Showing posts with label Command Stands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Command Stands. Show all posts

Saturday, 19 November 2011

Fabius Valens

This command stand depicts Fabius Valens, one of the short-lived Emperor Vitellius' two principal sub-commanders (the other being Aulus Caecina Alienus).


Fabius Valens declared for Vitellius in 69 AD, and led the contingent of the latter's army that marched through Gaul, eventually rejoining with the German contingent under Caecina, to win the battle of Bedriacum.  Valens missed the subsequent Vitellian defeat at Cremona, due to illness, and was later captured and executed whilst trying to open a "second front" in Gaul. 

The best place to read about this campaign, which I believe is one of theancient campaigns most suitable for wargaming, is Tacitus Histories (which can be downloaded for free on Amazon. I have it on my tablet phone, for reading on the Tube!).

The general figure is one of Aventine's lovely models- they do no less than six different mounted Roman generals!  The standard bearer is by Mike of Relic Miniatures, but I used a Foundry horse with it, as I wanted a horse in a standing position.  Very conveniently, the vexilla is that of the V Alaudae, which formed part of Valens' army.  I'm pleased to have managed to paint something by each of Relic and Aventine, as I don't get enough of their stuff finished.


This is the first of a small series, in which I plan to depict several more of the major protagonists in the "Year of the Four Emperors", for a campaign I hope to run next year. 

Saturday, 5 November 2011

Marcus Clodius Balista, Dux Ripae

Here rides Marcus Clodius Balista, Dux Ripae and later Praefectus Praetorio.  He is a noble Angle by birth, hence the blond hair, unusual on a Roman.  Although a barbarian, he rises high in the ranks of the Roman army at the time of Valerian and Gordianus, in the excellent Harry Sidebottom books.  If you've not ready these, do buy them as soon as you possibly can... the first, essentially about the siege of Dura Europos, is the very best, but all are good.  Harry Sidebottom has written the series of Roman novels that I would have written if a) I could write worth a damn, and b) I was an Oxford Lecturer in Ancient History!


This is another, slightly retouched mini from my fortunate US eBay purchase; a heavily converted Black Tree Miniatures Roman general, I believe.  Curses; it has just occurred to me that he should be riding Balista's Pale Horse...  the mount he is riding must be a "loner".  I might even tackle him, again, later (see comments).

Sunday, 4 September 2011

Spiffing Legion Command Stand

These figures were painted for me by the highly talented Andres of EinarOlafson Painting, and constitute the command stand for my third Caesarian legion.   I based.  I think they are probably the best painted stand in my collection, do have a click...


They represent a Legate, Aquilifer and a couple of Tribunes.  My photo isn't the best... but you can see he did a fantastic job; just look at the faces!


Do drop Andres a line via the above link, if you need something very special painted!

Monday, 12 April 2010

Yet more generals...


Here are some of the figures that Greg Privat painted for me, and I based.  These are Aventine Etruscans, and will be commanding one half of the Roman centre.  I'm still busy trying to finish off basing the Bruttians Greg painted for me; I'll get there!   I very much like the standard, which I think depicts Hercules.

Friday, 26 March 2010

Scipio Africanus! (B-21)

Here's the first of four Command stands, painted by Nick Speller and based by me.  Scipio is the overall Roman commander, and an excellent tactician, who hammered the final nail into the coffin of Carthage at Zama.


Most of the figures are the excellent new Aventines, but the mounted General is a Crusader miniature. 


Scipio will sit on the Roman Baseline.  He's not going to get into any combats, in our game.


As here, I usually inscribe a name on the rear of the command stand. 

Only 3 more weeks to finish everything up!

Saturday, 26 September 2009

Brasidas


Brasidas was a very effective Spartan General in the Pelopponesian war, whe opened a "second front" for the Spartans in Thrace, and who fell, fighting in the front rank of his victory at Amphipholis.  Foundry minis, beautifully painted by Nick.

If I have time, I hope to be able to photograph the finished Thureophoroi tomorrow.

Friday, 25 September 2009

Supernumeraries


Here are a couple of supernumeraries from my Greek army, ably painted by Nick Speller. The first is a porter from BTD, which is one of my favourite miniatures (perhaps even my overall favourite). I wish they did some more because it would be great to have a baggage train of similar minis.

The flautists help my Spartans to keep time as they sweep to the attack, and IIRC they are by Eureka miniatures.

