Atheling's Early Byzantines- Unarmoured Skutatoi- 13/01/2021

[Atheling]

The group of eight miniatures featured in this post were finished about a month ago and only over the last week did I find the stamina to get the varnishing process on the way! My usual method of brush on Humbrol Gloss, a week to let the gloss go off and then a couple of layers of Windsor and Newton Professional Matt Vanish spray over the top to get a nice flat finish. Talking of which, the W&N vanish can have the effect of dulling down any metallic paint and it was interesting to note a post by James Morris on the Lead Adventure Forum featuring some of his Wars of the Roses for Never mind the Billhooks that the full plate armours looked the business without any varnish at all. This is not really an option with metal miniatures, especially with a lot of cloth and flesh involved (from memory James's were Perry plastics) so I've been trying out the AK Interactive Ultra Matt Brush on Varnish on some old miniatures, leaving out the metallic areas. The AK Interactive Ultra is ideally ideally meant to be applied with an airbrush, which might explain the speckling that I am getting on the miniatures which is I have to say, a big "no-no" IMHO as it can ruin the overall appeal of a miniature. It might take some time to get the results I am looking for. When I do, I will of course post up some comparison pics.

An airbrush is something I have never used and really want to avoid the expense of buying a decent rig.

I should add, yesterday I have managed to get to work on the last eight miniatures for the unit which has raised my sense of Elan, which is of course a very good thing. So, a positive :>)











The unit as it stands thus far. Sixteen out of the twenty four miniatures that will make up the finished unit. I usually manage to find a way in which to make the miniatures "talk" to one another. This has been an unusually difficult job with this particular unit. Maybe down to planning (or rather lack of) or perhaps just an audit of my current mental state(). I think I managed to get a couple of the command miniatures to express a feeling of urgency. What do you guys think?

[Nathan]

Outstanding painting. I like the nicks, scratches and peeling paint on the shields and the officer's shield looks great.

[Atheling]

Outstanding painting. I like the nicks, scratches and peeling paint on the shields and the officer's shield looks great.

Thanks 

You have Steve at LBMS Transfers to thank for the details on the shields

[Nathan]

I recognised the ordinary shields as LBMS - I have the 15mm version of the main design (Celtae Seniores?) - but didn't realise he did a distressed version too, I'd assumed it was your modification on the basic transfer. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the army as you get through it.

[Atheling]

I recognised the ordinary shields as LBMS - I have the 15mm version of the main design (Celtae Seniores?) - but didn't realise he did a distressed version too. I'd assumed it was your modification on the basic transfer.

Yeah, not having really bought any 15mil transfers from Steve I think the 28mm versions have more variation in general. TBH, nowadays, if I tried to paint 15mm miniatures to the standard I used to ten years ago my eyes would be popping out of my head, and that's with the Optivisor 

I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the army as you get through it.

Thanks Nathan, it's been comparatively slow going but worth it I think

[jamie]

these are wonderful just generally - but as has been previously commented on the nicks and cuts in the shields just add interest and realism. The couple of command talking to/yelling at each other with the rank and file facing forward seems appropriate to me as the rest of the unit get on with being at the sharp end of proceedings   
i know what you mean re figures looking like they are 'talking' / in some kind of dialogue. (i know what you mean - i don't even vaguely get it right on my command bases/units but)

[Atheling]

these are wonderful just generally - but as has been previously commented on the nicks and cuts in the shields just add interest and realism. The couple of command talking to/yelling at each other with the rank and file facing forward seems appropriate to me as the rest of the unit get on with being at the sharp end of proceedings   
i know what you mean re figures looking like they are 'talking' / in some kind of dialogue. (i know what you mean - i don't even vaguely get it right on my command bases/units but)

Thanks Jamie. For some reason the dialogue was easier to achieve on the Dismounted Bucellarri/Extra Heavy Infantry:


And the Armoured Infantry in Shieldwall:

[PUNCH]

Fabulous !Bravo!


PUNCH

[Nathan]

Great looking units. I like the sense of movement and activity you get into your figure groupings and, as Jamie says, the commander yelling to the trumpeter.

I'm painting a unit as the Tubantes (face on a blue and red  shield) myself at the moment but mine will be rather more static.

[Atheling]

Great looking units. I like the sense of movement and activity you get into your figure groupings and, as Jamie says, the commander yelling to the trumpeter.

Thanks. I'm glad that you think the mini's work that well together 

I'm painting a unit as the Tubantes (face on a blue and red  shield) myself at the moment but mine will be rather more static.
[/quote]

I took a good look at the Notitia Dignitatum (roughly AD 395 to AD 420) when deciding what transfers to use, but in the end I threw the idea of using the document out as my armies are initially going to be based on the era of Justinian some 100 years later- just based on the idea that "Legions" were often moved around the empire. The idea seems to be very much in sync with Syvanne Ilkka epic work which was good enough for me.