"Vendel Macedonians" Topic

Hi

I picked up some 28mm Vendel Macedonians a couple of years back. Had a look at Sgt Major Minatures webite (who I gather have taken over Vendel).

sgmm.biz/macedonians.html

From that websire it looks as if I have a couple of packs apeice of the Regular, Light and Levy Phalangites, and 1 pack of the Guard Phalangites. I had a few questions:

1) What period could I use the above packs in? I was looking to do an army straddling the period from Phillip to Alexander to Pyrrhus (to cover the historical mastch ups with opponents down my local club). Would these packs fit these periods?

2) I have noticed that Sgt Major Minatures is in USA and currently without UK distributor. If I can't get hold of more packs (without risking customs charges) then could I actually mix any of the above packs in togther to get 32 strong Phalanx units?

(I am planning on getting some of the new Immortal Minatures/Warlord Games plastic Macedonians for separate units to expand the phalanx).

Thanks

James

Andy has been pretty accommodating on custom orders for me. Send him an email.

DM

Who is Andy?

I presume you mean Sgt Major Minatures? In which case that still leaves me with the issue of customs charges. So won't be ordering them unless have UK distributor.

So the question remains:

1) Can I use the packs described to cover both Alexander & Pyrrhus? Or are they more appropriate to just one period?

2) If I don't want to buy from US and can't pick up any from likes of well-known auction site, would I be ok to mix up any of the packs listed above to create a 32 man unit for Phalanx?

Thanks very much

James

Equipment and weapons for the Sarissophoroi in that period are not known in such detail that you couldn't mix up those figures that you have into combined phalanxes.

I have a few phalanx odds and sods left after building my Macedonian army.

Send me an e-mail on contact@staffordgames.co.uk

Thanks adster. That helps in the short term. I can start by painting the packs that I have already to get initial 1-2 units on the table top.

We will be playing Hail Caesar so will be basing them consistent with other armies down our local club. So in groups of 4 on 40mm square bases. So the 2 packs apiece of Regular, Light and Levy Phalangites will get me 4 bases of each of them.

Now to look at colour schemes to cover both Alexander and Pyrrhus!

Thanks

James

Two points:

Vendel and Warlord plastics are probably not going to be compatible- but I have not seen the Warlord models in person yet… usually Warlord plastics are close to actual 28mm in size.. Vendel are very large 28's thick and taller than many.

As to your other question.

The "Levy phalangite" model is in a rather flat stylized kausia cap and is not among my favorites… as this style of cap is mostly shown on Eastern (Bactrian) kings. I would not use them at all as I prefer helmeted and figures with greaves.

Macedonian soldiers of your period are illustrated on the Agios Athanasios Tumulus:

As you can see the kausia looks more like the kind of cap that Afghan's wear today- the Pakul. The colors here would be contemporary with your Macedonian empire and early Successors plans.

Bactrian King's kausia:

Macedonian kausia:
link

Pakul:

Some types of art show a composite kausia and petasos riding cap with a knob on top, which is usually larger and floppier than often depicted:

The Vendel guard figures with feathers are closer to the style shown in the tumulus art, since they also have the Phrygian style helmet.

It's likely that the more armored soldiers were in the front of the phalanx, based on descriptions of Alexander's operations. So there would be no problem with using the Vendel "guards" in front, with the levy and lights in back ranks.

I too have numerous unpainted Vendel phalangites that I will part with for a song (or just postage)… drop me a line if interested then I will sort what I have.
JJ

Thanks JJ. I have always enjoyed your website. In fact at the moment I have a couple of screens open with your painting guide to Hoplites!

That means I can mix my Vendel Guard models as the front rank with the Regular Phalangites for rear ranks. Just need one more pack to get a unit of 32.

Thanks for details on Levy caps- I will leave them to one side for now if not suitable for Pyrrhus.

I was'nt planning on mixing Vendel and Warlord Games plastics in same units. But figured they would be fine for separate units.

Have started the army by painting a unit of 24 Vendel Greek Hoplites. These will be mercenaries in my Macedonians but in short term these will be my contribution towards local club's big Hail Caesar battle in fortnight's time.

One more quick question- could I use Wargames Factory plastic Numidians to represent light troop[s in Pyrrhic/Macedonian army? I am out of work at the moment so trying to do this army on a budget. The Numidians box set would give me 3 units of 8 strong or slingers, bowmen and javeliners respectively. Would these pass as generic light troops?

Thanks

James

Jonas- would send you a message but I am afraid I don't know how. Can't see a PM button. Yes would be interested in more Vendel figures to finish my units. Please drop me a message.

Thanks very much

James

I was'nt planning on mixing Vendel and Warlord Games plastics in same units. But figured they would be fine for separate units.

----> That's a good plan. I still on occaision use my units of 25's with my 28's… pikemen look bigger because of the massed pikes. But I plan on getting rid of all my 25s soon.

One more quick question- could I use Wargames Factory plastic Numidians to represent light troop[s in Pyrrhic/Macedonian army? I am out of work at the moment so trying to do this army on a budget. The Numidians box set would give me 3 units of 8 strong or slingers, bowmen and javeliners respectively. Would these pass as generic light troops?

-----> it's a stretch, but sometimes budget trumps things and the plastics were look ok. The preferable figure would be Relic Illyrians and theirs and other Thracians. But you can try to add bits to the plastics to make them look more like the actual locals. Thracian caps are easy to add to the plastic Numidians, and finding extra pelta shields might not be too hard.

Plastics are great for conversions.. this is from one of the oldsters that used to make Thracians out of AIRFIX Robin Hood figures-- so that is a great place to start.
JJ

I understand the problems of importing figures. And the costs of plastics are tempting. But with that said, the Vendel line is magnificent in many areas and Sgt Major has, to my knowledge, redone the molds (which must have been getting pretty worn – the last batches of Vendel figures that a friend of mine bought were poorly cast) and the they look fantastic. I just bought two Successor elephants and they are magnificent. I had purchased two Successor elephants from Aventine and as beautiful as they are the were almost twice as expensive and will take a lot of prep work to assemble. No work for the Vendel elephants. So with the pound giving you strong purchasing power I'd bet that even with the hated VAT and surcharges a large order would still be good value for you.

Yes- but being out of work a large order is beyond my wallet at the moment.

Hence small orders from UK suppliers, probably leaning towards plastic box sets to start with to build up Phalanx/Hoplites/skirmishers.

I like the look of Aventine's Pyrrhus range- maybe when I am back in work to further tweak army from being generic Macedonian to more Pyrrhic.

Thanks

James