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Saturday, February 7, 2026

Assyrian Horse Archers

Looking back at the Painting Log, nearly one year has passed since the Biblical collections last saw some new recruits.  Where does the time go?
In one of my recent digs into The Lead Pile, I unearthed eight Wargames Foundry Assyrian horse archers.  There are only eight of them, why not push them into the painting queue and slide them over to the "Finished" side of the painting ledger?  Why not, indeed!
This is exactly what I managed to do!  Out from the painting desk today are eight Assyrian horse archers formed up into two stands.  Lovely figures.  Notice that these bases have been given the new and improved dice tray.  Having given the tray upgrade to the Sumerian collection, next time the table is clear, perhaps I can pull all of the Biblicals out of boxes and stick dice trays onto all of them?  There are a lot of stands in this collection.  An order to Warbases may be needed to complete this project but at least I can get a start.
I am not done with painting Biblicals or Ancients, quite yet though.  I see a number of units working their way through the painting queue.  After those, in-progress units make it out to the other side of the Painting Ledger, a return to painting 15mm horse & musket is in order.
Later today I introduce a handful of non-wargamers to "tabletop miniatures gaming" known to many of us as "wargaming."

45 comments:

  1. Nice painting! Sounds like a major project to add the dice trays.
    Hope your game with the wargames virgins goes OK.....
    Neil

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    1. Thanks! It is a big project given the number of bases to amend. Yeah, we will see how this all goes with the neo-gamers soon enough. If you knew the group, you would ask, what was my wife thinking?

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  2. A nice easy win on the painting front by the look of it Jon, but excellent brush work and colour choice as always:). As for time flying, last month I happened to find out I painted my Stug III's around 10 years ago, which came as a bit of a shock to say the least!

    The game that's set up looks good and hope you all get to have a nice time and that they enjoy themselves pushing toy soldiers around:).

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    1. Easy win? Well, perhaps. Good to see these figures painting and tucked away in a storage box. Pushing toy soldiers around may not be a universal treat!

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  3. Those Assyrians have turned out very well

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  4. Lovely horse archers Jon! Looking forward to hearing how your "game day" goes...you never know, you may get a new recruit for FtF gaming out of the exercise!

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    1. Thanks, Keith! One never knows exactly what to expect hosting a new and non-wargaming group. I could be in for big trouble.

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  5. Smashing looking Assyrians, Jonathan.
    Hope the day goes well with the potential "new recruits".

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    1. Thanks! Well, we made it through to conclusion and all said they would play again.

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    2. That makes it a great day then!

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    3. I agree! We started off tentatively until players grasped the rules and then play sped up when the two armies closed.

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  6. Great work, although it only seems like six months or so since your last batch of biblical ancients.

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    1. Thanks so much, Lawrence! Time flies, doesn’t it?

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  7. Fine work on the Assyrians Jonathan. I trust the introduction to wargaming went well?

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    1. Thanks! I survived the wargaming intro and all said they would come back to the table.

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    2. A result then, trust you enjoyed it too?

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  8. Great looking units Jonathan. The dice trays are a great idea but obviously a lot of work to implement.
    I hope the game went well and even if no new wargamers at least a fun time.

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    1. Thanks, Ben! The dice trays make movement much more efficient. The small dice size works well too. The players said they had fun (especially the player having outrageously good luck!) and would do it again.

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  9. Beautiful Jonathan. The colour of the 'shabraques' and tunics set off all that leather (oooh) armour so well!
    'War gaming', you say? I shall be interested to read and see what it is**!
    Best wishes, James
    (**I am sure that you will have now 'enlisted' a group of converts!)

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    1. Thanks, James! Perhaps “tabletop miniatures gaming” would attract more consideration among the unwashed masses?

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  10. Quite a colourful unit of Biblicals with the decoration on the horses.

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  11. Nice to see these. One of my oldest armies are Assyrians [Lamming and Garrison]. I was tempted to add to them when the Foundry figures came out but never got past a couple of samples. They don't see the light of day for want of an opponent but perhaps one day. At least the name of the senior regiment - The Hatamti Gate Guard - has remained memorable.
    Stephen

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    1. Stephen, these are really nice figures as are all of the Foundry sculpts in this range. Perhaps you need to work on fielding an opponent for your Assyrians? Sounds like a worthwhile New Year’s resolution. How about a photo of your Hatamti Gate Guard?

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  12. Nice work Jon I’ve always thought I might like an Assyrian army , but not yet ……?

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    1. Thanks! This could be your next army. Then, you need at least one opponent.

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    2. I thought IF i collected them they would play against my Persians most of whom could pass as early ?

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  13. The Assyrians look great, I do like your slightly muted colour palate ( due to black undercoating?) and the faces ( some sort of wash, or just a feature of the Foundry figures? )
    Good luck with the beginners' game!

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    1. Thanks, David! The color palette is a bit muted to begin with but you are quite right that a black undercoat and wash are used.

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  14. Very nice work Jonathan. Did your non-wargamers find it all 'facinating'?

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    1. Thanks! One player was very excitable during play. I think others enjoyed the strategy and tactics involved. Some were not so happy with the dice, though. Typical gamer!

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  15. Very nice additions to your Assyrians, but that does remind me that I have some Assyrians from Richard to paint when I slow down on the AWI whirlwind. I take it the new group had some kind of game playing background, even if just bridge or something?

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    1. Thanks, Peter! Players had some casual gaming experience such as risk or card games. One player had RPG experience from years ago.

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  16. They look great Jonathan and good luck to the introduction!

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  17. Horse Archers are such a fun unit to play in a game, just dashing in and out of trouble, sticking enemies full of arrows.
    Yours look fab mate, bravo.

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  18. Great additions to your Assyrians, Jonathan. I still fondly recall seeing the Foundry Assyrians in magazine adverts.

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  19. Lovely looking Assyrians, if Id have been put to the question about when you last painted a biblical unit, Id have said a couple of months, four tops,whoops!
    Best Iain

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