF 12 - Spearman, sp & round sh                                 DONc
VNF 13 - Javelinman, jav & scutum                                DONc
VNF 14 - Javelinman, jav & scutum                                DONc
VNF 15 - Javelinman, jav & scutum                                DONc
VNF 16 - Javelinman, jav & scutum                                DONc   

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 KEY

 DON - (a)  https://shop.ancient-modern.co.uk/ligurians-26-c.asp
      (b)  https://shop.ancient-modern.co.uk/ancient-italian-states-22-c.asp
      (c)  https://shop.ancient-modern.co.uk/villanovan-italian-21-c.asp
FIB - https://www.forgedinbattle.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=126_161_137
IRR - http://irregularminiatures.co.uk/
MM - (a) https://www.magistermilitum.com/scale/15-mm.html?p=6&cat%5B1%5D=62231
     (b)  https://www.magistermilitum.com/scale/15-mm.html?cat%5B0%5D=59626&p=3
MIR - http://www.mirliton.it/historical-15mm/etruscan  [no UK link (Italian import)]
MY - http://www.spanglefish.com/mickyarrowminiatures/index.asp?pageid=188024
Str - http://www.strategianova.it/soldatini-e-resine/miniature-wars-15-mm/sanniti?zenid=ta383735sjpcoh7lsvk076nod3
TS - Tin Soldier - https://tinsoldieruk.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=186_200&zenid=qblla9p27i51nfut4oqfdscpb3
XYS - https://shop.ancient-modern.co.uk/italiotes-158-c.asp

Exploring a New Area

After a minor (DBM) victory last Monday against Achaemenid Persians I decided to start some research on the Latins.  I started at Wikipedia of course:

Latins (Italic tribe) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latins_(Italic_tribe)
Latin League - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_League

I next looked at what Osprey titles were available:

Osprey does a good job providing 'taster' paperbacks but like certain foods they fail to satisfy.  The 'blurb' ominously says "Etruscan, Latin, and Samnite warfare are also discussed."  Looks like this will be of very limited use so only a second-hand purchase is worth considering.

This tome seems to be more useful but I don't know how it will compare with the Italian book I already have - worth looking around for at Vapnartak I think.

Considering 15mm figures I hunted around for anything pre-Camillan Roman.  I found these Mirliton Etruscans (sadly Vexillia no longer supply so I would have to order directly from Italy).    I have a few Villanovan figures (cannot remember which manufacturer though) which will do at a pinch.

Clearly I need to do some more research and hunt around at Vapnartak.

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Yet another Dr Who book - set in medieval times.  The Krillitane are just as much victims as enemies.  Not really suitable for a skirmish game as the Krillitane are, individually, far superior to men with spears and bendy swords.  Conversely if you substituted UNIT for city guards the balance would be skewed the other way.

More About Centaurs

As a child I was entranced by Ray Harryhausen's epic "Jason and the Argonauts".  The stop-frame animation looks pretty dated now but it sparked a life-long interest in Greek legends.

Classical literature will provide plenty of information on the supposed inhabitants of the Hellenistic islands but there are alternatives.  Here are the results of my research:

 (1)  Russia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polkan

The Polkan/Palkan turn up in Russian folk art and lubok prints of the 17th–19th centuries.  First as the enemy of the hero Bova Korolevich, but after a battle becomes his loyal friend and ally.  The white, human, skin and lack of protective clothing seems a bit unlikely.  There is a second picture that shows more typical Russian armour (possibly scale).

 (2)  India - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur#India

There are various references in Indian legends of half-man, half-horse creatures.

Kinnaras - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinnara_Kingdom

A bit of confusion here as there are stories about centaurs from various parts of the Indian sub continent. The Kinnaras were apparantly inhabitants of the Himalaya mountains (so would have presumbly worn bad weather gear over their human part.  Unfortunately I cannot find any illustrations.


(3)  Cyprus - https://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KentauroiKyprioi.html

According to Nonnus they were a tribe of bull-horned centaurs native to the island.    Again no illustrations.  Considering the size of a human head it could not carry the weight of the horns.  The creature would, therefore, need to have a bull's head.


(4)  World of Warcraft has a centaur with a dwarf's upper body attached to a horse's lower parts.  Why?

Hell, Hull & Halifax

Risked a journey to the Calder valley - fine going there but not so good coming back.  Of course I made a diversion to the Model Shop in Halifax.

Checked online for some info on these legendary creatures - various theories:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur

Seems that they were notorious, bad-tempered, drunkards.  Spent a lot of time fighting humans especially the Lapiths.

One exception, Chiron tutored heroes like Achilles. Firenze helped Harry Potter.  According to Nonnus Cyprian centaurs had horns.  Similar legends abound in India & Russia.

Some more for my stock.  Only 2 chariots is a bit mean - good job I had all those old Atlantic models..

A few odd items...

