Constantinople on the Web: Hoplites with freehand shields, peltasts, Cretan archers

Hoplites require planning. If you don't consider the other models in the phalanx while you base and arm your men, they'll end up stabbing each other with their long spears and nudging each other off their bases with their big shields. This is the first phalanx I've done for which I've been wise enough to place these hoplites on their bases with forethought. And the results: a phalanx where all the rear rank's spears rise gracefully above the shoulders of the men in front.

It might be the best phalanx I've painted, and that's surprising because these are Wargames Factory Greeks in Heavy Armor, plastics, which aren't my favorites. But these guys have done a lot to restore my faith in plastic.

And you know I loves me some hand-painted hoplons. Here are the top five: a dolphin; the letters theta, eta, beta (he's from Thebes); the letter mu (he's from Mycenae), an octopus -- and this octopus is the pick of the litter, it looks even better in real life -- and an amphora.

These guys are brand spanking new, never seen battle. These next units are a little bit older; they were around for my last battle against the Romans. Warlord games makes these Cretan archers and I'm happy with the final product although I wasn't crazy about the figures. Warlord metal figs are small and scrawny. They aren't too bad as archers (and Cretans are small people in real life) but for most types of soldier, I'm going to be steering clear of Warlord as a general policy.