Displacement Activity?

Having decided, thanks to William's input, not to sell the rump of my Late Roman collection I spent a little time looking more closely at the individual bases of figures. I came to the conclusion that the figures were fine (by my standards you understand) but the basing was not. Too dark and too much coloured flowery vegetation on them! So, ho-hum, time for rebasing!!!!

Phase One requires the figures to be eased from their original bases. I do this one base at a time by gently adding boiling water to a shallow container (one of Sue's baking trays, shhhh!) In about a minute then figures can generally then be eased off, perhaps slightly longer might sometimes be needed for horses. I lay the figures on a soft cloth as they are removed to absorb any remaining water droplets. Once all are dry you can move on to Phase Two.

I chose the base sizes by no other expedient than looking through my stock of 3mm MDF bases left after the Crimean War project had run it's course. Bases chosen for infantry and cavalry are generally 80mm wide and mostly 60mm deep. The exceptions are Legionary command bases, Light Cavalry and ballistas all on 50mm x 60mm bases. Command bases are of course circular: 70mm for the Army General and 60mm for the Division Commanders.

Having made that decision the next phase is to set out the figures in a dry run to see what arrangements are both possible and practicable as well as pleasing to the eye. It's best I find to tackle all one arm of the force at a time starting with the Command bases. Here are those bases for the two armies at that stage ~

The 'Usurper' Baldinus or Gornalus

Pompus Minimaximus, the rightful Emperor

You'll notice that as well as the size difference the type and composition of the figures on the base denotes it's general Division composition for either mostly infantry or cavalry.

Artorus, Dux Pendalorum, a cavalry commander

Astonius, an Infantry commander 

Bicca Magnus, an infantry commander 

Rubinus Minimus, a dashing cavalry commander 

The infantry mostly take care of themselves in reorganization of the figures on the new bases thanks to the poses, colour schemes and shield designs as you can see in the following pictures ~

While generally the same applies to the mounted arm there is the decision on how many figures can fit on each base to convey the desired look. Four Cataphractarii look best closely based together while other Heavy Cavalry can be three or four to a base dependant on pose mostly! You can see what I mean more clearly in the pictures I hope ~

Light cavalry in the collection currently consist of some Horse Archers and others armed with javelins. The latter are two to a 50mm x 60mm base to allow them to form Open Order while the former are on 80mm x 50mm bases to give a sense of the Cantabrian Circle formation giving fire ~

Once you are happy with the configuration of each base and the unit overall the figures can be glued down. I use a mixture of UHU Power with a drop of cheap Super Glue added. I've found this dries more quickly and securely than just UHU Power. You are then ready for Phase Three which is adding the basing texture, in my case a mixture of Woodlands Scenics Buff Railway Ballast, in Fine and Medium size granules, fixed to the bases with School PVA from Hobbycraft - or Hobbycrap as it's known hereabouts due to indifferent stock availability! As this is a biggish job I'll return to this phase early next month, I've still got those four 42nd Highlanders to finish off!!!!!!