JHG3 - Static Grass No.3 Autumn Mix 2mm  (for my 'arab' bases)
K&S Brass Rod 51mm (for spears)
Model Color 70.985 Hull Red (just liked the shade of reddish-brown).

I think that there is a club meeting on Monday (before the xmas festivities) so will try to attend.  Having missed so many over recent weeks my game stats look like they have been attacked by moths.  Need to patch up what I can before putting the results on the website. 

Regular readers will know that I do not celebrate the annual commercial greedfest but I will wish you all a...

Happy New Year for 2020

More Books

Two more Dr Who books read:

The last from Al's collection.  This one features the Tom Baker version (one of my favourites).  Of no use for skirmishing as the opposition is an extremely powerful trans-dimensional creature.  Not a bad yarn though!

Interestingly this, and its companion books, were written prior to the launch of the latest Dr Who incarnation.  Set in Roman times it is about aliens fueling the carnage fire so that more victims are created.  An interesting premise but I don't entirely buy it. 

As it happened I  did see some Dr Who figures for sale on Black Friday but couldn't discover what scale they were.  My figures are around 35 to 40mm in height so 25/28 scale would not fit with them.  One of these years.....

Should have been at Recon on Saturday but I wasn't well enough.  I had wanted to purchase a few items.  Needs I wait for Vapnartak (February) now.

Squaring the Circle

After a discussion with Sonic I started thinking about my South & Central American figures.  So I ferreted about in the loft to dig out two plastic boxes marked 'Meso-Americans'.

Box 1 contained a full WRG 6th Edition Aztec army (all Tin Soldier figures).  When DBM came in the army was so emasculated it was not worth fielding.  Given that the 2016 army lists have made many changes I hoped that there was now a viable force to be had - such hopes were soon dashed. 

 Box 2 contained a mixture of figures and manufacturers.  Sorting that lot out will take time.

 As it was approaching the  'Black Friday' event I was tempted by the Lurkio advert and decided to order a few items:

 1 x     Mapuche Generals - MPBG01    £1.00       3 figs (gen pointing, gen mace,
                                                                                           gen spear)
1 x     Cañari General - CABG01          £0.60        2 figs (gen pointing, conch blower)
1 x     Moorish Prince LMBG01           £0.75        1 mtd figure
1 x     South American Camp Set - SACS01         £4.50        2 figs, 6 llamas,
                                                                                                6 saddle-packs
1 x     Moorish Subordinate General LMBG02     £0.75        1 mtd figure
1 x     Inca Slingers - VARIETY PACK - INBG06     £7.00        25 figs (3 varieties)

p&p = £3.73

Never having dealt with this manufacturer before (and the contact address is in South Africa) I was a little apprehensive.  Nevertheless I put in the order on Sat 30th Nov and it arrived on Wed 3rd Dec - pretty quick turnaround.

Under the previous owner Lurkio packs were £14 for 24 foot figures.  Now there are 'pack breakers' with only 4 figures @ £3.  This makes forming DBA armies a lot easier.

The figures are on the slim side and approx 18mm from head to toe.  Curiously the mounted duo are split at the waist with the legs molded onto the horse.  Unlike, say, Baueda there is no locating peg so it will be necessary to glue and probably fill the void.

Once I work out what I have in Box 2 I can think about ordering more from Lurkio.  Watch this space.......

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

Two books finished recently:

A parody of heroic novels and sagas by re-interpreting such tropes in a more down-to-earth manner.  Terry Pratchett had the knack of applying an internal logic to his fantasy novels.  This tome is heavily illustrated and, for once, I wished that I owned the copy rather than having it on library loan. 

The penultimate book from Al's collection.  This one is about fighting vampires.  It features the annoying Adric and a substitute for the gorgeous Mary Tamm,

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Saturday 12th October - Gt. Houghton

Two games of DBA-RRR:

        (1)  German Protestant v French - a narrow win 4:3

        (2)  Russian Traditional v Moldavian - the terrain fell in my favour.  4:1 win

Two games of DBA v3:

        (3)  3.52 West Frankish v 4.2 Early Crusader -  4:2 win

        (4)  3.19c North Welsh v 4.23 Feudal English - I managed to get my fast pikes 

               into the enemy.   Another 4:1 win

For game (3) I was throwing plenty of 2s in combat and Ian 5s or 6s.  Unfortunately the factors were so high that it was just a push-back in most cases.  Another session where the dice gods determined the outcomes.

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Painting update - not a lot - 3 x Irr Cm(O) repaired/tarted-up.

I have far too  many part or unpainted figures on strips awaiting my attention.  These include:

15mm - Thracian peltasts, SW Indians (foot), Inuits (foot & reindeer) plus Carolingian/Dark Ages/Irish (horse & foot).

20mm - Jacobites (all arms), Incas (foot) plus Elves/Ratmen/Lizardmen (all foot).

I am trying not to think about the lead and plastic piles in the roof space.  Maybe, one day, I will stop buying new figures until I have finished the ones that I have already got......but don't hold your breath!