Ligurian Light Infantry

Ligurian Light Infantry That Appear In The Polybian army

A quick snap of my small Ligurian contingent that came from the coastal strip from Monaco to the Po River in Roman times. The figures I used are a mix of Essex Miniature castings that come from their Ancient British, Gallic ranges from memory. In DBM terms they are Irr Ax [S]

New Additions From Project Lead Mountain

New Elements From Project Lead Mountain

As part of the ongoing battle to clear out my unpainted metal and after I had decided to rebase some very old figures from 24 years ago [see previous blog entry] I found two more bags of figures to paint that would be ideal to replace the older figures in my collection and sell them on.

I still cannot recall why I ended up with these figures or even when I purchased them because I know I didn't need them as I already had enough figures for the purpose in my armies already. 

I had 24 slingers and 22 archers [with cloak] they are both Essex Miniatures castings but I cannot ID the figure codes now and think they may have been replaced. The figures as is usual for Essex were cleanly cast with minimal flash to clean up. They didn't take too long to paint either once I got the production line started.

12 elements of Classical Era Slinger Psiloi.

11 elements of Classical Era Archer Psiloi.

Refurbishing Old 15mm Ancients Figures As Part Of Project Lead Mountain

Bringing Life Back Into Old Figures

As part of Project Lead Mountain I am also slowing working through older figures and rebasing them as when I first started 15mm Ancients gaming back under DBM v1.2 in 1994 I just covered the entire base with static grass. Whilst this was the standard 24 years ago time and techniques have moved on along with what's available to buy as basing materials. After all this time the bases were also becoming very bald and the figures looked dreadful as a result but at least they were not on plain unpainted green card which I still sometimes see on the tabletop at tournaments.

The figures were originally painted to use with my Marian Romans and as I expanded my collection they of course ended up being used in other armies as appropriate. Removing the old basing materials did not take too long considering how many figures I decided to rebase in one go. I rebased sixteen elements of Psiloi in all and I am quite pleased with the end result and have decided to sell them on via EBay because whilst doing this i found two more bags of unpainted figures that I will now use to replace them [see next post].

They are all Essex Miniatures castings and I cannot recall the figure codes after all this time I think they may well be discontinued castings from the MPA range having be resculpted.

I will be selling them on EBay in due course.

Batch 1 of Archer Psiloi

Batch 2 of Archer Psiloi

Batch 1 of Slinger Psiloi

Batch 2 of Slinger Psiloi

Old School Painting Commission - Part 2

Still Going Retro!

Heres the last of the six 25/28mm figures I was asked to try and match paint to go with an existing element. Its been strange painting such large figures in a style I have not used for over 20 years.

Here is the original Roman Auxiliary Archer Psiloi element.

Here are six finished figures. I am quite pleased with the end result as the colour matching is quite close even if the figures are totally different castings.

Old School Painting Commission

Going Retro!

I was asked by someone at the wargames club I am a member of to paint up some twelve figures for him. I must admit that I have not painted 25/28mm scale figures for over 30 years. The main worry I have was that he wanted them painted to match figures he already had which meant I had no idea what colours to use to get a good match. The figures were very old style and the painting was that style we all used to do in the 1980's. Solid block colours without any shading or highlights.

They are for Imperial Romans and represent their Legionary Archers and the Auxiliary Archers.

I have now completed the first six figures for the Legionary Archers. I have been given a sample element for each type to use as a painting pattern for each type which allowed me to experiment a little on the colours. I think that given that I had no idea what colours to use except by trial and error and careful use of my eyes under a bright lamp I have ended up making a good match.

What you you think? Here's the master element I had to match to.

Here's the end result of my match painting attempt.

I now have the Auxiliary batch to complete and I will add them to the end of this blog once they are done. Thankfully I dont need to base them as he is going to do that to ensure they look similar.

Bit and pieces for a Patrician Commission

Asked to paint up some missing bits for a Patrician Army

Been taking a break from PLM over the last two weeks as I worked on a commission to complete a few pieces for a Patrician Roman army. Been interesting to paint figures I would not otherwise paint up.No idea on the makes or codes except that the Javelinmen are from Lurkio and some of the others are Essex. Additional figures added to the end of this blog.

Arab Client State General

Cataphracts

Fast Knights

I have finally finished this commission. There were a pair of Roman cavalrymen and I was specifically TOLD they must have white shields so transfers can be applied. Painting guides for these troops are very suspect and its a case of Monkey See Monkey Do after being given a couple of printouts from the WWW. No idea of the make of castings, possibly Lurkio, or one of the other Italian makers. Supplied unbased so they can be matched into the army based up elements.

The last lot are not even Romans. I was asked to paint them up as Sassanids. They are a mix of Essex Miniatures from a few figure codes and I was asked to make a couple of them wearing Copper type armour.