Thursday, 20 September 2012

More Auxiliaries, WIP

In the interests of breaking a recent slump in my posting, here are the early stages of my seventeenth auxiliary cohort.  They were underway before Partizan, and, although I currently need another cohort of auxiliaries like a fish needs a bicycle, I want to wrap them up and clear the painting table.


The nicely painted command figures are from the batch Legatus sold me; most of the rest came from a batch of dreadfully painted miniatures I foolishly bought on eBay.  I've blocked in most of the base colours, and they were coming on very quickly until I got distracted by another project, of which more, tomorrow....

Monday, 17 September 2012

I Adiutrix Completed


At Partizan, I was so pleased with the look of my newish ex-marine legion that I decided to expand it from 80 to 99 men, and I've just finished it; 'av a click!

I'm going to work towards all my legions being the same size, which I think will work well with the scale of battles I'm planning, which often featured 6 or more legions.  Accordingly I'm planning to expand my "big" XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix to 12 x 24 man units so that it can represent 3 legions on the above scale, and I plan to collect 4 more fresh legions, so that I can field 8 legions in total.  Collecting 460 more legionaries will clearly take a year or two!

I've also started work on a new project, which (unbelievably!) includes Wargames Factory minis...

Saturday, 15 September 2012

Adiutrix WIP


I decided last month to standardise on a legion of 99 minis, with 4 units of 24 minis and a command stand. This meant that I needed to expand my favourite I Adiutrix Legion by around a third, and here are the new recruits, fresh from the ships ot the Classis Misenensis at Portus Julius.  The minis are mostly Black Tree with Crusader Command.

My posting rate has dropped away, because real life has been interfering with art.  I've also been spending some time on developing a set of ancients rules that I hope will work well with the big games I like to put on at shows.

Monday, 3 September 2012

Ad Castores; at the shrine of the twins

Yesterday Dr Phil Hendry, m'self, Craig Davey and others re-fought Ad Castores, 69 AD.  This is a Roman Civil War bust-up with one side consisting of "loyal" but raw legionaries, and the other experienced auxiliaries from the Rhine frontier.  All pics are "clickable".


The historical battle occurred early in the year of the four Emperors, when Vitellian auxiliary forces set up an ambush in woods near the shrine of Ad Castores, hoping to trap the Othonian cavalry.  Unfortunately for them, a deserter betrayed the plan to the enemy, and the entire Othonian army turned up for the party!  Above and below, at the outset of the game, the majority of the Vitellian auxiliaries are concealed within woods and vineyards.  The unit below is Cohors Hedlium, which I recently bought from a fellow blogger.


Below, the Vitellian cavalry initially faced the Othonian cavalry along the Postumian Way, near the epoymous shrine to the twins (Castor and Pollux).


Facing them, below, is a positive legion of Othonian foot (not all shown in the photo), with their cavalry in front of them.  The Othonian cavalry have halted to avoid the ambush.


The Othonians quickly advanced, with the Praetorians crossing the stream and deploying.  The Vitellian auxiliaries unexpectedly poured forth from the woods to the attack; their Batavian vanguard can be seen below.  The Batavians urned out to be positive lions and tore through no less than 3 units of our legionaries, in succession!


Below, I tried to be clever and move the Othonian cavalry to the flank.


However, they were almost taken in their flank by the rapid Vitellian advance and just managed to turn to face, in time.  A vast melee ensued (below).


The two lines became locked and the melee became general.  Note the gladiators in the foreground, who turned out to be quite as ineffective as their historical ancestors, despite their cataphract armour.


...and then we ran out of time.  Quite a few units had broken, especially the raw Othonian legionaries, and outnumbered Vitellian horse, so honours were mixed.  Both factions claimed a victory; I reckon we loyalist Othonians were a tad ahead, but Craigus (Davey) would no doubt beg to differ.

It was a very good natured game, ably umpired by Dr Phil Hendry who provided his "Augustus to Aurelian" rules.  Thanks to all who came by for a chat, and to the very able organisers of the event and good-natured staff, and to Craig for arriving at dawn with his lovely boards.

Sunday, 2 September 2012

Partizanned

I've just driven back from t'other Partizan, where I enjoyed a jolly game with Dr Phil Hendry, Craig Davey, eldest son Harry and others.  Hi to everyone else I met!


Partizan was splendid but the late nights preparing, two long drives, the 2AM karaoke in the bar beneath our hotel room and a 6:30 AM start, I am feeling somewhat ragged this evening.  I'll post some photos of the game tomorrow (I singularly failed to take pics of any of the other games, some of which were very impressive), but I couldn't resist posting the above shot from behind the Vitellian lines.

