Roman baggage train ...

While I'm waiting for my primed figures to cure I thought I would start construction of the Roman wagon.

The huge North Star Oxen really look the part … but now I'm worried that the load looks somewhat insubstantial to be troubling such strong animals with. I will give this more thought.

I’m also thinking about how to harness the oxen to the cart. I can modify the supplied yoke or make a harness like the one on the The Time Machines Miniatures model. Something else to think about …

Work in progress: The North Star Oxen needed quite a bit of filler to make a good join between the head and body. One of the wheels of the Foundry cart had a poorly cast spoke, so I filled this too.

Legio VI signifer, imagnifer and vexillarius

I have finished converting the Warlord Games’ aquilifier to hold aloft a bull, and added imagnifer and vexillarius figures. These will comprise part of my Legio VI vexillatio command vignette.

An observation made over at TMP prompted me to remove the cloth standard from below the bull, which I rather of knew is how it should be.

Work in progress: Primed and ready, Legio VI’s standard bearers are a mix of Warlord Games and Wargames Foundry figures.

Legio VI signum ... work in progress

I had a bit of free time this evening so I thought to begin work on the signum. I have literally ‘beefed-up’ the Faller cow to give it more of a bull-like appearance.

The size of the bull may be a bit exaggerated (the calves were just too small), but I think I can live with this.

Work in progress: After removing the cow’s udder and the paint from the cow’s head and shoulders I added Milliput to sculpt the heavier profile. The figure is Warlord Games’ aquilifer.

The plinth will need some detail adding, probably using very thin plasticard, and I plan to add horns to give the bull a bit more aggression … but first I’ll see how gentle sanding of the Milliput works out.

Today’s haul

I went along to Warfare 2011 in Caversham this morning and came back with some items I set out to buy and a surprise.

I bought more raw material from my Roman baggage train, as illustrated below. I also bought a couple of Warlord Games’ marching legionaries.

Baueda jars, sacks, boxes and amphorae will comprise the Roman cart’s load.

By chance I found a pair of North Star oxen. These are really muscular sculpts and will look much more like the Time Machines Miniatures’ original.

Foundry ox on the left and North Star ox on the right … much more like it!

Legio VI signum

Like most Roman Army collectors I have plenty of aquilae, imagines and various signa, but what I really need is a She-wolf with Romulus and Remus or a bull so that I can complete my Legio VI vexillatio command group.

I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but following a suggestion on the Warlord Games’ forum I ordered some Z-gauge cattle to see if they might provide a starting point … and I think they may.

Careful selection from a box of really tiny Faller cattle might just furnish a bull-topped signum.

Christmas comes early ...

My annual Wargames Foundry order arrived this week. I only order from them when they are discounting, and ensure the discount covers the high postage charge.

I’ve been thinking about my Roman baggage train for a while, and had my eye on the Foundry ancient cart and pack mules. The inspiration for this vignette came from a 54mm diorama on Time Machine Miniatures web site:

Link

The stunning and inspirational Time Machine Miniatures’ diorama.

Some of the components for the baggage train vignette, mules on the left, oxen, cart and drovers in the middle. On the right are signifier, vexellarius and imagnifer figures to add variety to my centuries ... one has been recruited to the sagittarii already.

Equine hues

I've been working on my first auxiliary cavalry turma, but I'm not happy with the colour of the horses.

I’ve been working up the colour with ink and paint washes, but the colours don’t look enough like the colours of real horses to me.

I read a few forum posts on the subject (on The Miniatures Page) but no-one was actually giving away which colour paints they used for specific types (eg bay, chestnut). By chance I stumbled on a reference to Howard Hues’ range of basic horse colours.

So I bought some.

The turma begins to come to life ... but the colours aren’t quite right. Hopefully Howard Hues will rescue the situation.

The Archers ...

The saga continues ... the bows are now strung and the figures are finally primed ready for painting.

A slightly converted Warlord Games’ auxiliary centurion leads the century of sagittarii. I added a vexillarius from this year’s Foundry delivery ... now I’m really looking forward to painting these chaps.