David Bickley's Wargames Blog

The occasional ramblings of an average gamer, journeyman painter, indifferent modeller, games designer, sometime writer for Wargames Illustrated and host of games in GHQ.



Monday 29 June 2020

Equites Romani

The heavy cavalry for Legio VI have galloped through the painting queue so I thought you'd like to see what I've made of them. The figures are by Aventine Miniatures, the shield transfers by LBM and the bases by Warbases as ever ~
The rank and file cavalrymen are multi part figures and proved to be very difficult for me to assemble given my hand issues. I persevered with them slowly and in the end managed to get them all done. The metal used by Aventine Miniatures is hard to work, compared to the softer A&A Miniatures for example, so I used UHU with an added spot of cheap superglue. This hardens very quickly and binds the legs, torso and head parts very strongly. I had mixed success though in fixing weapons and such into hands, some needing a second spot of superglue to fix firmly.
From the three packs of cavalry figures I received there's a visible size and style discrepancy between the three figures in the Command pack and those in the two rank and file packs. Having just spent a happy two hours assembling 12 of the Allied Italian Cavalry from Aventine I've come to the conclusion that my Romans might represent older figures in the range. The Allied Italian cavalry were much nicer figures and the body of the men is a one piece casting, much easier for me!
Now I have both my Aventine Miniatures Allied Italian cavalry and my A&A Miniatures Numidian Light Cavalry assembled I can get them spray undercoated and fixed to MDF pill bases ready to join the painting queue. Other good news, both my orders from Aventine Miniatures and from A&A Miniatures have arrived so I also have three Carthaginian Elephants and crew, Numidian Light Infantry, and the rest of my Allied Italian Legion figures to assemble and spray undercoat. I’ve also sent off an order for some Carthaginian veterans and some Hoplites. Looks like I have plenty to do now if we return to lockdown in the winter!

22 comments:

  1. Great looking cavalry David and love Aventine miniatures!

    Christopher

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your enthusiastic support Christopher.

      Delete
  2. I'm loving this new project David. Thankfully my mates have enough ancients around to mean I don't need to start doing any.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since when has enough entered the equation? Strengthen the Burrow's foundations and off you go!

      Delete
  3. Very nice and do doubt rewarding after the tough assembly. I do like the human faces and the styling of the horses on these figures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Norm, the Aventine Miniatures figures have a lot going for them.

      Delete
  4. Very nice and well worth the effort putting them together. These days I would prefer simple one piece castings for speed and durability.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A very fine looking bunch, well worth the toil of assembly. The last sentence just sent a shiver down my spine though.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looking good David.........I think you may be painting up those Carthaginians sooner than the winter second peak ! Looking forward to seeing the elephants .....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Matt! I've commissioned Phil provisionally to paint the elephants, he has form having painted my Indian Mutiny elephants.

      Delete
  7. Wonderful cavalry David, shields add a lot...SUperb!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Phil. LBM transfers lift my painting I think and distract the eye from its shortcomings.

      Delete
  8. Lovely horsemen, sounds like you are sorted for a while.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks George! I ordered some Gauls from Foundry, just to be on the safe side, as I needed paint too.😁

      Delete
  9. I like them Mr.B. Splendid work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jon! Look forward to you popping into GHQ soon!

      Delete
  10. Superb David! The white decorations really set off the silver helmets. All are beautiful, but the standard bearer is an absolute gem.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very nice David...
    I must say that I prefer my toys to be in as few pieces as possible...

    Of course plastic figures stick together a lot easier...
    But.... they are not really your thing...😆

    All the best. Aly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Multipart figures and my hands just don't go together, whatever the medium! That they turned out ok is a bonus I'll gratefully accept.

      Delete