Wonderful! Congratulations and thank you Andreas and all at linear-a.

Your wonderful sets keep coming through at a steady rate. I note with some excited anticipation that #s 24 and 64 are not far behind this one.

Regards, James

I collected my package of figures today. Wow!

Those centurions and standard bearers look great in the picture on this forum, but they are something to behold when you get to look at them closely so as to admire the complete figurine. Simply outstanding.

The scorpion, onager and ballista are seriously big and robust models (with beautifully sculpted crews). They are gonna be a joy to put together and to paint.

Well worth waiting for, along with the excellent figures of your previously released small sets and the 'nothing left to the imagination' that is the Bacchanalia!

Thanks so much Andreas and co. I look forward to those late republican Romans and French engineers... in time.

Regards, James

Bien sur Stéphane.

Le site: https://troopertoysoldiers.com.au
La liste de linear-a dans le e-magazin: https://troopertoysoldiers.com.au/shop/o...gories/linear-a

J'ai acheté de Roger plusieurs temps (hier pour les boites de linear-a). Il est un bon homme.

Bien cordialement, James

For those antipodeans (and others), Roger now has the photos of the boxes and figures on his website and available for sale.

I think that his presentation and photos may exceed those on your own shop Andreas! :)

Regards, James

Dear AMMPictor,

If you click on the link to the 'linear-A shop' above, choose 'shop figures' at the top (you may have to dismiss an info. box to see this) and then select the logo of linear-A figures you'll see the listing of current and imminent sets and can scroll to set #066. There is an image of the rear of the box which can be enlarged by viewing in its own tab. The figure is listed as a legatus and holds his staff as a symbol of his rank. I am not sure whether it has an eagle head as such figures are often depicted as holding.

Regards, James

p.s. Another marvellous looking set of figures Andreas and co. Looking forward to these and the rest of the late republican Romans!

Great news Andreas, thank you.

He is no doubt busy photographing the boxes and figures to go on his website—in between his day job!

It's gonna be beaut to have a 'local' supplier.

Regards, James

Beautiful once more. These three sets are going to be fabulous.
Thank you Andreas & co.
Regards, James

Wow! I find it amazing to read such strongly held convictions about anything in the ancient world, when the sources are rare, incomplete or patchy and most-often one-sided. This written evidence is complimented by artefacts (frequently shreds of) and a lot of detective-work-like scholarship.

Pharsalus is a classic case in point as the specific location still remains a disputed mystery and the 'contemporary' sources contradict one another about much of the detail. Philip Sabin, in his 'Lost Battles' provides an erudite summation of the information available and from which he made decisions about the armies and their fighting values for his game-model. Here is an extract of the section about Caesar's army:

"Caesar (B. Civ. III.84 and 89) says that he fielded 80 legionary cohorts totalling just 22 000 men because of earlier losses and attrition, and he also had 1 000 Gallic cavalry. Appian (B Civ. II.70) repeats these numbers and adds a force of Aetolian and Acarnanian light infantry, but says that some writers gave Caesar either one-third or two-thirds of a total of 60 000 or 70 000 Italian infantry engaged. Eutropius (VI.20) and Orosius (VI.15) put Caesar's army at 1 000 horse and less than 30 000 foot. Delbrück preferred these higher estimates, but most scholars** reject them in favour of Caesar's own figures. The legions seem all to have been highly experienced, and their performance certainly warrants a veteran classification. Caesar also claims (B. Civ. 84) that his 1 000 cavalry were able to get the better of the 7 000 Pompeian horse in earlier skirmishes, with the assistance of picked light-armed legionaries [my italics]. He does not mention such integrated support at the battle itself, nor does he say anything about the Greek light troops ascribed to him by Appian, but his cavalry clearly deserve veteran status, and the number of units should be rounded up rather than down to account for the possibility of some accompanying infantry as Frontinus (Str. II.3.22) claims."

Sabin's solution, for the scale and purposes of his game-model, is to give Caesar 15 units of veteran legions and two of cavalry, while Pompey gets 15 of veteran legions, 1 of light infantry (archers and slingers) two of cavalry and a unit of light cavalry.