Saturday, 1 September 2012

Flocked and loaded for Partizan!

The last 5 units are flocked, and all the minis are packed.  Harry (eldest son and occasional wargamer) has been conscripted as porter and we are about to leap into the car, later to taste the heady delights of an evening in Newark!  Hope to see some of you, tomorrow. 

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Orfidius Benignus


Orfidius Benignus was the Legate of I Adiutrix (assistant) legion in 69AD.  I Adiutrix was a legion formed either by Nero or Galba from marines drawn from the Misene fleet, many of whom would have been Egyptian-born.  They fought bravely at Bedriacum, capturing the eagle of XXI Rapax, but the more experienced Vitellians counterattacked , killed Orfidius and routed Adiutrix.


This mini is re-based from I Adiutrix, which I modelled earlier in the year.  Minis are Foundry and Black Tree, with an Aventine dolphin standard.  I've decided to expand this legion from 80 minis to 99, including a separate command stand, to fit in with a new idea I've had for structuring legions.

In other news, there is a very good interview and review of Dr Phil's Augustus to Aurelian rules podcast on Meeples and Minuatures.  It is well worth listening to; gives a good instroduction to why they were written and how they work.  We still have a place or two on the game on Sunday at Partizan, if you want to give them a go...

Tuesday, 28 August 2012

Mustering for Partizan


Four nights to go; every required Roman (or auxiliary volunteer) is now on a base, and half of the bases are painted.  I do hate flocking, though, and am not looking forward to the 4 nights of intensive flocking activity ahead of me.  Flocking hell!  :-( 

At Partizan on Sunday, the Ad Castores game will be right in the middle of the main hall.  We'll be using Dr Phil Hendry's Augustus to Aurelian rules- if you are attending, and fancy trying them yourself, please post a comment or drop me a line and we should be able to fit you in.

Friday, 24 August 2012

Equites

 

These are the last troops I need to muster for our Ad Castores game; an Ala of 24 cavalry, and 6 Praetorian bodyguard cavalry.  They were all painted by Dr. Simon's mystery painter mate, but I have highlighted the horses and wlll also be highlighting the shields, then staining, varnishing, basing and flocking.  I only have another 5 or 6 sessions before the game... gulp.

Thursday, 23 August 2012

Cypresses and poplars


For a couple of years I've coveted a grove of pencil-thin cypress trees, and have finally gotten around to getting one!

I want to give the Partizan "Ad Castores" game an Italian feel, and so needed some Mediterranean trees to line Roman roads and bulk out forests.  Consequently I've bought 25 cypresses (front) and 25 poplars (rear).  The cypresses and rear right poplars are from The Model Tree Shop, who gave an extremely prompt service; the rear left poplars from eBay.  I've based them all on mdf disks, which took a couple of evenings work.  When time permits I'll add some scatter and flock to the bases.  Figures are to give an idea of scale.

The terrain on Sunday will include olive groves, cypresses, poplars and my new vineyards, and so I trust it will look suitably rural!

Sunday, 19 August 2012

More Praetorian WIPs


I've not had a chance to post regularly, as I've been very busy, preparing for the Partizan game.  Here are some of the most recent units, which I'm in process of basing.  At the rear is a cohort of auxiliaries formerly of Legatus Hedlius' collection (re-based and expanded to 24).  At the front are 2 cohorts of Praetorians from the brush of Nick Speller, which he very kindly rushed to me.   I'll post proper pics, as time permits...

I now just have one Ala of cavalry to finish and base, and a bunch of terrain pieces.  It is going pretty well!

Thursday, 9 August 2012

Gaius Suetonius Paulinus



Gaius Suetonius Paulinus was the general who defeated the Boudiccan revolt, and later the Vitellian forces under Aulus Caecina, at Ad Castores.   His tactics in the latter battle were cautious, and he was blamed for the victory not being sufficiently decisive.   Passed over for senior command, his subsequent advice was ignored and rash Othonian tactics contributed to their total defeat at Bedriacum.


The general and both steeds are Aventine, and the trumpeter Black Tree.

Wednesday, 8 August 2012

Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes


Prince Antiochus Epiphanes was the son the similarly named King of Commagene, an eastern client state of Rome.  He was in Rome in 69AD, is mentioned in Tacitus as having been wounded, commanding some of the Othonians cavalry at Ad Castores.  He later shows up at the siege of Jerusalem, under Titus, where he leads a charge of his "Macedonian" bodyguard against the city walls.  I like to think of him as the very last of the Successors.


