15mm Bridge and Ruined Temple

Two more terrain pieces I managed to complete over the Easter weekend. Firstly, a 15mm bridge which I purchased from Baueda:

This is a very nice three-part model and includes some nice detail, conveying the impression of a bridge built by an army while on campaign:

I also purchased the additional expansion section which, when added, turns it into a long bridge which should be enough to cover most scenarios:

I also completed a ruined temple from Forged in Battle, comprised of a mixture of resin and metal components. Another nice model which I blockcoated in a Foundry sand colour and to which I then applied an ink wash and three successively lighter dry brush applications. As I was doing this the thought crossed my mind that I probably could have just gone down to the local aquarium shop and purchased something from there instead, but I was pleased with the overall result:

I'll probably end up incorporating this into a larger middle-eastern built-up terrain piece more suitable for use in DBMM. I have a few more Forged in Battle buildings in mind for this and will be making a start on this once I completed a few elements of Spanish cavalry.

15mm Spanish caetrati

Easter proved to be quite productive and I managed to complete forty elements of Spanish caetrati.

The figures are again Xyston with twelve different poses, so there was a fair amount of variety to get stuck into:

The models are supplied with the typical Spanish caetrati shield, which meant a welcome change from applying transfers:

Some of the blade-armed figures were single-sculpts, such as the figure on the left below, so that also meant not having to glue on separate shields or weapons:

The detail was up to the usual Xyston high standard, which made these a pleasure to paint:

I actually ended up with seventy-nine figures for some unknown reason, but remembered I had a spare scutarii figure so recruited him for the fortieth element:

On to some cavalry now, then a few more slingers and a few elements of celtiberian reinforcements. That means the project should be completed within the next couple of months.

I have also been putting some effort to the completion of a few additional terrain pieces along the way, and will hopefully also have a post on that within the next few days.

15mm Celtic Village

While finishing the last of the Xyston Spanish scutarii I thought I'd allow myself a small diversion in painting and assembling the Hovels Celtic village:

I have always been a fan of Hovels models and have normally ordered them fully painted, so this was the first time I have attempted painting the raw resin myself:


They are lovely models to work with, and the set comes with seven buildings and a couple of pigs for the pig sty:


It was also my first attempt using modelling plaster for the mud. I gave it a couple of goes and still couldn't get the consistency completely as I would like it, but as long as it stays in place I think it looks reasonable enough. The fruit baskets are an addition from Baueda, who also make a very nice range of 15mm models and accessories:


I particularly like the cracked daubing on some of the models which exposes the wattle underneath:





















Overall I am quite pleased with the result, and it has encouraged me to get stuck into a few other terrain pieces I have stockpiled and which I now plan on attempting over the coming months.

Last of the Spanish scutarii

A quick post, as it is primarily more of the same but does however represent the last batch of Spanish scutarii (I promise):

Another fifteen elements, making sixty-seven elements of scutarii in all:

That's 201 figures all-up, and 202 if you count the poor fellow who hasn't found a home yet. Given that the scutarii are the backbone of an Ancient Spanish army I believe I am now on the homeward stretch with this one. As lovely as the sculpts are, I'll be glad if I don't have to see another 15mm scutarii figure again:

I'm also just putting the finishing touches on a Celtic/Gallic village which I'm hoping will be complete within the next day or so. It's been years since I have had a go at terrain and I have accumulated a rather substantial resin pile to accompany the lead mountain, so I thought I'd make a start on the former to help keep up my motivation with the latter.

Latest Batch of 15mm Spanish Scutarii

Another twenty-four elements of seventy-two scutarii figures completed, making fifty elements completed so far with only a dozen or so left to go:

The figures are, as usual, Xyston and the shield transfers are by Little Big Men Studios:

These are mainly javelin-armed with four different poses per pack, alongside the four blade-armed figures:

I have maintained the theme of mainly using browns, cream and white linen for the tunics, with black or red for the helmet crests, which I think makes for a pleasing combination:

The shield designs are now starting to repeat themselves, but there are around forty-eight different patterns so hopefully it shouldn't be noticeable en masse:

With a bit of a push I should have the scutarii completely finished by the middle of April:

Given that this troop type represents the bulk of a Spanish ancients army, that should be about the halfway point of the project. We are playing a Carthaginian versus Spanish DBMM game this Saturday, so it will be nice to get them on the table so soon after completion.

More 15mm Spanish Scutarii

Having just completed a 15mm Gallic army I was very keen to get stuck back into the 15mm Ancient Spanish project I had started and managed to complete another eighteen elements of scutarii, including most of the command elements and standard bearers I'll need for all these units:

All the figures are again Xyston, with the shield transfers by Little Big Men Studios:

When I first looked at the LBMS shield transfers I was a little wary as they involved, in most cases, cutting out the middle of the shield boss. This involved catering for a few unusual shapes on some of the shields, but I soon got into a rhythm and found that if I could do this accurately enough they were actually far easier to position than the Gallic shield transfers:

The Xyston Spanish figures are a delight to paint as usual, and they are more like a large 18mm than a true 15mm figure:

There are two options for the standard bearers, with a choice of a pennant:

or a bull-like standard:

The figure below on the right is possibly my favourite Xyston figure thus far. Unfortunately it is not the best picture, but I very much like the dynamic pose and the way he is leaning back prior to letting loose with his javelin:

That's twenty-eight elements of scutarii now completed, with around another forty to go. These are in the queue at the moment so, when finished, will see the backbone of this Spanish army completed.

15mm Gallic Army Completed

Having completed the last six elements of this army earlier this week, I wanted to gather the army for a group shot. Given that most of the DBMM games we are currently playing are set at 400 points it is unlikely that they will be assembled together again for any one single game, although if I can convince the group I game with to give To the Strongest a go at some point I may need most of what I have managed to complete:

The figures are Xyston, and all shield transfers are from Steve Hales of Little Big Men Studios:

A quick thank you to Steve as it had been a good six or seven years since my original purchase of the transfers and some of them refused to part from their backing paper. I checked in with him to confirm that I was indeed attempting to apply them correctly, and he offered to replace them all free of charge. Given that the fault was mine I could not in good conscience accept the offer, but he insisted on a generous discount for the replacement which I thought went way beyond great customer service.

More cavalry and chariots:

A few more warband pictures:

Lastly, the gaesatae:

And an overall picture of the entire army as assembled:

All up, the army is comprised of the following:

79 warband elements

33 gaesatae elements

12 chariots

5 soldurii elements

8 skirmish elements

8 sling-armed elements

8 bow-armed elements

16 unarmoured cavalry elements

13 armoured cavalry elements (including 3 generals)

This constitutes 598 foot and cavalry figures with 111 horses, or 709 figures in total.

I had originally hoped to get all this done within four months, but I suppose just under six months is not a bad effort and this is the largest ancient army I had in the lead pile.

Now it's back to some ancient Spanish, which I am hoping I should be able to complete before the middle of the year.