Piecing together information from several sources when designing scenarios for battles and armies is a big part of the fun, I reckon and ancient battles make it just that bit more interesting!!

** His note for 'most scholars' are Delbrück, Rice Holmes, Fuller, Morgan, Le Bohec, Montagu and Goldsworthy

Of course, there is the excellent prospect that there are more figs to come on this 'subject' more broadly (late republican Roman/end of the republic) in #063, 065 and 067...

These look grand. The differences from extant sets are a big attraction to me, since it affords variety.
It is difficult to determine dimensions and perspective from photos, but I warrant that the figures will be excellent 'in the flesh'!
Regards, James

That is beaut news Andreas!

Roger is a top bloke and really good to deal with. I look forward to giving him more custom.

Regards, James

So many wonderful sets to look forward to there Andreas; #69 and #70 on the cusp of release, as you have already shown on this forum, with others progressing nicely too.
I am particularly looking forward to the legions of the first triumvirate as well as further figures/topics of the successors. Above all, I am really excited about another of your occasional forays into Napoleonics with #24!
Regards, James

You have done it again Andreas and team: another marvellous looking set, plus the first representation of mid-imperial Romans at the scale, then a really nifty and useful added 'gymic'!
Thanks and regards, James

With each figure this set becomes more and more desirable. They look great!!
Regards, James

Three? I'll give ya six, but all from that 'sweet spot' of the classical Greek to early Imperial era.

1. Battle of Jaxartes 329 BC
Not one of Alexander's most famous battles, but one that demonstrated his initiative and cunning and the flexibility of his troops as he outwitted and defeated an opponent that later proved notoriously difficult to bring to battle/defeat (its 'successor' kingdom, that is).

2. Battle of Cannae 216 BC
Like Austertitz some 2 000 years later, a battle that was brilliant in its planning and executed to as near to perfection as possible by the troops, producing the utter defeat of the opposing army; although not the peace treaty that followed Napoleon's masterpiece!

3. Battle of Pydna 168 BC
The battle that signalled the 'changing of the guard' amongst the superpowers of the Mediterranean and surrounds.

4. Battle of Pharsalus 48 BC
While the war lasted for many years after it, this battle effectively determined the ascendency of the 'divine Julius' and all that followed for Rome and the world. It was a near-run thing (and can easily go the other way in a wargame) and was a demonstration of JC's tactical brilliance, leadership and determination.

5. Battle of Carrhae 53 BC
The reverse of Jaxartes. Victory of the mounted, 'barbarian' force over the disciplined war machine. Brilliant use of their advantage. A 'hunt' executed with precision and to annihilation.
[As an aside, a wonderful 'what-if' is to consider whether the JC could have emulated Alexander and defeated the Parthians had he not been assassinated]

6. Battle of Teutoburger Wald 9 AD
An ambush brilliantly organised and executed by a confederation of forces which basically ensured that the limits of the Roman Empire (give or take Dacia and a bit more of 'Asia'). It also gave us one of history's wonderful quotes and a brilliant scene in I Cladius!

Regards, James

This is great! Fine painting of the figures and the pillars are so well done. I especially like your use of larger scale figures as statues. They set the scene off so well.
(I have done a similar thing with 28 mm bronzed hoplites as a statues at the turn corners of a chariot racing track; à la 'Ben Hur').
Regards, James

That is a marvellous diorama of Woodland Indians. The best yet, which is saying something given a 'portfolio' such as yours replete with so many beautifully painted figures and well-constructed/detailed dioramas.
Most amazing to me is how much you have fitted into such a small area without having it look cluttered. Excellent construction and arrangement!
Regards, James

Beaut detail on the figure and signifier!
We hacks will bring out what we can, but 'figurenmaler' will be able to turn them little works of art!
We are so fortunate to have you bringing out such fine figures for our use/pleasure, thank you.
Regards, James

A fantastic army/array Claus! I appreciate beautiful dioramas, but *this* is the ultimate use figures in my (extremely biased) opinion!
Your colourful units look excellent. I especially liked the calf-skin shields.
I cannot wait to see the chariots and, even more so, photos of them in 'action' in a game; 'historical', quasi-historical or completely what-if!
Regards, James