Thursday, 24 September 2009

King Agesilaus


Wikipedia describes of Agesilaus II, (Greek Ἀγησίλαος) (444 BC – 360 BC) as a king of Sparta, of the Eurypontid dynasty, who ruled from approximately 400 BC to 360 BC.  During most of this time he was, in Plutarch's words, "as good as thought commander and king of all Greece," and was for the whole of it greatly identified with his country's deeds and fortunes.  Agesilaus conducted an interesting campaign in Persia, which presaged Alexander's later conquest, and was concurrent with Epaminondas of Thebes. 

Today's Spartan, like yesterday's Alcibiades, was also excellently painted by Dave Woodward.  The advisor is a Black Tree Spartan, very ably painted by Nick Speller.

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

Alcibiades

Alcibiades was a key player in the Pelopponesian war, being successively an Athenian General, military advisor to the Spartans, then the Persians and after that Athens, again.  The idea for the disastrous invasion of Syracuse, was his; but he didn't execute it.  Perhaps it might have worked under his leadership?


I believe the Alcibiades mini was painted by Dave Woodward of EVM (and it is a really lovely paint job!).  I painted a standard bearer to join him. 

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

King Agis


I'm currently retouching and basing Numidians and Thureophoroi, and won't have anything to show for a few days.  So I've decided to show a few more command stands, this time from my Greek and Spartan armies.

This is King Agis, who commanded the Spartans at Mantinea (418BC).  At this time Agis, who had earlier blotted his copybook, was under the supervision of ten advisors, called xymbouloi, whose consent was required for whatever military action he wished to take.  Whether Agis was incompetent, or whether the council were slow to make decisions isn't clear, but a gap opened in the centre of the Spartan line and they almost lost the battle.

Nick Speller painted these for me; I've only depicted three of the ten advisors.

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

King Masinissa


This is the Numidian King Masinissa, who changed sides before Zama and thus sealed the fate of Carthage. He's based on a Connolly reconstruction, which I think was sent to me by Allen around a year ago. I think he is a more historically correct figure to lead my Numidians than the Juba model.

The mini is a converted A&A rider on an eBob Crusader horse. The hornblower is Crusader.

Sunday, 17 May 2009

M. Caelio Centurio XIIXth.

What with it being the 2000th anniversary of Teutoburger Wald, I thought I'd make up a special command stand as a small personal memorial. This is based on the one of the late lamented Angus McBride's super-dooper illustrations, and depicts Marcus Caelius, who was a Centurion of the XIIXth, and who was killed there.

I'm pleased with the standard, which I made from scratch. The two figures are Crusader, with a converted Foundry Caesarian on the left.
This is an aerial view, which shows the writing I inscribe on all my Command stands.

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

King Juba

Juba commands one wing of my Numidian horse. He's a GB casting on an A&A horse, and his drummer is from Crusader. I painted this one, Greg! ;-)

I'm not entirely satisfied with the model, as I picture him in Roman/Greek generals gear, and the blue tunic didn't quite work. But I like his beard.

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Caratacus


Today's post is a Renegade Fantasy figure, that I liked enough to allow into my historical Celtic army (the armour and shield is a little OTT). He is a repaint of an ebay purchase.

Monday, 11 May 2009

Aquila and Vexilla Stands

These are my Legion Command stands; 4 have aquila and the other two vexilla. I'm going to need another 4 or 5 to meet my new 10-legion plan. Most figures painted by Nick; some by myself A grim looking bunch...

Sunday, 10 May 2009

Titus Labienus

Fought with Caesar; fought against Caesar (no less than 4 times, came close to defeating him at Ruspina). Gripping Beast riders on A&A horses; more sterling paintwork from Nick Speller.

Saturday, 9 May 2009

Commander of the Armies of the North...

Second in my series of characters, is Maximus, mounted and dismounted. This is a Jim Bowen figure, again painted by Nick Speller. I feel the minis are a little crude, but Nick certainly made a fine job of painting them!

Imaginatively, two out of the four generals in my campaign called themselves Maximus. :-)

Friday, 8 May 2009

Boduognatus of the Nervii


Whilst I'm painting my newly-levied Roman Legion (which is going to take a few weeks), I'll display a series of photos of command stands from my armies.

Thia first depicts Boduognatus, King of the Nervii. I converted the mini from a Foundry German, giving him a Renegade head and making his horse rear slightly. Nick Speller painted him beautifully, and I based him. He usually commands my Gallic cavalry wing.