IV/18 Lithuanian or Samogitian

1132 AD - 1435 AD

DBA 2.2

Army Composition: 1 x (Gen) 3Cv or 2Lh, 6 x 2Lh, 1 x 3Cv or 1 x 2Lh, 2 x 3Ax, 2 x 2Ps 

Historical Enemies: Early Polish, Early Russian, Estonian, Prussian, Teutonic Orders, Mongol Russian, Mongol Successors, Ottoman, Wallachian, Moldavian and Later Polish

During the 13th through 16th centuries Samogitia played a central role in Lithuania’s wars against the crusading order of the Teutonic Knights (Knights of the Cross and Knights of the Sword). Invasions started in Lithuania in 1229. Combined military forces undertook numerous campaigns against Samogitians and Lithuanians. Saule (1236), Skuodas (1239), Durbe (1260), Lievarde (1261) are just a few of the battles that took place. Since Žemaitija was the last pagan region in Europe left to be invaded and christened, the Teutonic Order set their sights on this last mission. 

Between 1345 and 1382, the Knights of the Cross attacked from Prussia some 70 times, while the Livonian Knights of the Sword made 30 military forays. Year after year, fortresses were attacked, farms and crops were put to the torch, women and children enslaved and men killed. Despite all their effort, the Žemaičiai managed to defend their lands until the 1410 decisive Battle of Grunwald or Žalgiris, where united Polish-Lithuanian forces defeated the Teutonic Order and ended their crusading days.

Anyway.....on to the figures

Another Cavalry Nation Army painted up to face their fierce rivals the Poles, Russians, Mongols and the Teutonic and Livonia Orders. I decided to give these guys a winter-snow look. I used Baking Soda for my bases to get that smooth snow effect which is fine, but there's a problem, I wouldn't dare and try to travel with this army to visit friends/club tournaments because the baking soda will crack,flake off etc. I need to find, have been for a few years, a good solid sealer to protect and secure the baking soda from falling apart! :o) This snow "flocking" method is not entirely secured and it was put together for visual appeal only.

Army Arrayed

General as 3Cv or 2Lh

General as 2Lh

General as 3Cv

Skirmishers 2Ps

Spearmen 3Ax

I/6b Early Bedouin

3000 BC - 312 BC

DBA 2.2

Army Composition: 1 x (Gen) 3Ax, LCh or 3Cm, 6 x 3Ax, 5 x 2Ps

Historical Enemies: Early Egyptians, Mitanni, Canaanite, Ugaritic, Kassite, Later Babylonian, New Kingdom Egyptians, Hittite, Assyrians, Hebrew, Philistine and Later Aramaean.

This Army took me no time at all to prepare/clean and paint the figures and it was fun finishing off these guys. I used Craft smart Brown Acrylic paint as the primer of the bases and light Ivory for the dry brushing and used white paint over the little stones/rocks. I think I may went over board again with the tall "bull grass" ;o)

anyway, I found out that in the up coming DBA 3.0 rules/army list the Early Bedouins (b) are completely different in composition to the DBA 2.2 army list!..oh well.. I'm not that fussy ;o)

DBA 3.0
1 x General (3Cm)
4 x Camelry (3Cm)
4 x Javelinmen (3Ax)
1 x Archers (2Ps)
2 x Slingers or Javelinmen (2Ps)

I need to put together 4 more Camel elements (12 more figures) I tried using camel cigarettes that didn't work :op but um...anyway.. I based the Chariot model on a 40mm x 60mm stand as an experiment, a test, to see what it would look like with the extra room for the chariot to fit in nicely, not bad, easy to handle and little more appealing, but under the 3.0 army list a Bedouin General cannot be a "Chariot or Auxilia" so by joining the chariot and Auxilia elements together this will represent my camp for the army!

Army Arrayed

General as Light Chariot

General as Mounted Camel

General as Auxilia

Auxilia (Spearmen)

Psiloi - Slingers

Psiloi - Archers

Basing my Bases

Hi Guys, visitors and followers ask me how I do my basing? Here is my first attempt of a "step by step" basing process. One thing though before I go on, I don't like the idea of using 4-5 layers of prime shading colors and 2-3 dry brushing colors schemes on bases in my opinion its just a waste of time and unnecessary, unless working on Dioramas yeah sure go right ahead and use multicolored shades/tones etc. but not on little bases like DBA! :o) anyway I hope my amateurish article helps.... I prefer to use just 2 colors, one for priming and one for dry brushing the plywood bases.

Buff Fine Ballast.

Acrylic Paints.

Epirot Units/Elements before flocking.

I brush white glue on the bases first, place the stand in a small container/box of Fine Buff Ballast, and perform swirling actions to cover the whole base while the glue is still wet. Putting the stands aside for 24 hours before moving on to the next phase.

I use Acrylic Raw Sienna to paint and cover the whole Buff Ballast bases.

After priming the Fine Ballast bases, I put aside the stands for 2-3 hours or even wait until the next day for the bases to be completely bone dry. mind you, Brown Fine Ballast would be better to use saves time painting the primer/under coat.

 I use Ivory to dry brush over the Raw Sienna

After completing the priming and dry brushing I use Scenic Express Turf Grass

I use tweezers to pick up and position the Turf Grass on the bases. To secure the Turf Grass on the bases I use white glue.

Some of the finished Epirot DBA elements....