From KevH: 20mm Saracen Infantry and Cavalry (488 points)

...and the titanic struggle for 2nd place in the points roster continues into the night...

From Kev:

Well, we are nearly there. This will probably be my final entry. If I do get anything else finished, it may appear, but unlikely.

This lot is all Saracens (Ayubids). All 1/72 scale by either Strelets or HaT. This nearly completes the army, I only need some light cavalry units that I will add when I purchase or convert them.

First up are the last of the infantry. Another Ghazi Fanatic Warband, once again in the black garb (24 figures)

Two Light Infantry Bow units to add to the earlier one I did. (16 figures) 

And two small skirmish units with Javelins (6 figures).

Then at last the Cavalry. Two units of Mamluk Heavy Cavalry with Bows, (12 Mounted figures)

Two units of Mamluk Heavy Cavalry with Spears, (12 Mounted Figures)

One unit of Turks Heavy Cavalry with Spears, (6 mounted figures)

Two Divisional Command stands, (4 mounted figures)

and what better to finish on than "Camels" Well everyone has done them, or so it seems. A small unit of Camel riders with bows (4 mounted figures). Quite a few are conversions.

I will have to take a pic of both the Crusader and Saracen armies.

Well, thats me done I think. It's in the lap of the gods now...

Holy cow! That is an amazing entry Kev and such beautiful work. Those Ghazi Fanatics are still the bomb and I'm glad you managed to get some camels into the mix - all the cool kids are doing them y'know. :)

These Saracens will give Kev 488 points, slipping him past Dave in the final run into the finishing straight... The mind just boggles at the points being broadsided at this rarified upper atmosphere...

From AndrewS: 20mm Sea Monkeys (er, People) & 28mm Farm Animals (424 points)

From LOKI:

It’s me again, I am still not hearing the fat lass singing so I am still applying paint with gusto. At this time of year we have to watch for those low flying sandbags and odd fellows in budgie smugglers .

This little lot is the first of the Sea peoples army, these are all Hat 20mm figures making up 3 warbands of 24 figures each for a total of 72 figures.

The first two units have similar colour schemes to denote they will be part of the same division, may not be a completely historical way of identifying the units but it works on the table top for me. The unit leaders are distinguished by a white reed in the front of the headgear.

The third unit is done with a different mix of colours and will form part of the 2nd division.

Also here is the first unit of Lukka Pirates to join my Sea Peoples force, 24 figures from Caesar’s 20mm range I wanted to give these fellows a similar look and make them distinct from the other units, So I went with Black kilts and bright banding on those. To set them off from the rest I decided to put freehand designs on the shields, as my research shows they are likely to have come from Anatolia or outlying Greek states so drew some inspiration from there and set about giving them a unified look. This unit has blue and red grounds for the designs and in total 20 of the group have been done this way.

 

This army should end up being a veritable riot of colour when finished, with all the bright banding and the bronze. All have been based as the Nubians were but without rocks as there literally is not space on a base for that its surprising the room one extra figure on a base takes up.

Finally, here are the first figures that I have completed as display pieces for the new range of figures from Warbases, I have a fair amount more to get completed yet.

These are all 28mm scale miniatures and consists of 2 Shire horses, 3 Highland cows, 2 Soay sheep and 2 lambs, A bloodhound, 3 Nubian Goats and A Bulldog for a total of 14 miniatures.

Ooh! New project, wonderful! These really look excellent Andrew. I've always liked Sea People figures with their whacky head-dress and kilts - a great excuse to go nuts with fun colours, which I see you've taken full advantage of. Excellent.

Love the farm animals as well, especially the long-horned cows. 

These Sea People and the charming animals will give Andrew a very impressive 424 points as he closes in on the 4000 point mark. Amazing.

From KevH: 20mm Anglo-Saxons Thegns & Saracen City Militia and Ghazi Fanatics (182 points)

From Kev:

Sculpting's done for now so I am back at the painting table, yaaay. First up are an addition to my 1/72 Dark age collection.

