15mm Numidians - Kardashian legs and cankles!

If you are an Old Glory 15s fan, you should probably stop reading right now.

I have been in the market to start a 15mm Carthaginian group.  A few weeks back, I bought a couple packs of Numidian cavalry and command.  What a shit pack of figures!!!  But, first, some finished pics:

Overall, considering with what I was working with, I think they turned out pretty good!

These figures were something that my father would have painted 30 years ago.  They are blobs at best!  Some complaints:

• The flash and mold lines were absolutely ridiculous.  It took me nearly two hours to scrape flash off and sand the mold lines on 10 15mm horses!  Im used to doing a quick touch up and moving on.  The riders not much better
• Some of the horses (and some of the riders too for that matter) were nearly hollow!!!  They had holes that needed to be filled and sanded.
• Some of the pila that the riders carried in the shield hand had multiple spear heads, but looked like only one wooden pole!  There were two sculpts in particular that had 4 spear points, but no doubt, only one 'stick' was sculpted.
• Not a single base of the horses was 'flat'.  Each one had to be cut down, due to the mold being 'off'.
• The arms and legs were totally out of proportion, and the muscle lines were ridiculous.  Of course, if I was hot for Kim Kardashian, maybe this would have turned me on.
• Cankles!

• Most of the riders had no toes!

Ok - stepping down now.  I think the bottom line here is that I will try a different line like Xyston or something else.

I think at this point in time, most research says that Numidian cavalry used hides for shields, so I went mostly with browns and greys (elephants).  I also read that they may have used chocolate chip cookies to deflect incoming projectiles!  (Ugh!!!  And one of those awful mold lines!!!!)

An attempt at leopard skin!  Leopards existed in Northern Africa during this time period.  I dont think it was too out of the question that one or two may have ended up as shields.

ACW Size Comparison

I think Im going to start working on a large group of 15/18 mm ACW figures.  I have decided on three different manufacturers, but now Im stuck.  I have samples of all three figures.

Peter Pig - Ive always loved the Pig.  Great little sculpts, and a lot of character.  A lot of people are put off by the Jay Leno chins.  If you have looked at my blog in the past, you may have seen a couple units of Confederates Ive done in the past.

The next range is AB Miniatures.  These figures look great.  From my research, a lot of people consider AB 'the best', and honestly, its hard to argue that.  Great sculpts, faces that look nice and in proportion, etc.  My only complaint is that a lot of the rifles were all bent up, and some of the bayonets had snapped off.  (not a problem with AB though!)

Last up is Blue Moon Manufacturing.  After looking on the Blue Moon website, I was really expecting these to be 'the best'.  Dont get me wrong - the uniforms and equipment are absolutely spectacular.  But, look at the faces....something just isnt right.  They look like aliens wearing clothes from the 19th century.  (Look at the one on the left!!!  It looks like an acorn head!!!)

Size comparison
Poor piggy - they really are tiny compared to AB and Blue Moon

Now, im totally torn.  If Im being honest, I really think the AB and Blue Moon details are better than PP, not to mention that it appears that they will blend together if I combine both manufacturers in the same unit.  However, the Pig has a wide range of ACW, and I do like that small look....

Check back tomorrow or the next day when I post some figures that are the exact opposite of AB - some really, REALLY bad Numidian cavalry!

There is a reason there is no one named Sherman in the South

 Picture of Main St, Columbia, SC (my home town) after Sherman came through

Bastard.

Some really good pics out on The Atlantic site of 'Places' and 'People' of the American Civil War here

Newest attempt at Fallschirmjager

A couple paratroopers from Warlord

Brother against brother

Ive been on a big civil war kick the past several weeks - reading about many of the battles I only knew small details about, looking at battle maps, etc.  I also painted a small group of Peter Pig ACW soldiers.  (Based for Regimental Fire and Fury)

Ive got a couple paper flags I 'could' use for the flag bearer, but I think Ill wait until I go to Salute and see if I can get one of better quality there.

Im also planning a little ACW project.  Ive got a small number of AB figures, and also some Blue Moon on the way, and Ill make a determination of the one I like best between those two and Peter Pig.  Gotta say though, ive always been partial to the Pig...

A little off the beaten path

One bound for the sands of the arena.  The other two bound for the quiet wilderness.  I bought these bears back in my 'gladiator' phase, and just got around to them - from Foundry Miniatures.

Also, Ive completed a small unit of Confederate soldiers from Peter Pig.  However, I ran out of bases, and Im awaiting a shipment from Litko.  Until then, a small preview

Something to do during the Super Bowl

I used to LOVE the Super Bowl, but I dont know - its gotten SOOOO anti climatic these days!  Ive always been weird about not wanting to go to parties during the game, because you cant actually WATCH the game.  Also, I guess, Im not a big fan of either team (and I HATE the damn Patriots with Tom Terrible and Bellicheat), so that poo-poo'd it for me a little more.

Anyway, painted these two zombies up during the first half, and finished them up during old bag Madonna's half time show.  Pics arent great, so its hard to tell, but the one on the left is actually a Han Solo zombie!

January 2012 Totals

Another new year rolls around.  Got only a few things completed this month...lost a weekend to work, and that always sucks, but also kills some free time,

But, Hallelujah!  I spent ZERO on little men this month (mainly because I didnt have any time to look at them :) )  Im shooting for the same in February.  (and March as well)

Completed, for January, 2012:

28mm infantry completed: 14
10 Police Offices (Wargames Foundry)
4 Sci Fi Marine types (Pig Iron Miniatures)

20mm infantry completed: 8
8 US Devgru (Elhiem Miniatures)

6mm infantry completed: 8
8 US Marinies (GHQ)



In progress, January/February, 2012:
15mm Infantry in progress: 12
12 ACW figures (Peter Pig Miniatures)

28mm Infantry in progress: 2
2 Zombies (Victory Force Miniatures)

Finished up some PoPo which were actually pretty fun to paint, and also some Pig Iron Sci Fi stuff which was cool to do.  Next up is painting up some ACW figures (im looking to add to my collection at Salute) as well as a couple zombies (one of which looks like Han Solo!!!)

2012 Completed Totals:

25-28mm infantry completed:14

20mm infantry completed: 8
1/285 Infantry completed:  8

Purchases in January, 2012:

Zero!!!  Woohoo!!

Total Purchases, 2012

0$