Progress Update Legion VIIII Hispania - 10/25/2010

Legion VIIII Hispania - 10/25/2010
Cohors I	20	Legionaries	90%		need base detailing & shields
Cohors II	20	Legionaries	90%		need base detailing & shields
Cohors III	20	Legionaries	90%		need base detailing & shields
Cohors IIII	20	Legionaries	95%		need shields
Cohors V	20	Legionaries	0%		TBD
Cohors VI	20	Legionaries	0%		TBD
(Cohors VII)	24	Legionaries (Recuits)	45%		working on base coats
(Cohors VIII)	20	Legionaries	TBD		future order
(Cohors VIIII)	20	Legionaries	TBD		future order
(Cohors X)	20	Legionaries	TBD		future order
Legio Eques	6	Legionary Cavalry	TBD		future order
General	2	(foot / mounted)	0%		TBD
Aquilifier	2	(foot / mounted)	0%		TBD
Tribunes	8	(foot / mounted)	TBD		TBD
Cohors I Velites	12	Velites	0%		TBD
Cohors II Velites	12	Velites	0%		TBD
Ala Eques Praetore	12	Roman Guard Cavalry	50%		horses done, figures not started
Ala Batavi seniores	12	Batavian (German) Cavalry	35%		horses assembled, figures not started
Ala I Gallica	12	Gallic Cavalry	50%		base coats done
Ala II Galica	12	Gallic Cavalry	50%		base coats done
Ala Numidia	12	Numidian Cavalry	90%		need base detailing & shields
Ala Syriae dromedariorum	9	Dromedarii	0%		TBD
Cohors I Batavi	20	Aux. Infantry	0%		TBD
Cohors II Batavi	20	Aux. Infantry	0%		TBD
Cohors I Syriae sagittarii	12	Eastern Aux. Archers	90%		need base detailing
Cohors II Syriae sagittarii	12	Eastern Aux. Archers	90%		need base detailing
Cohors Tunguri sagittarii	12	Western Aux, Archers	90%		need base detailing
Cohors I Balaerica funditorii	14	Baleric Slingers	90%		need base detailing
Cohors II Balaerica funditorii	14	Baleric Slingers	90%		need base detailing
Cohors I Numidia sagittarii	12	Numidian Archers	0%		TBD
Cohors II Numidia sagittarii	12	Numidian Archers	0%		TBD
Balistarii	1	Heavy stone thrower	100%		done
Balistarii	1	Light stone thrower	25%		on hold for bases
Balistarii	2	Ballista	25%		on hold for bases
Balistarii	4	Scorpio	100%		done

Roman Onager

Years ago I purchased a "Roman Stone Thrower" in 28mm. It was a nice metal kit with seven or eight crew. The model seemed to be a medieval catapult with Roman crew. Over the years I would pull it out and work on it a bit, then put it back in the 'TBD pile'.

The stone thrower had wheels, which I have never seen any evidence for on a Roman onager and the crew were a bit chunky (think Michelin tire man).

During my recent painting spree I decided to take a look at the onager again. Sometime in the past I had assembled (mostly) and primed it and the crew. I was unhappy with the wheels... they weren't well cast and they seemed out of place to me, so I removed them. Removing the wheels lowers the height, which makes the crew a bit to tall and the winch 'wheels' sit on the ground. I used some balsa wood to make a frame to raise the onager back to the proper height, added a few details and mounted it on a base.

I decided to not use all the crew, while I am sure an actual onager had more than the five I am using, mounting more on the base made the whole thing look like a Chinese fire drill (chaotic).

This is a work in progress, I am still not happy with it, but here it is in all it's glory

From the left side


3/4 view from right front

Tim, they call him...

Crouching Romans

Here is a cohort I recently finished that I am proud of. The figures are made by Foundry and I was always intrigued by the crouching pose.

I originally had ambitions of making these guys into a testudo, but it occurred to me that I really liked the way they looked and they would be wasted as a testudo.

These guys were the first cohort I painted that kicked off my 'painting spree'. As I painted and organized them I hit a pretty big snag; they had no command figures!

I quickly scoured the Foundry site and found they don't make a crouching command. An email to them confirmed this. So I would have to make my own.

The Centurion was simply a matter of attaching a transverse crest.

The Signifer and the Cornicen were a bit more work.

First, I had to cut away and remove all traces of the gladius in their right hands. Both hands had to be re-oriented (bent) to accommodate the signum in one case and the cornu in the other. I had to rebuild the Cornicen's left hand with green stuff since he wouldn't have a shield.


Then I had to remove their heads and do a head swap for one with the animal pelts covering the helmets (wolves in this case). I spent some time researching wolves to come up with an appropriate color pattern (I will have to take a picture of the wolf pelts, they really turned out nice).

Lastly I had to modify a signum and cornu to fit and put the whole thing together. I am proud of these guys; they look nice and the conversions were not too difficult and have a lot of character.

Tim, they call him...

Roman Banners

I am trying to come up with some banners for my Caesarian Roman army. I want to give the cohorts a distinctive banner as well as something for the legion (besides the eagle). I have drawn up my current choices and options. I would appreciate any opinions or suggestions.

Click on the image above to enlarge it.

Tim, they call him...

Painting Log - October 12, 2010

Progress Update

Progress!

I am working on:

• 13 Eastern Auxilia Archers (in the 'touch up' phase, 'dip' and base detailing and they are done)
  
• Roman Catapult (I have to decide where this is going to go. It is a large model so I think I will spend some time detailing the base)
  
• Twelve man Roman cavalry unit (horses are at the detail stage and are based. Troopers need to be prepped and primed)
  
• My second 20 man Roman legionaire unit (need to attach the swords, 'dip' and do the bases)
  
• My third 20 man Roman legionaire (prep stage)
• My third six team SS-Panzergrenaider unit (base coats done, detailing work needed).
• My second six team SS-Panzer-pioneer unit (primed).

Tim, still obsessed they call him...

WAB Painting List