Steppe Horse

    I have a large or perhaps very large collection of Steppe Cavalry to be utilized mostly as Bulgars and Avars....though they could also fill the role as huns if needed. The actual appearances of these would be little to differentiate any of them from each other especially the noble cavalry. One could make an argument that later on..... the Bulgar lighter cavalry would evolve into their own unique style of clothing...but I am not a purist so its of little concern. At one time the Foundry Huns where the gold standard for Asiatic/Steppe cavalry but with the advent of Aventine, Gripping Beast and Footsore miniatures covering these armies the choice is quite varied with plenty of nice miniatures. These pics are just comparison pics...I recently purchased some of the Footsore Huns and wanted to display a couple comparison photos with both Foundry and Aventine light cavalry though I have included a couple pics of the Footsore Noble figures. They are outstanding...size wise they are definitely larger than Foundry and perhaps slightly larger than Aventine....as the photos indicate. I also have picked up some of Gripping Beast Avar Noble cavalry which I cant wait to get completed (100 french napoleonic figures first need completion) and once so I will get based up and try to show some unit comparison pics when accomplished. Sometimes just looking at individual figures can be quite informative for those who like one on one comparison photos.

 

the 2 outside figures are Footsore
the other two 1 is Foundry 1 is Aventine

outside 2 are Footsore
1 Foundry 1 Aventine middle

Aventine in the middle flanked by Footsore

all Footsore

Bulgar/Avar light cavalry unit 5

      This unit brings my Steppe light cavalry to 60 figures total and finally to a close.
One possibility I have flirted with is to paint another 60-80 figures that could be utilised
as a Hun army I'm just not how certain that would be something I would enjoy. To
recreate the battle of Chalons is certainly worth entertaining and to double the light
horse would not be too difficult to do as these figures paint up rather quickly in comparison
to their heavier counterparts (not to mention the many Sassanian Cav I have painted)
so better to state finished for now but not truly closed. All these figures are a mix of
Foundry, Gripping Beast, and Aventine.

Old Glory Bulgar & Avar light cavalry

   The following pics is a mix of Old Glory Avar and Bulgar light cavalry. I like the variety
these miniatures provide to my Steppe army and I have included a comparison pic to
both the Wargames Foundry Huns and Aventine Steppe Cavalry figures for anyone who
desires a comparison view. This unit brings the total of light cavalry to 48 figures and
I'm still undecided if I should add one more unit. Next month I will begin another unit
of the Steppe nobles to bring their numbers also up to 48 figures which will join the 160
Slavic foot.

 The four middle figures are Old Glory. To the right are Foundry Huns and on the left are     Aventine miniatures.

 Old Glory in the middle. Foundry on the right Aventine on the left.

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Avar/Bulgar light cavalry

Another unit of my Avar/Bulgar light cavalry. Manufactures are Foundry, Gripping Beast, and Aventine miniatures.  I currently have another 12 painted just not based and will add another 16

   figures from Old Glory by the end of the year bringing the total to 76 light horse.                                                                                                                             

Steppe Nomads light cavalry

   Some recent additions to my Avar/Bulgar army. So far i have chosen to mix miniatures from Aventine, Gripping Beast, and Wargames Foundry to form the lighter cavalry. They all fit in size
wise and as always with my pics i have included several close up shots showing the miniatures in comparison to one another. The one manufacture not included so far is Old Glory which after the New Year some time i would like to include some of their designated miniatures they sell for both the Avars and Bulgars. Variety always looks great with a varied and non uniform looking force and i think the visual effect would be dramatic. As for numbers thinking about having around 70 miniatures each for the both the nobles and the lighter cavalry. The foot would be another 100.
So on to the pics

base on the left has aventine and gripping beast base on the right has gripping beast and foundry

both bases figure in front is foundry back figure is aventine

base on left gripping beast and aventine base on right foundry and gripping beast

reverse pic as the one two pics above.

group shot all mixed with hand weapons

group shot all armed with bow

 

all foundry

this pic and the next one below has one each of foundry and gripping beast on its base

left figure foundry right figure aventine

left figure foundry right figure gripping beast

left figure foundry right figure aventine