From IannickM - Canaanite Javelinmen (60 Points)

My second submission of the Challenge, and probably my last "alive" unit for awhile is a unit of Canaanite skirmishers, in this case javelinmen. 

Canaanite infantry (hupshu) was made-up of both militia and regular units. Most of the infantry were semi-trained militia or conscripted peasantry, who were lightly armed with spears or bows. Canaanite tradition dating from tribal days dictated that the infantrymen supplied their own equipment, but it is unclear whether this still applied into biblical times. Canaanite semi-formed infantry and skirmishers were mainly used as support to the main shock troops, the chariots.

The figures are from the Biblical range from Foundry, sculpted by the Perrys it seems eons ago but still today some of their best work in my humble opinion. The figures are based on 50mm squares, a size I really enjoy for 28mm multibase projects. It gives a nice skirmish look with 3 per base, but it also works for 6 figures per base for regular units.

The colour scheme is conjectural, of course, and purists will probably say that my blue and red are too bright. But with all that skin I wanted some vivid colours to create contrasts. I've used that very limited palette of red, pale blue and raw linen on all my infantry, to give them a unifying theme.

I've been building that Canaanite army for quite a few years now (veterans of the challenge may remember the project), which is somewhat of an oddity in my case. Usually I build an army, or part of an army, and then move to other projects but I keep coming back to this army. Really, it seems to be my "palate cleanser" between projects, and I do a unit here and a unit there.

It has become a good looking and almost complete force; a few more Chariots if I ever find the courage (I don't like painting Chariots) and it would be complete.

Here is a picture of the force as it currently stands. The newly painted animals work quite well too to give some atmosphere to the force.

Apologies for the average picture, it was taken in my cabinet with 
a cellphone as I felt too lazy to put on a proper photography 
setting and take all the units on the table.

So that's 12 x 28mm figures. A small but satisfying 60pts for this week.

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A very nice looking unit and a nice bit of history too. Personally I like the colours on these, I don't think the reds and blues look too startling but they do add 'something' to what would otherwise be a monochromatic colour pallet. 60 points it is. 

Lee

From IannickM : Maryanna of the King (120 pts)

WOW, that was close! I did not think I would make it in time but I did! My last submission, submitted a half hour before the end, is a unit of Canaanite Royal Guards, "the Maryanna of the King". Excuse the less than perfect pictures, it's a bit late!

Each Canaanite city-state had its cast of maryannu, professionnal warrior whose wealth derived from his holding of a fief. Among the general warrior caste of maryanna was an inner elite of "picked men" (na'arun). These elite units comprised infantry as well as chariotry. From these picked men, a small battle guard called the Maryanna of the King served as Royal Guards.

We know very little about the appearance of these soldiers, so I had the choice to use pretty much any colours I wanted. My royal guard chariotry is dressed in  purple so I had to include the colour, and then I used turquoise for the shield and on the command group to differentiate them from my other elite soldiers. It looks like the kind of expensive colours a truly elite unit of the time would wear. While it is probably doubtful they had a common uniform, kings from the Pharaoh to Murat always enjoyed dressing up their elite soldiers so I figure why not? I will gladly accept pictures to prove me wrong ;-)

I find the bronze of the armour, helmets and weapons gives them a shiny look which works wonder as an elite and spoiled bunch. I normally am not a fan of single pose infantry, but it works well for troops which would be highly disciplined and it will make them stand out in my Canaanite army.

With this unit, I am but a few chariots away from finishing my Canaanite army, and actually respecting to the letter the plan I drew up around 2 years ago. That, is not something I manage often!

And, for the first time in the Analogue Challenge, I reached my goal and, even surpassed it! Yeah me!


From Curt:

Ah, its terrific to see you get another unit done for this army. (Hey, and there is that wonderful turquoise again!)  Such beautiful brushwork Iannick - I'm always amazed.  The next time we're in Montreal we're going to have to get in a game with these rockstars.

Again, great job!