Arab project coming to a close.

Since my last entry I have completed another two units. A unit each of standard spear men and archers. I am now working on the last three units of the army, two light cavalry and one foot javelin. This will give me a total of 24 each of heavy and light cavalry, plus 120 infantry broken down into spears, javelins and archers. That is the complete contents of the seven boxes of Gripping Beast figures I purchased. I am awaiting the metal mounted Saladin figure to lead the army, giving a grand total of 169 figures! More than enough for Saga, Lion Rampant, L'Art, or any other rule system I wish to use. Just a case of combining some of the units, mainly cavalry, into larger formations.

The whole army so far, the regular troops and cavalry in the foreground with the elites in the distance.

The regular troops, based for Lion Rampant. Two units of light cavalry, one archers and one spear or javelin plus a unit of foot javelins are still to join this force.

The regulars will eventually total fourteen units. six mounted and eight foot.

 Ready for action! Javelin skirmishers to the fore, three units of archers, backed by three units of spears,  two heavy cavalry with spears, one with javelins and one of archers, to the rear.

The elite force is of course much smaller with two units of heavy cavalry, one with spears and one with scimitars/swords. A single unit each of spears and archers, all in the distinctive black, red and gold colours.

The hooded spears advance before the golden helmets.

Archers prepare to unleash ahead of the spears.

Four units of regular cavalry, comprising two of spears, one of archers and one of javelins.

The final unit of javelins are on the painting board, they have the base colours blocked in and have had a wash, they are now awaiting their highlights.

The final twelve horses built and primed. They will be the mounts for archers and either spears or javelins, not decided yet.

The last units of this project.

Yet more Arab Warriors join the ranks.

As mentioned on this blog a couple of days ago, I had to create a second unit of archers, spear men and also the first unit of javelins. They have now been completed and the final three boxes from my purchase will now be tackled. As it was a sunny, though a little windy, outside. I took the opportunity to seal the flocked bases, the usual mix 50/50 mix of Woodland Scenic Cement and water. This stops the models leaving a trail of flock behind on the table top.

The bases have now dried out and brought back inside. Six units of infantry.

Four units of cavalry.

The last two boxes of cavalry to do.

The final box of infantry, washed in soapy water, rinsed and left to air dry.

All the units displayed in their natural environment.

I have made up the units in Lion Rampant formations, this can of course be easily altered as needed. At the left rear, javelins, moving forward archers and then heavy cavalry with spears.

Two units of spear men at the rear, one unit each of archers and elite spear men and in front heavy cavalry, and in green, light cavalry with javelins.

Finally, at the front a unit of light cavalry archers.

Ten units completed so far with a further eight (four cavalry and four infantry) still to be added.

I do like the red & black colour scheme of the elite spear men and plan to build a unit each of archers and heavy cavalry to match. I think I have enough of the wrapped up heads to achieve this. They could be the cream of the army. I also ordered a metal Saladin figure mounted on horseback, he can be the leader of the army.

About half of the Arab force now completed.

Finished off the four units of mounted Arabs last night in the paint and chat on Tabletop Commanders. I had already completed some foot units so decided to lay them out on the table for a muster roll. Also took the opportunity to photograph the six test figures for the AWI project in the fort. The figures are not finished yet, but good enough for a quick photo shoot.

The whole force so far, all the cavalry are on single bases, the infantry in a mixture of 4,3,2 and singles. I can then use the troops for Saga, Lion Rampant as they are, or group them into larger units for L' Art, Hail Caesar, Impetus etc.

Seven Javelin armed in the front, I need to add another five figures to this unit.

A unit of 12 spear men with musician and leader.

Five extra spear men, will need another seven painted up to complete this unit.

16 archers, too big for Saga or Lion Rampant, but I just need to add another eight, to make a second full unit of 12.

Unit of heavy cavalry with spears.

Second unit of heavy cavalry with spears.

Light cavalry with javelins.

Light cavalry, horse archers.

The whole force again. Gripping Beast plastic box sets. This is the contents of just three boxes, one box each of heavy cavalry (2 units), light cavalry (2 units) and Arab spear men and archers. A lot of figures for the price and enough for a decent sized retinue in Lion Rampant.

The six test figures for the AWI are almost complete, just the muskets, cuff trim, hat trim etc to finish off. Guard at the gate.

Sentry above the gate and outside the commanding officers quarters.

I am really pleased with these Warlord Games figures, easy to build and a joy to paint. They look perfect in the scratch built fort.

Full of Eastern Promise.

Well after painting up a number of English Civil War regiments, I thought I would have a change of scene, so I picked out some boxes of Arab warriors. We have been enjoying glorious weather, at long last, here in the UK, so the man cave has been abandoned along with the ongoing ACW currently raging on the table. However, a small table set up outside allows the painting to continue.

A unit of mounted Javelins have been built and await a lick of paint.

The contents of two boxes, one heavy and one light cavalry by Gripping Beast. It has allowed me to assemble the light cavalry as a unit of six each, javelins and archers. The heavy cavalry are all spear armed. This is to allow for their use in Lion Rampant, but of course they can easily be joined to other similar troops for other rule sets.

Their horses are done and awaiting the riders.

The box of infantry has also been painted and washed, however, they still need to be highlighted. Here a command group for the spear men.

The rest of the spear unit of 12 await in their box.

A unit of Javelin.

Finally, a unit of archers.

The three boxes of Gripping Beast plastics has allowed me to build four cavalry and three foot units for use with Lion Rampant. Not a bad sized little force for under £60.