Friday, 16 May 2014

Pontoon bridge part 1

I've made a modest start on my Roman pontoon bridge.


These 5 sections are the roadway, and are simply made from coffee stirrers stuck to card.  They slot together to form a single piece, around 65cm in length. I'm currently "distressing" the wood, to make the stirrers look more like ancient planks. Next, I'll attack the railings on the sides and  frame of supporting timbers underneath.

Thursday, 15 May 2014

The black Legion musters

Last night I finished painting of the second legion for Partizan.


Tonight I need to finish staining them (I'm using inks in Johnson's Klear), and tomorrow I can get on with matt varnishing and highlighting the metallics.  I'm nicely on track for Partizan, although there is still a challenging volume of terrain to complete.

Partizan should be very interesting this year, as (due to a foul-up by the owners) it's going to be held in a huge tent, instead of inside Kelham Hall.  It'll be one to remember, one way or the other!  I'm really looking forward to it.

Wednesday, 14 May 2014

Roman Pontoon bridge...


...kit.

This will become the Roman pontoon bridge that will feature in my Bedriacum game at Partizan, in just over 2 weeks time.  Gulp.

It'll be built of coffee stirrers, card, bamboo skewers and balcony edges from 4Ground.  It's not a complex build, but I've left myself very ilittle time to do it, and I also need to knock up some terrain boards, including the River Po.

I've always wanted to own a Roman pontoon bridge.  This will be one of the largest terrain pieces I've built, and one of the cheapest, too!

Thursday, 8 May 2014

Back to black

...instead of following through on basing the yellow shields, I decided to push on and finish the second, black-shielded legion. These figures are around half of them, and are the ones that came ready painted; they are the work of three painters, who I like to think of as the good, the bad and the ugly. The "good" ones in row 3 and 4 are more well-painted ex-Legatus Hedlius minis, and just needed shield transfers. The "bad" ones in rows one and two needed a near complete repaint. The "ugly" ones at the rear had just been blocked in, and look much better for a little highlighting.


I need one more session on this lot's shields, two more on the rump of the minis, and then I can think about varnishing and basing. It is going so well, in fact, that I have cockily decided to paint a cohort or so of archers to provide some fire support.

If anyone would like to see all of the completed minis together, then they will be at Partizan on 1st June, and at the Wargames Holiday Centre on the 28th/29th June, where I'll putting on four large games.

Monday, 5 May 2014

Painting progress...


A quick WIP shot of the first of the two new legions for Partizan. In a few days time, when they are flocked, I'll take some proper photos.

These are now based up as 4 units, each of 3 stands, together with the legion's command stand and a couple of singly based "heroes".  The new 8 figure 60 x 50mm stand is to become the standard for all my Romans.

Later in the year I will add a fifth unit, which can form the third line of the legion.  I'm currently painting the other legion with the black shields, which will make a great contrast.  

Friday, 2 May 2014

The varnished troops

Today I'm varnishing the first of the two legions for Partizan.  Tonight I'll highlight the metallics, and take them off the temporary bases.


A very superior matt varnish was recommended to me by ConflictinColour; Windsor and Newton Professional.  It comes in a silver can and is much better than their other product.  It's at least as good as Testors, and less than half the price.

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Nuts!


I played a test game of my rules with Ian and Dr. Simon last night, but couldn't find my box that contains all the markers.  We had to improvise; we used coins for the victory medals, and Hazelnuts for the ammo markers!

We agreed that the Celts are somewhat overpriced compared to the Romans.  Today I've been tweaking the rules, and thinking about heroes...