Minifigs Macedonian/Successor Elephant

An old friend, now repaired, the infeasibly long Macedonian pike became a casualty of rough handling and (eventually) got a superglue repair (see below, but the question on my mind is for "how long will it last" - I may have to re-pike it with brass wire):  

The old Minifigs figure stands up well despite being over (at least) twenty years old.  

On the workbench: 15mm Macedonian Phalanx (WIP #1)

Once the flash was removed and the figures washed, Airfix Acrylic Primer was applied (see below, six boys, two new Phalanxes):  

Next step apply a Vallejo "brown wash" (see below, a muddy brown "campaigning look"): 

Vallejo Game Colour "Dark Flesh" (see below, small change - a darker brown on a brown background):  

An even darker Vallejo Game Colour, Charcoal/Burnt Brown for the wood bits (see below, everything is getting blurry now - help I need colour):  

 

I decided these boys would have a Vallejo Game Colour Imperial Blue as a "blue" tunic (see below, not too sure how this will work out, but let's see): 

The linen tunic armour gets a Vallejo Plague Yellow as a shade colour (see below, slow progress but getting there): 

Finally the armour, a dark bronze is needed, time to use Vallejo Model Colour  Bronze mixed [50:50] with Vallejo Model Smoke to get a lovely dimmed bronze shade colour (see below, looking sinister): 

Exhausting but I am going to push on. looking forward to the lighter base shades ;) 

Back to basics: Removing Flash from 15mm Irregular Macedonian Pikemen

If nothing else (see below, a small mound [16 x15mm Irregular Miniatures - Macedonian Pikemen ] of the "lead mountain" is tackled): 

It is good for the soul! Prepping for painting!

Greeks and Romans ... tell me who were these Romans?

Whenever one reads about the Greeks (lumping Alexander and the Successors all in as one) there always seems to be a few chapters "comparing and contrasting" the Greeks to the Romans. "Soldiers and Ghosts" is no exception and gives a fascinating recount of the cultural as well as military forces that guided the Roman legionary war machine development (see below):

All these books seem to be drawing me away from WWII modelling intentions (see New Year's Resolutions) but heck "variety is the spice of life". My DBA+ armies of 15mm ancient painting projects 'frozen in time' are now calling me:

• Republican Romans
• Hoplite Greeks
• Early Achaemenid Persia
• Alexandria Macedonian

But which to start first? The Romans seen to be a bit of a front runner as I already have a Later Carthaginian army in need of the Roman Republican opponent to fight

;)