"Possible new "Thermopolites range?"" Topic

Blue moon is well through sculpting the new18mm Indian Mutiny range and the ECW Scottish highlanders.
I am beginning to think about starting a range of "Thermopolites" consisting of various Greeks and Persians.
Here is my question --I would like to cast them with spears in hand, however this would mean that the hoplite long thrusting spears would be much shorter then if we included wire spears.
What do you, the gamers think of this?
Thoughts or ideas on this range
Thanks to those of you who are here to actually discuss war gaming and miniatures

Best Regards
Russ Dunaway

Thanks for asking! Long spears bend, pretzel and break in transit and play. All mine have wire spears – YMMV.

That is what I was asking, if they are cast they will NOT be long --is that acceptable ?

Russ Dunaway

Yes it is.

Thanks

John

Everything is a compromise of course. Some/many might find foreshortened spears to be acceptable but for me I would probably replace them anyway. Sorry, not too much help.

I prefer to use piano wire on my figures. So as long as the spears are detached whatever length does not matter to me.

I don't like ANY cast on spears, regardless of the length.
Having said that, perhaps my opinion is useless since I've given up Ancients years ago.

I loved the original "Thermopolites", by the way. I never knew that my Persian army needed so many auxiliaries! But I hated their spears.

I would get it with cast on spears. Me, I don't like making and attaching spears if they could be cast on. I wouldn't notice spears were a bit short.

On 15/18mm miniatures cast on spears are fine by me even if they are a bit short. I find it to much hassle adding spears to miniatures that small. On 25/28/30mm miniatures I'm happy to add my own wire spears.

Separate spears are the way to go with 28mm for me too!

Wire spears all the way. In the past I have even cut away cast spears and replaced them with wire.

Open handed please
Cheers

How long were the historical spears anyway? Would short spears be appropriate?

About 8ft for a hoplite spear IRCC Persian spears possibly shorter.

I prefer cast on spears but wire pikes.

Cast on spears please. Don't have time for all that gluing

This would be a good poll question, though I hope only those that would buy some of the range would answer.

I personally tend to drill out and replace long spears with wire eventually anyway so would prefer separate spears. I'm in the process of doing exactly that on a bunch of OG (and other) Andalusian spearmen. And have them upright so they don't become a problem when they are moved into contact.

Cheers,
John

Cast easy to cast spears, for those who don't like to do much conversion, but make the hands flat enough that the drillers can put in their own thanks.

Are these for 18mm or 28mm? I assumed 18mm but not sure now.

Thanks.

18mm.

I much prefer wire spears! I presume it is cost prohibitive to provide both options.

Why Thermopolite? Seller of warm drinks?

Old Glory team, can I ask when the 18MM Blue Moon British cannon and rockets will be added to the Zulu War range?
Are these in the pipeline? Would like to add these to complete my British forces.

Thermopolite name was used because of my fond memories, as mentioned above of the old,old custom cast range.

I like the brush bristles like those provided by Steel Fist for their 15mm ECW pikes. They bend and pop right back up. I've dropped several stands with no effect. All are cut to the same length and are much closer to "scale" than cast or metal pikes. Russ, maybe you can look into this.

I'd like to see the Scandinavian Napoleonic Minor Nations finished up.

But to answer the OP's question, separate spears please.

You might be able to get away with short spears for the Persians but those Hoplites will look so much better with a spear the appropriate size. If that means an empty hand to hold an a wire spear so be it.

I agree with dbf1676 re brush bristles. I have a whole heap of old Freikorps successor pikemen with pike leveled. They came with soft metal pikes that would have been complete spaghetti after one game. Instead I used brush bristles after what seemed like an endless search for just the right thickness and length on a kitchen brush. I even squished the ends to make spear points. The phalangites can be placed in proper contact with the enemy and, as noted above, just pop back into place. A number have fallen off over the yearss but they're easy to replace.

For upright and for shorter spears though, I'd prefer wire. And I wouldn't want to get a hoplite miniature and find that he's carrying a short spear.

Cheers,
John

I have a few Vikings whose spears are usually upright and close to the body, and hence not easily bent. This is OK. In most cases, I prefer to add a wire spear. Not that I really like to cut wire, pound out spearheads, then grind them into spearhead shape with my Dremel, but that's the way its got to be to have active warriors, and who wants a bunch of guys standing there, waiting for the other side to attack?

Grelber

About 8ft for a hoplite spear IRCC Persian spears possibly shorter.

Herodotos describes various contingents in Xerxes' army as armed with "short" spears. He doesn't say how short, but presumably noticeably shorter than hoplite ones.

Persian reliefs at Persepolis and Susa show soldiers with spears not much longer than the men are tall – so say 6' or a bit more – but spears are often shortened in art to make them fit the available space and if these were depicted much longer they'd reach outside the register.

So, I guess that gives us a range where nobody can say you're wrong: just make them obviously shorter than the Greek ones but obviously longer than their carriers.

Thanks for all the input. Will probably go with wire---- for the Greeks for sure anyway.

Russ Dunaway

prefer separate

Can't you insert wire into the mould before casting? Then you please almost everyone. May be worth a test if you have a spare spot in a mould. The figure would come out with cast on wire spear/pike. There may be a little excess metal up the wire, but that could be trimmed with mould lines. The wires may need warming before being put in the mould.

Tried this several times years ago with 28mm.
Adds at least x 3 to labor for moderate success.
Thanks for the idea though.
Russ Dunaway