From IanW: 6mm Macedonian Phalanx (200 Points)

This is going to be the biggest single submission I will be submitting points wise. It's the first time I have tried to paint up four 96 figure blocks and it went better than I expected though gluing the pikes into their hands was a bit of a strain but was finally finished at 6am Christmas day!

Followers of previous challengers will have seen these guys before. Last year I think I painted up possibly 5 units over two different posts. They are Baccus miniatures and I always go for the open handed option rather than cast pikes.

The star design on the shields is created via Micron watercolour pens, mine are the 0.25mm ones. Unfortunately the black one packed in part way through one of the blocks and I had to switch first to paint and brush then onto a thicker pen so not the best finish. Not that the stars look any good close up but from a distance they look fine.

One unit is in red tunics, another blue and two in green. I am using these colours to define which formation they belong to. Or can mix them depending on how we play them. 

The pikes are brush bristles cut down to size. They are really springy and tend to survive contact when they get caught. Better still they don't get all bent and curly. They are not the perfect solution but I can put up with the mixed thickness that you get and whilst it takes 45 minutes per block to attach them it's worth it.

My aim is to have twenty of these blocks done at some point. I now have fourteen with four new shinny ones from Santa that I will try and get done before the challenge ends. That will be just under 2000 figures and 1.2 meters long one unit deep. I guess I will have to take them over to Lee's to use them! We actually plan a game at Joy of Six once we have both sides all painted up.

Points wise that's 384 upright figures for 192 points with 13 infantry casualty figures and two mounted for an extra  7.5 points! Not the biggest points bomb dropped but it's probably the biggest little bomb LOL 

Next up will probably be more Prussian 15mm before I head back to yet more 6mm but not Macedonian. 

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A briefcase paint nuke!

Wow, I'm always struck by how impressive these look, Ian. I just love 'em. I can't imagine the patience it takes to get all those pikes put into place - but the payoff is amazing. And the inclusion of a few casualties and command just adds to the spectacle.

I'm going to, of course, round this off to an even 200 points. Brilliant work Ian!