Atheling's Early Byzantines- Made the Cover of "Slingshot"- Page 31. 23-04-2023

[Hu Rhu]

Nice colour combination using some muted tones.

[Iain R]

Beautiful stuff. Byzantine armies are always impressive and colourful, but these are a real treat!

[Atheling]

Thanks folks 

That's a really nice colour combination but what is most striking is how clean they are and how they somehow pop
I think its hard with some colours, particularly red and yellow not to have an undercoat or wash coming through. Those are so neatly painted that the colours used have some depth and give the illusion of troops wearing nice thick rich cloth.
So what paint brand are you using?

I use quite a wide variety really..... Andrea, Vallejo (Model, Game and Panzer Aces), Foundry (older the better- I wouldn't buy them nowadays) and Citadel mainly on the metallic work.

Is that why? How many coats to get that coverage? Is that the secret?

I usually have a couple of coats for a basecoat of any colour and just layer up from there. Nothing fancy really.

And finally - how come your figures' hands and spears don't have huge blobs of epoxy on them like mine seem to?

I use industrial grade superglue. Out of the army thus far, I have only had two spear come loose, which is a pain as I have to strip the paint from the offending hand and repaint!    Mostly though they stay well stuck

[SJWi]

Atheling, can you tell us the manufacturer of the superglue you use. I have been looking for a really good version for many years.

[Atheling]

Atheling, can you tell us the manufacturer of the superglue you use. I have been looking for a really good version for many years.

Yeah, no probs, it's Everbuild High Grade Industrial. It's available on amazon in the UK.

[Aventine]

For what it is worth. Recently I have been using Gorilla Super Glue gel in the 15ml bottles, it helps fill the gaps between the hand and the spears and sets very hard. Just need to wipe off any excess or the epoxy hand thing happens.

Cheers
Keith

[SJWi]

Chaps, thanks for the advice on glue. Following a mate’s recommendation I did try some Gorilla glue. To be honest I didn’t find it to be as good as advertised. Since lockdown I’ve been using some cheap stuff my wife sourced for me.

[Atheling]

Chaps, thanks for the advice on glue. Following a mate’s recommendation I did try some Gorilla glue. To be honest I didn’t find it to be as good as advertised. Since lockdown I’ve been using some cheap stuff my wife sourced for me.

The Everbuild High Grade Industrial stuff is cheap really. Under £2. I think the secret to using superglue is to leave it for a day or so before handing the models. I don't know if it's just me but the bond seems a lot stronger 24 hours later compared to say an hour.

[Atheling]

My next purchases from Aventine........   

Available on the Aventine website if anyone else is interested 

https://aventineminiatures.co.uk/catalog/index.php/cPath/53_167_173

[Codsticker]

Yah, those look bee-ootiful. 

[Bravo Six]

Darrell, this isn't my period of interest but your brushwork is AMAZING!  As usual.

[Atheling]

Darrell, this isn't my period of interest but your brushwork is AMAZING!  As usual.

Cheers Bravo Six! Very kind of you to say so. I've really taken my time with the Aventine Byzantines so I'm very happy to hear that you like the paint jobs

[Hincmar]

I like your new alternative colour scheme.   

Thanks for the tip off on the horse archers.   They look quite "late" to me, as in more Heraclean than Belisarian, especially with the rudimentary stirrups.     The (also very nice) Footsore figures look like an earlier fit.    I fear the day of reckoning is drawing near when a further swoop will be required on Aventine's shop!

[Wellington]

Great stuff from Aventine! I paint some Sassanids. And beautiful painted Byzantines!

[Atheling]

I like your new alternative colour scheme.   

Thanks for the tip off on the horse archers.   They look quite "late" to me, as in more Heraclean than Belisarian, especially with the rudimentary stirrups.

They are. The Aventine range covers the Justinian and Heraclian eras. Just pick the miniatures for your desired period, which in mu case is both!  I'm going to be putting together two armies that span from 527CE to roughly 711CE.

The (also very nice) Footsore figures look like an earlier fit.

I really like the Footsore Late Roman Sagittarri too.