More Norman Invasions

Inspired by TigerZouaves excellent Viking figures, I have persevered in painting my mountain of Norman figures sitting around.  It's been a labour of love.  But Im pleased with the result.  I'll keep adding to them as I go along- but I think its time to paint a few different things for a bit.  It's good to have more space in the unpainted figure cupboard too.  They are based very close-  4 infantry to a 60mm x 20mm base. I think it gives a good effect.  Maybe the cavalry rode in looser formations- I don't know. The photos don't really do them justice though.  They weigh a ton!  One day these guys might even see battle!

Norman Shieldwall. Believe it or not- there are over 200 figures here!

A few archers

Norman Cavalry- 70+ figures

Odds and Sods

Here are some bits and pieces from the painting table of late.  I have been painting a few figures just for the fun of it!  

Some Crusader Miniatures Nubians- All crusader figures seem to paint up so well and easily too! When TigerZouave visits next these guys can join his collection!

Here are some odd Warlord Roman I put together to form a command base of sorts

I bought this guy from ebay- missing an arm.  The arm and lance were from my bits box.  I'm not sure if the Romans Auxiliary Came corps  used lances like this- Maybe this guy was an innovator?

Some Black Tree Athenians.  I have been painting quite a few Greeks lately.  I must take a pic of them en-masse

28mm Byzantines for Impetus

Hello Again,

Here are the first 2 units of my new Byzantine project. It will eventually cover the 1000-1100AD period fairly well. Figures are Crusader with an unhappy looking Gripping Beast Monk in there. 

Starting off with a unit of heavy infantry and a supporting unit of bows. The heavy infantry shields have Little Big Men transfers because they are far better than I could do myself.

Cheers,
Mick

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Teacher: Why did the Romans build straight roads?
Pupil: So their soldiers didn't go around the bend!


Here are my efforts over summer.  Im still painting Gladiators, but I have begun assembling an early Imperial Army contingent just in case I play Hail Caesar one day!
They are mostly based on Warlords Box sets.  I have painted up the Roman Legionary set, the Veterans kit and the Auxiliaries box set.  Funnily, the Auxiliaries are bigger in size than the Legionaries.  They were great to paint too.  I have based all figures on 40mm x 40mm bases.  Im looking to add another couple of units, but will have to wait until they arrive in the mail!  I was using a different camera today and backgrounds, so some of the results are not quite as good as normal.

Thumbs down! 

Go get them!

The Relentless Gladiator trainer

A bit of light entertainment. For the wolves.....

These were great figures to paint.  Old Citadel wolves!

Eureka Romans.   These brutes are 28mm Heroic scale (about the same as Reaper)
They are great figures.  I wish I had more!

Warlord Auxiliaries

Warlord Auxiliaries again

An old Hinchcliffe Ballista, manned by two Warlord Plastics

Warlord Plastic Legionaries

Warlord Plastic Legionaries

Warlord Plastic Veterans

Warlord Plastic Veterans

A stand of Black Tree Romans.  

Another Stand of Black Tree Romans (Sans Capes)

Gladiators

Warhammer historical had a ridiculous sale on their games recently and I purchased their copy of the game Gladiator to see what it was like.  

I have never really felt the inclination to play games of the arena, but after reading these rules, I'm keen to roll the dice and see who wins in the arena of blood and sand. The rules look quick and easy to play and the book itself is a quality hardback production with plenty of scope.  There are 144 full colour pages including a good painting guide. All the main gladiator types are covered and also all the scenarios you could imagine are catered for, ranging from wild animal fights, to chariot races, to naumachia (or mock sea battles) and of course battles with elephants!
Crusader miniatures make a great range of gladiator figures of which I have begun painting.  My thoughts are turning to the construction of an arena in which these brave souls can find glory or death!

The Imperial Thracian- with his curved sword, a formidable opponent

Mymillo- The 'fish man', traditional opponent of the Retiarius, trying to evade the net.

Retiarius- The 'net man'- A successful gladiator type and the only one that was allowed to run away from an opponent.

Hoplomachus- Similar to the Thracian but armed with a spear and small sheild or hoplon.

Some of the more exotic types- the Laquerarius (left) is a variation of the Retiarius, armed with and noose and spear instead of a net and trident.  Right is a Cruppellarius- covered in plate armour with bucket shaped helmet.  Apparently to fall over meant certain death by a pugio as he was too heavy to right himself!

Hoplomachi vs Cruppellarius

Norman Commanders and Casualties

Here are the bookends of my Norman army.  The Command and Casualties stands!  They are mainly by Crusader miniatures who make a fantastic range of Norman characters.  Intermingled with these are some Black Tree characters and the Conquest miniatures casualty figure.  I don’t really go in for casualty miniatures normally, but these have been real fun to paint and base up.

Also pictured at the bottom are some Black Tree errant Viking berserkers, which I was conned into buying through one of Black Tree’s perpetual online sales!

Foot Command Stand- William at the front!

There's nothing like a spot of falconing before the battle!

Crusader Minis casualty

Another one bites the dust!

And another one does!

The loss of a friend!

What have I done!

Talk about out of control!!!