I got all my toys out today …

I thought it might be a good time to take stock and also to show some of the things I have finished recently.

This represents about a third of the legionaries, half the auxiliary infantry (I want to add Eastern archers and another century of infantry), two thirds of the mounted auxiliaries, all of the supporting troops apart from the baggage train, (which is still very much a work in progress as it expands to include mules and camels). I will add a century of Praetorians and maybe some mounted Praetorians …

Apologies for the carpet and skirting board … decorating my house is another work in progress …

The Legio VI Ferrata vexillation in a defensive position.

The Tessarius gives orders to the watch on the right flank.

View along the defensive ditch …

… where the engineers finish the defensive wall …

… I Augusta Thracum knock their arrows …

… scorpiones determine the range.

My alter ego in broad stripe purple … I will name him in due course. The command group is in three parts to give more flexibility. The vexillum will get rub-down transfers in due course: I am still working on the artwork for these, which will be produced in opaque gold foil.

The first turma of I Thracum Herculanea supported by auxilia dromedarri.

The story so far ...

I’ve been a bit distracted for the last month with life, but a thread on the Warlord Games’ forum prompted this, a picture of everything I have finished so far:

My Legio VI Ferrata vexillatio so far, roughly from left to right: auxiliary infantry; two centuries of legionaries with scorpiones, ballista, and onagar; engineers; then the turma of dromedarii.

Scorpion: the legionaries’ sting!

I've managed to steal some time to make quite a bit of progress with the scorpions: I've assembled and painted the crew figures and assembled two scorpions (I'm not sure of the latin here, but I'll correct it when I've found out).

I admit I've been a bit distracted by my Roman artillery project, but these have been fun pieces to do and make a nice change from painting another century of legionaries. I'm looking forward to cracking on with my western archers for the same reason ...

Two scorpiones. These are nicely detailed but require careful removal of mould lines, which is tricky, especially around the tops of the twisted skeins.

I have used the metal figures from Warlord Games’ war machines set with the plastic figures from the Scorpion Battery set. The detailing of the latter’s plastic figures has much in common with the metal sculpts, so they mix well.

Something exciting came in the post today

I've been looking forward to these ever since they were announced: Warlord Games’ scorpion battery.

I was curious to see what other components were included, since the rumour was that the contents would offer lots of conversion possibilities.

I'm looking forward to assembling these to complete my Roman artillery park.

There are three identical spures. In addition to the catapult these comprise two crew figures, eight arm and four head options, a pair of feathers, and sudes spikes. The sculpting of the figures is particularly good (hands are a big improvement), and the poses are great. The extra arms will give me some welcome options for some of the small vignettes I have in mind.