The Anglo Saxon Army in "Hail Caesar" is allowed a single small unit of Mounted Thegns. I could have chose the easy route for these and just painted 4 of the Revell ones. But no, thats not me and I do prefer the Strelets. So here we go, Strelets and Revell conversions. A few head swaps and the odd body swap and all on Strelets horses. 4 mounted Thegns to give the Anglo Saxons a bit of fast hitting power.

Then back onto the Crusades. More infantry for now. First up are another City Militia unit. 12 Figures, these are 3 to a base to show they are a Medium infantry unit.

Then closely followed by the first of the Ghazi Fanatics units. This is a warband, (24 figures) hence the double ranks.

Once again a medium infantry unit with 3 to a base to show this. I decided on a uniform colour scheme for the Fanatics as I wanted them to look menacing on the table. Andy had the idea for the red headgear. Red, black with a bit of white give these the look I wanted and will easily make them recognisable on the table.

The other fanatic units will be a slight variation on this scheme.

All the Saracen figures are HaT 1/72 and from their ElCid range and painted in my high contrast style. I am now working on some of the Saracen Cavalry, at last, lol.

Beautiful work once again Kev! I particularly like the unit of Ghazi fanatics - those colours certainly reinforce their intended role. 

These fellows with their excellent banners, shields and conversions will give Kev 182 points, allowing him to wrest back control of 2nd place from Dave. Nonetheless with only a 48 point spread between the two it's really anybody's race. Pretty exciting stuff!

From KevH: 20mm Saracen Infantry (65 points)

From Kev: 

I managed to get another Saracen unit finished. This time it's a Light infantry Egytian mob. Sixteen 1/72 Hat figures. I converted standard bearer with suitable flag.

They are actually Almoravids, but really do have the Saracen look to them. These lightly armed troops, wearing few clothes, really did seem to fit the part as a non regular unit.

They are pretty poor troops in the game, so I guess this will be the only unit I will do.

Ghazi fanatics next. I want these to look very nasty indeed.

Lovely work Kev. I really like the high-contrast style you've used for this project. The colours are incredibly punchy, which works brilliantly in this scale.

These Saracens will give Kev 65 points.

From AndrewS: 20mm Ancient Nubian Royal Guard & Command (150 points)

From Andrew:

I have the first of a few smaller entries, as I tidy up the Nubian Army build. This entry is for 4 divisional command stands and 4 spare infantry commands.

The Infantry commanders are spare command stands in case I wish to use the optional ability to split the warbands down into smaller light infantry units. I have colour coded the capes on these to make identification easier on the table top.  All eight figures are from the Hat 20mm range.

The divisional commands are 3 figures to a base over 4 bases and are all a mix of Hat and Caesar 20mm plastics. The spearmen are all conversions. Each command has its loin protectors colour coded to match the respective division. The shields and officers capes have been done with my stipple technique.

Next is two Nubian Royal Guard infantry units each of 8 figures. These are all 20mm figures from the Caesar miniatures plastics range.

I decided to use these figures for the royal guards due to the animal skin kilts, which really distinguishes the from the hat figures, In order to make a further distinction I did some internet searching and found that a traded commodity was feathers for ceremonial headwear so I have given each unit a different type of feather.

The first unit has had to be converted as the Caesar range is rather devoid of spears, so a quick conversion from clubs to spears made the rear rank, stippled the shields in a unique pattern and used a flamingo feather as the main distinction for these.

The second unit, again with the animal skins and lacking shields so added a few extra spears, I tried to be a bit adventurous with the feather for these and used a peacock feather, at this scale it is very hard to be completely accurate in such a small area but I am happy with the finished result.

Beautiful work Andrew! The commanders looks suitably imposing and regal with their leopard shawls and rods of office. I also like the Royal Guards with their ornamental belts and bright coloured plumes. Ah, it makes one nostalgic for the day when a well-placed feather and a jauntily worn animal wrap marked you as a man of substance.  Sigh.

These commanders along with their pink and turquoise retinues will give Andrew 150 points. Cracking job Gramps!