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Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: chema1986 on May 19, 2020, 11:52:29 AM

Title: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: chema1986 on May 19, 2020, 11:52:29 AM
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!

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fZGNsmXSg48/Xr-pVtWZ42I/AAAAAAAADGI/Ep2txgXq8Rol_v5wZ2rGiF5AmJynME5SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2809.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2hfp6n-C7g/Xr-pVth8jmI/AAAAAAAADGE/T8juSzutMTcG7AtuFEAKzijQPafP-1ZWACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2811.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YpYPq1cWyMY/Xr-pWRUEvjI/AAAAAAAADGQ/anYu9wW2WLITPJiMm0Pe885SK9DaktPTACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2831.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-myqy3Eb2GLY/Xr-plxj0bCI/AAAAAAAADGk/gYxfeyqD-VUzyogb6zMirytwcPMSQAWXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2812.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8eAIWq4G7-k/Xr-pliFyWRI/AAAAAAAADGc/BhG5h_UEB6kwcebUFYKQDs2PraKJbav9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2816.JPG)


(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-taUsqQ7Se-M/Xr-pm7du9bI/AAAAAAAADGs/k_r4WYdd17Is5RXdqc9nFGb_b_9W4DW9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2822.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTKjeFgRXFM/Xr-podg8GBI/AAAAAAAADG8/7P3acvSmhBYf1dl-MhKuiaNnLaUvce72wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2825.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2Wc7LSZ13E/Xr-powevsSI/AAAAAAAADHA/QhFFF7z5eBUBMV0uQfy-fr5j5MECqAOiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG)

Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Corso on May 19, 2020, 12:01:45 PM
Really nice work!
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Tonhel on May 19, 2020, 12:31:25 PM
Very nice!
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Atheling on May 19, 2020, 12:49:03 PM
Beautiful work  :-* :-* :-*

Is the banner freehand?  :o
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: chema1986 on May 19, 2020, 12:51:56 PM
Many thanks guys!!

Beautiful work  :-* :-* :-*

Is the banner freehand?  :o

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)
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Hu Rhu on May 19, 2020, 02:25:00 PM
Wonderful conversions and painting.  :-* :-*
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Atheling on May 19, 2020, 02:50:38 PM
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  8)
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: OSHIROmodels on May 19, 2020, 05:41:58 PM
Superb. Love that yellow  8)
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Burnin Coal on May 19, 2020, 06:20:46 PM
 :-* lovely work indeed...very fine looking unit....and ditto on the yellow
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Roo on May 19, 2020, 06:30:33 PM
Now those are very nice lovely inspiration!
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: guitarheroandy on May 19, 2020, 07:26:23 PM
Lovely work on some classic miniatures!
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Atheling on May 19, 2020, 08:51:07 PM
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  :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: aphillathehun on May 19, 2020, 10:33:20 PM

Byzantines need banners.  You've done a wonderful job with it!  Uh, the banner, and the unit, are wonderful.
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: chema1986 on May 20, 2020, 08:04:29 AM
Many thanks for the kind comments, I will definitely add more units soon to this army (and their Sassanid counterparts :)
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Atheling on May 20, 2020, 08:09:05 AM
Many thanks for the kind comments, I will definitely add more units soon to this army (and their Sassanid counterparts :)

Can't wait  8)

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.
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: chema1986 on May 20, 2020, 09:35:34 AM
Can't wait  8)

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.

I love that WAB book, I own it just for painting ideas and inspiration,

I you want to see more units of my army,  I have painted some already, but I need to make a good post with a "family photo", and I have ordered some Aventine beauties to expand my army... I hope to see their medium armoured infantry soon, and good new transfers too!

slingers:
https://spanishleadpainting.blogspot.com/2019/12/28mm-late-roman-funditores-or-slingers.html

Psiloi ballistarii:
https://spanishleadpainting.blogspot.com/2019/11/more-late-romans-ballistarii.html

Huns:
https://spanishleadpainting.blogspot.com/search/label/Huns

Late Roman/Belisarian older units:
https://spanishleadpainting.blogspot.com/search/label/Belisarian

CHeers!
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Smithy on May 20, 2020, 11:19:34 AM
Greens for medium types infantry nearly finished now along with some more heavy infantry. should be out next week if Keith doesn't get overwhelmed.  Just a few slingers then on to cavalry. Adam
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Atheling on May 20, 2020, 12:56:31 PM
Greens for medium types infantry nearly finished now along with some more heavy infantry. should be out next week if Keith doesn't get overwhelmed.  Just a few slingers then on to cavalry. Adam

Woohoo! Can't wait to see them  8)

Thanks for the update Adam  :)

While I'm here, here's a link to my old Justinian/Heraclian Byzantines made up of mainly Late Roman and Persian Gripping Beast conversions:
http://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2019/12/ye-olde-pics-of-justinian-byzantines.html (http://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2019/12/ye-olde-pics-of-justinian-byzantines.html)
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Mark M Down on May 20, 2020, 06:29:13 PM
Lovely painting job.
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Ockius on May 20, 2020, 11:22:38 PM
Excellent models and paintjob.

The scale barding on the horses really has a great sheen to it - how did you do it? Are there white highlights on parts of it to get the reflective light?

I'm asking as my armour-painting skills are pretty basic and I think I could learn from you!
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: chema1986 on May 21, 2020, 10:08:47 AM
Woohoo! Can't wait to see them  8)

Thanks for the update Adam  :)

While I'm here, here's a link to my old Justinian/Heraclian Byzantines made up of mainly Late Roman and Persian Gripping Beast conversions:
http://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2019/12/ye-olde-pics-of-justinian-byzantines.html (http://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2019/12/ye-olde-pics-of-justinian-byzantines.html)


Wow I have seen your army in many places, It inspired me in the past, those Gripping Beast did a great job in the past supplying us with Early Byzantine miniatures, your conversions and selection of miniatures are very nice.
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: chema1986 on May 21, 2020, 10:10:36 AM
Excellent models and paintjob.

The scale barding on the horses really has a great sheen to it - how did you do it? Are there white highlights on parts of it to get the reflective light?

I'm asking as my armour-painting skills are pretty basic and I think I could learn from you!

Many thanks mate! No, not white, Just plain metal paint, Vallejo Model Air gunmetal, highlighted with Vallejo Model Air silver, and then Ammo Mig gloss varnish :)
Title: Re: Ancients gallery: 28mm Early Byzantine Bucellarii of Belisarius
Post by: Ockius on May 21, 2020, 01:56:41 PM
Many thanks mate! No, not white, Just plain metal paint, Vallejo Model Air gunmetal, highlighted with Vallejo Model Air silver, and then Ammo Mig gloss varnish :)

Thanks! Perhaps it's the gloss varnish that I need to add to my repertoire.

Keep up the good work