All you mystics who are wargaming the Homeric Siege of Troy or ancient Mycenian and Minoan period battles can expand your forces even further under a newly released group of personalities, one of whom is Sarpendon, King of the Lukkas, in a light frame chariot. Hey! What a good lukka! (ouch?)

The spearmen, slingers and bowmen now come in packs. Spearmen packs are 44.50 pounds each, the others are 3.60 pounds, six per pack at the moment. I will list the samples, comment, and draw some of them (not to scale).

The Lukka warriors may have been the "peoples of the sea" from Egyptian wall paintings. Also in this release are the first of the javelinmen, basic later Bronze Age foot soldiers. Diomedes, King of Argos, in his chariot, with driver, is also presented. As usual Redoubt give it the full treatment. Innovative poses, good modelling and crisp casting. Packs T15, 16, 35, 36, 37 are 4.00 pounds at the time of writing.

TX1 Agamemnon, King of Mycenea and leader of the Greeks in decorated armour, holding a sword and cut away round shield, wearing a homed helmet. The shield is a pelta shape but held with the cut-out downwards. The decoration is rich and the casting is in crisp detail. 1.50 pounds.

TX2 Odysseus, King of Ithica, in bronze armour and boars tusk helmet with crest, thrusting with spear, shield slung on back. More excellent detail.

TX5 Diomedes, King of Argos, in bronze armour, crested helmet, with shield and spear in chariot with driver. 5.50 pounds. Son of Tydeus and Deipyle. A very pleasant character and much more so than Achilles. he returned safely to Argos, but Aphrodite stirred up trouble for him there and he migrated to Italy. Homer liked him anyway. An Achaean. Good casting. 2 horses and all the bits to make up into an exciting chariot. Remember these chariots were light "insertion" and "warrior evac" units of their time. No bumping, barging or gluing scythe blades on wheel-hubs!

TX7 Priam, King of the Trojans, in court dress holding a mace. A nice simple figure with important head and interesting mace design.

TX12 Sarpendon, King of the Lukkas, carrying a round shield and spear and wearing a crown of stiffened reeds, in a two horsed chariot with driver. Two lively figures full of portrayed action with a similar style chariot which is cleverly differentiated from the Trojans'.

TX22 Light frame chariot with two horses, warrior in linen tunic, sword and shield, driver. There are easily followed diagrams in the packs of all the chariot packs.

Javelinmen: Open handed (Javelins are available separately, TX33 : Pack of 6 javelins, 50p.)

T15 Pack of 6 javelinmen, advancing. Kilt, loincloth, or tunic, round shield. A couple bare headed, the rest in various helmets. Two throwing, others open-handed carrying their weapons.

T16 Pack of six javelinmen throwing, kilt, loincloth or tunic, helmet, round shield. Good active poses in this pack. Great variety.

Lukka Warriors: Leather cuirass, tasseled kilts, stiffened reed headdress.

T35 Pack of six Lukka spearmen advancing, heavy spear and round shield. They have big cinquedea* style swords on their left hips. I can imagine these tough looking bods being in a Guard unit with their bulky looking armour. *Cinquedea. A Renaissance large dagger, the blade of which was five fingers wide at the hilt guard or forte.

T36 Pack of six Lukka javelinmen advancing or throwing, open handed, round shield. More good poses. Although the armour looks heavy, being leather it would be lighter than it looks.

T37 Pack of six Lukka swordsmen advancing or thrusting. Round shield. Some are also hacking. The two edged cinquedea sword (I have no idea what it was actually called) looks pretty awesome wielded by these characters.

If you are "into" Ancients, this range can give you a lot of pleasure and interest for years to come. Although historic and legendary, obviously these figures can be used in fictitious campaigns and countries too. Try a few samples. Forthcoming: out, probably, by the time you read this will be Myrmidions and swordsmen in the 3 musketeers range. Heroes - like Aeneas and lesser characters and an ECW coach - a great bit of kit for skirmish games. The attack on the King's messenger or General Endymion Swashbuckler's progress towards (or away from!) a battle. Roleplay too of course - Highwaymen! "Hold in those horses or I'll put a bullet through you!" The Great Duval. It's endless. With these figures you hardly need imagination.

Drawings are not to scale. If I don't draw what you want to see, send for some samples. The snow flies past my window but these figures can remind one of "the wine dark sea and the mist the South wind wraps round the mountain tops."

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© Copyright 1996 Hal Thinglum

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