Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius

[chema1986]

Hi guys, I have updated my blog with a unit of Belisarian Byzantine Bucellari of Belisarius

https://spanishleadpainting.blogspot.com/2020/05/belisarian-bucellarii-early-byzantine.html

These miniatures represent the elite of the early Byzantine armies, Bucellarii, armoured cavalrymen, trained to fight with composite bow, small shield and long Kontos lance, like the Clibanarii.
General Belisarius had a personal guard, and almost personal army of Bucellarii, which in the mid-6th century,  numbered 7,000 at its peak.

The bucellarii of Belisarius fought battles against Sassanid Persian like Dara and Callinicum, and against Vandals, Ostrogoth, Franks and Visigoth in the West,  or Slavs in the Balkans.

Meanwhile Aventine Miniatures is designing and sculpting its own version of these troops, I decided to use the very nice sculpts of Wargames Foundry Miniatures,  Late Roman and Arthurian ranges, I got my inspiration from Wargames Foundry painting guide book (the second book they did) where there is an article about converting Late Roman Clibanarii into Belisarian Byzantine Bucellarii, by master Kevin Dallimore. So with my (very) limited scupting skills and miniatures available, I made a unit of Bucellarii, following Mr Dallimore's examples and instructions.

I am very pleased with the result and colour selection, Foundry's Arthur is now my own version of Belisarius.  The banner is just a photo of the banner depicted in the mentioned book, printed and painted in some parts, as I am terrible at freehand painting...

Most horses are Foundry half barded or armoured horses, while a couple of them are Old Glory's, while the lances are metal with a plastic Warhammer pennant glued on it.

They are based for Impetus/Hail Caesar.

I hope you like them!

[Corso]

Really nice work!

[Tonhel]

Very nice!

[Atheling]

Beautiful work 

Is the banner freehand? 

[chema1986]

Many thanks guys!!

Beautiful work 

Is the banner freehand? 

no, I am terrible at freehand painting, is photographed and printed from a Wargames Foundry book (but I think it was a freehand by Kevin Dallimore)

[Hu Rhu]

Wonderful conversions and painting. 

[Atheling]

Many thanks guys!!

no, I am terrible at freehand painting, is photographed and printed from a Wargames Foundry book (but I think it was a freehand by Kevin Dallimore)

Regardless, it looks amazing and really sets a very good looking unit 

[OSHIROmodels]

Superb. Love that yellow 

[Burnin Coal]

  lovely work indeed...very fine looking unit....and ditto on the yellow

[Roo]

Now those are very nice lovely inspiration!

[guitarheroandy]

Lovely work on some classic miniatures!

[Atheling]

Many thanks guys!!

no, I am terrible at freehand painting, is photographed and printed from a Wargames Foundry book (but I think it was a freehand by Kevin Dallimore)

It's a brilliant looking unit anyway 

[aphillathehun]

Byzantines need banners.  You've done a wonderful job with it!  Uh, the banner, and the unit, are wonderful.

[chema1986]

Many thanks for the kind comments, I will definitely add more units soon to this army (and their Sassanid counterparts

[Atheling]

Many thanks for the kind comments, I will definitely add more units soon to this army (and their Sassanid counterparts

Can't wait 

I used to have a Justinian/Heraclian WAB army but I've just jumped in feet first into it again with the release of all the beauties from Aventine.