To depict him I've used yet another Aventine general, but this time on an Aventine Greek horse with leopard skin saddlecloth which seemed appropriate for the son of an eastern potentate.  The praetorian cavalry shield is from A and A.  I really love the helmet on this piece, I might return to gild parts of it.

Monday, 6 August 2012

Publius Marius Celsus


Publius Marius Celsus was a former consul, who commanded the Othonian cavalry at Ad Castores.  He was a relative of the famous Gaius Marius.


I like an active pose for a cavalry commander, and so added a shield to one of the more dynamic Aventine generals.   The relatively simple paint job came out nicely, and contrasts the complex LBMS shield design.

Sunday, 5 August 2012

Fabius Valens revisited...


Fabius Valens was Vitellius' second subordinate General during his revolt against Otho, and commanded the column that advanced towards Italia, through Gaul.  It was the imminent arrival of this force that spurred the younger Caecina to ambush the Othonians at Ad Castores, in the hope of winning a prestigious solo victory.  Valens helped to defeat the Othonians, but was later executed by the victorious Flavians.


I originally tackled this subject back in 2011, but realised recently that the figure I'd used was rather too young to represent this seasoned general, and so have replaced him with another, more mature Aventine general.   The vexilla bearer is from Relic.


I do like these Aventine Republican generals, and very much look forward to the mounted generals that will presumably come out with their coming EIRs, as the ones on foot are so nice...

Thursday, 2 August 2012

Aulus Caecina Alienus and Salonina


Caecina was one of Vitellius' two subordinates, and commanded an independent column that unexpectedly invaded Italy from Switzerland over passes that the Othonians had considered blocked by snow.   He commanded at the battle of Ad Castores, that Phil Hendry, Craig Davey and I will refight at Partizan.


Tacitus describes his scandalous arrival in History Book 2: 20. "Caecina, who seemed to have left his cruelty and profligacy on the other side of the Alps, advanced through Italy with his army under excellent discipline. The towns and colonies, however, found indications of a haughty spirit in the general's dress, when they saw the cloak of various colours, and the trews, a garment of foreign fashion, clothed in which he was wont to speak to their toga-clad citizens. And they resented, as if with a sense of personal wrong, the conduct of his wife Salonina, though it injured no one that she presented a conspicuous figure as she rode through their towns on horseback in a purple habit."

Caecina is an Aventine general, with lightly converted cloak and trews.   Salonina is heavily converted from a Lady Godiva!  I've a few more commanders to post over the next week...


Tuesday, 31 July 2012

Praetorian WIP


These proud (and clickable) guardsmen are half of the two Praetorian cohorts I hope to deploy at Partizan.  They were superbly painted by Nick Speller; I added the transfers and touched up the shields.  Hopefully Nick is beavering away at the command stands... when I base the second lot, I'll add the static grass.

Steve Saleh only sculpted a single pose of Praetorian, so the unit is necessarily very uniform!  IMHO this uniformity doesn't matter quite so much in the case of spit and polish guardsmen.

Courtesy of recent purchases, I should be able to deploy a couple more cohorts next year (and I'll certainly be buying the later EIR Praetorians from Aventine, too, when the standing poses come out).  Happily, a lot of Praetorian cohorts were deployed in 69AD...

Sunday, 29 July 2012

Templum

Yesterday I started work on this piece from Monolith Designs, which is destined to be the temple of the twins at the eponymous battle of Ad Castores.  I fancied a smaller temple, without pillars, as the battle was fought in the countryside.


I really like the design of this piece, although there are a lot of tiny air bubbles on the tiled roof (you can see them if you click).  I've filled the worst of them, and am hoping that the remainder won't be particularly noticeable, once painted.

Saturday, 28 July 2012

Vine Stakes


I’ve finished 2 of the four vine-stake terrain pieces- it took a surprisingly long time to carefully flock them, do please click for a closeup.  I’m very pleased with how they came out.  I’ll have all 4 ready for the game at Partizan on 2/9/12.

Friday, 27 July 2012

Booty!

 

A huge thank-you to Legatus Hedlius, of this parish, who responded to my recent appeal, by selling me (at a modest price) no less than 132 more Foundry Saleh EIRs, around half of whom are quite nicely painted, and also some BTD command figures.  In due course I should be able to carve 2 cohorts each of legionaries and auxiliaries out of these, and a cohort each of Praetorians and archers.  Great stuff!

If anyone else has any spare Saleh Romans (especially the auxiliaries or Optios/Centurions), do please drop me a line.