Monday 19 January 2015

From AlanD - 28mm Dark Age Seljuk Cavalry (100 Points)


This week I've added some Seljuk ghulams to my growing Saracen force. The figures are from Perry, and they are what you would expect: stunningly detailed little sculptures that are very realistically proportioned, and thus look a little slight compared to some other ranges.



I managed to get these done during breaks from painting the lounge room and ripping up the carpet. I don't remember ever feeling so totally knackered. It has been a good 10 days of solid graft, made possible by loud music and heroic quantities of beer.


The shields are all hand painted, as is the standard. The inscription on the standard is in kufic text, and is copied from the inscription on an Umayyad coin. I tried to make the flag look a bit tattered, but I'm not sure it worked too well. While we are on the topic, I have found coins and Persian carpets to be particularly good sources of text and designs when painting my Saracens. I have tried to make the Arabic inscriptions at least appear plausible, rather than just painting on a squiggle. If you are doing a squiggle, remember that Arabic is written right to left!




That's 9 mounted 28mm figures, giving me a base of 90 points.




From Curt:

Lovely work Alan. Again, you've done a masterful job on their tunics, shields and horse furniture. The flag is particularly brilliant. Great tip on using Persian carpets and coins as inspiration for their shields and banners (and on the right-to-left squiggling...). 

This entry will allow you to just pip past Tamsin again in your points race. Well done.

15 comments:

  1. As I have said before your shields are awesome and make mine look pitiful. I consider them an inspiration to improve.

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  2. Perfect work, these are superb. Congratulations!

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  3. I knew you'd nip ahead of me Alan. And you'll have points from the Victoriana theme round to add. Mind you, I should manage to regain the lead on Saturday - I've already got 56 points painted .

    Very nice Seljuks :)

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  4. Lovely - really suitable groundwork too. And squiggles - yay.

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  5. These are great the banner looks quite battered so I think you got what you was going for and the writing is just perfect

    Ian

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  6. Very good, lots of colour and loads of character.

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  7. a greeat effort - well done on getting these done between other committments - mind music and beer do help!

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  8. Once again...excellent colors, shields, and tunics! I am not tired of this force at all! They look very impressive.

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  9. Great stuff - this period just looks so cool. Incredible work on the shield and banner!

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  10. Really nice work. Excellent research inspiration idea as well.
    Cheers

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  11. These really are very nice indeed.

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  12. These are jolly good sir. The banner and shields are superb. Kudos!

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  13. Brilliant work. The shields and banner are stunning. Lots of ideas to steal for my own spahis.
    Love this entry.

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  14. Lovely characterful work on these, a lot of work!

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