Saturday, 1 October 2011

Higher Standards

I've been planning a couple of cohorts of EIR Praetorians, for a year or so, but I've not been able to find suitable signifers wth the very tall and distinctive Praetorian standards.  

Praetorian standards were taller than regular cohort standards, and much more highly decorated, with wreaths, images of the Imperial family, plaques and so forth.  They were so heavy that, during one long march, the signifers were given permission to load their standards onto carts.

The closest I've come to suitable figures are these A&A Praetorian signifers.  The figures are OKish; I don't like the later-period leggings or sleeves, but I may be able to conceal the former with greaves.  I've removed the original tops of the standards, and lenthened them to the maximum height that will fit in my storage boxes.  I've added a plaque to each, with a (rather crude) scorpion on it. They'll do!

I have a little more conversion work to do on some other figures, and then both cohorts will be off to Nick for painting. 
at

7 comments:

  1. Ray Rousell1 October 2011 at 17:19

    Excellent work, I'll look forward to seeing them painted!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous1 October 2011 at 17:30

    Meaty looking things Simon if its all going pear shape, rather handy mallet.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Paul´s Bods1 October 2011 at 17:59

    How did you do that? It must have been very fiddly..
    Silflor tufts? Good idea but at the rate I produce units it would turn out a bit expensive :-D
    Cheers
    paul

    ReplyDelete
  4. BigRedBat1 October 2011 at 18:08

    Thanks Paul and Ray!

    Hi Paul B, cut off old standard, cut it up, file pieces into shape, drill and fit new shaft, make square plaque, green stuff sculpting. Doddle. ;-)

    Silflor isn't too bad if you buy the big packs; goes a long way!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Paul´s Bods1 October 2011 at 18:45

    Drill and fit new shaft!! How small was the drill bit!? and more importantly..how did you hold the bits to be able to drill them?
    Cheers
    paul

    ReplyDelete
  6. BigRedBat1 October 2011 at 19:43

    Hi Paul, around 1mm, using a hand held bit. Hold figure in one hand, drill in other, drill. It's pretty easy, and with practice one can drill out a the middle of a cylinder as small as 1.3 mm diameter or so, so in this case my new brass shaft is drilled into the middle of the old one.

    You guys with your easy peasy plastics; don't know you are born! It's a man's world, metals. ;-)

    Cheers, Simon

    ReplyDelete
  7. Grégory Privat4 October 2011 at 18:03

    Nice

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for commenting. I will post this as soon as I am able to review it.