Chariot

15mm Hoplites and Macedonians

by Scott Holder

After focusing mainly on figures from the Chariot/Biblical period, Chariot Miniatures is branching out into the classical period. All figures are true 15mm with pretty good animation and would mix well with other true 15mm lines. The figures I received were free of flash and the model fit together well. The horses seem a bit too small in proportion to the rider but the riders themselves are very nice.

Recently they released a line of Hoplites and Macedonians. The Macedonian line consists of only four figures, two Hypaspists, a Prodromoi cavalry, and a Companion. The other figures needed are covered in the Hoplite line. The Hypaspists are slightly stocky in a "hoplite" panoply. I was somewhat dissapointed with them. The shields were of the concave hoplite type, not the rimless kind used by pike-wielding troops. CHR 850 has the shield attached, 851 has them seperate so you could substitute a smaller shield. Both cavalry figures are some of the best 15mm mounted figures I've seen; each is very well sculpted and proportionate. Each is a one piece casting with a muscled horse, two types of helmets and suitable for many other HC figures in the Successor period.

The Hoplites consist of 15 foot, 7 mounted, and 1 artillery model. Many of the foot figures are suitable for many other armies since they consist of a variety of Thracians, Cretan archers, Gauls, and Spaniards. The hoplites themselves are three figures, two MI and one HI. The HI figure has three variations. The five Thracian figures are pretty nicely done except that the rhomphia in one figure looks more like a long sword. However, all have nice headgear and poses. Many of the LI are "generic" and suitable for just about any period. There are two Syracusan figures, a Gaul and a Spaniard, both have good detail and are well proportioned.

The cavalry's quality ranges quite a bit. The biggest fault is that the horses seem too small for the riders.

Overall these are better than average figures with a few disapointments but many more outstanding ones with some of the best 15mm detail I've seen. A pack of 24 infantry or 12 cavalry costs $6.50. Individual figures are $.35 for foot and $.70 for mounted. They are available from Stone Mountain Miniatures, Box 594, Dept 61, Broomfield, Go 80038-0594.

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