Ignite's Greek Hoplite review

[Michael Crawford MWC]

Ignite, makers of historically accurate but always expensive sixth scale figures, has just released their Greek Hoplite figure. Once again sporting a kickin' costume and metal accessories, this one didn't turn out to be my favorite of the bunch. The armor and accessories are great, but the head sculpt and paint ops left me somewhat less enthused.

I'll be in San Diego for the next five days, but I'll still be doing updates from there to the reviews, and this year I'll also be doing regular coverage of the new goodies at the show. Keep your eyes peeled for my first big update tomorrow night! Thanks for reading,

www.mwctoys.com (http://www.mwctoys.com)

Michael
MWC

[Doomhammer]

Great review, as usual. Makes me want the figure even more!
Thanks Michael; looking forward to your posts the next few days.

[Rabbit 51]

Great review, as always, Michael. My Greek's due in Thursday.

In great respect to you if I may clarify some things about the figure:

1. The greaves are from the Roman figures. Greek greaves were made for the individual soldier and would have snapped around the leg with a spring motion and not be tied on. They would have been made of bronze like the cuirass and hoplon (shield) facing. For the Greek warrior the greaves were more for protecting the shins from the bottom of the shield edge than for protection in battle.

2. The sandals (while very well done and a beautiful example) are also Roman and were taken directly from their Ignite variants. Roman sandals were indeed hobnailed.

3. The tunic is probably Norse from the Viking Bowman figure. A greek chiton would have been made of a single rectangular sheet of linen or wool held together at the shoulders with pins (fibulae) and tied at the waist. Going "commando" would have not only been correct for a Greek but often soldiers would go into battle entirely naked as a show of courage to their enemies. And, yes, the "boys" did suffer very horribly.

You made a very good "point", if you will, with the double headed thrusting spear. It would be very easy to hurt yourself in a moment's carelessness with these.

I would like to see more Greeks from Ignite along this line. This one wears the classic Corinthian helmet (which they would sometimes wear tilted back on the head much like a modern surfer dude might wear his sunglasses), but I would also like to see the Ionian and Boatian helmet done also. Maybe the figure eight shield of Thebes.

Once again a great review, Michael!!


Rabbit

[Michael Crawford MWC]

"Going "commando" would have not only been correct for a Greek but often soldiers would go into battle entirely naked as a show of courage to their enemies. And, yes, the "boys" did suffer very horribly."

Ouch! I would have worn a steel cup. There are certain limitations to bravery - I'd feel it was enough that I was risking my life without risking the boys.

Michael
MWC

[screamingmetal]

Oh No!
Great, I've noticed a trend that just about every 1/6 figure you review michael, sells out very quickly soon after.
And since I can't afford this one now, I'll have problems trying to find one just like the Cool Girl Electra, and the Hot Toys HALO Navy SEAL night ops, and the BBI U2 Pilot, and the Dragon Barbarians figures, and the Timeline Lord Arnaut figure, and the exclusive Faith figure etc.........
:(

[Michael Crawford MWC]

Hey, my readers are active buyers!

Michael
MWC
and as crazy as me!

[creecher]

Your reviews have enticed me and influenced many of my purchases. Keep up the great work Michael. I know where i can get one of these, thanks brudder.

[screamingmetal]

Ionian and Boatian helmet done also. Maybe the figure eight shield of Thebes.

Rabbit, could you point me in the direction of some photos of these types of helms and the figure eight shield of Thebes?
I've been looking online and haven't found anything. Is there a book maybe a Osprey Military book that you could recommend with good representations of the period armor? I've also been looking in bookstores for references but haven't found anything really of good use.

Edit:
Never Mind, I found reference pictures online but would still love a book recommendation.
I just got this one today! The cuirass is really nice, the way the two pieces fit together is perfect! I would've expected a Hoplite to were some type of padding underneath the cuirass. Amour doesn't work too well if there's no padding underneath.
Sword and Scabbard fit like a glove. I'm going to try and modify the hands a little bit to get them to grip the weapons better, I'll use the heat and form method, if it doesn't work I'll just use an extra clear rubber band I have lying around.
He defiantly needs a stand on a slippery surface, but the Sideshow type stands won't work well because of the cuirass. I have some Hasbro, and generic crotch stand spares that I'll try and use.
I hope this isn't the last Hoplite Ignite releases, I'd love some others with unique Amour and helms!