The Unbroken Road – Ventures in the Early Roman Empire (UP 10th Nov, p. 5)

[rumacara]

Splendid.

[Muzfish4]

I concur superb stuff. Really well done.

[Mad Doc Morris]

Thank you all for taking the time to comment. It kept me going an extra Roman mile.
With the basic force 'finished' (as if) I've still got a number of units/groups to add for variety. First off, I chose some slingers.



Not necessarily 'Balearic' since slings were ubiquitous and perhaps also standard equipment of ordinary legionaries. These ones wear red(dish) military cloaks and rather civilian-looking tunics with coloured stripes (hardly visible but they're there).
Like expected they are all Foundry again with one head swap. Hope you like 'em.

[Burnin Coal]

  very nice figures, great grouping and wonderful brushwork

[Mad Doc Morris]

Thanks, mate! 
I’m no master of this art but minis interacting with each other is one of the things I really like about multibasing.

[chema1986]

Outstanding job, congratulations sir !

[OSHIROmodels]

They're lovely 

[Tas]

Gorgeous work!

[Mad Doc Morris]

Thank you, guys.

Classic Roman infantry is all fine and dandy. But I also want a bit of asymmetric warfare. A bolt-shooting scorpio is as high-tech as it gets.



These machines were often deployed mounted on carts. However – speaking from notoriously unreliable first-hand experience – they can also easily be carried by just two men. As always a third one is required to watch the others working.
The idea of using one of the few non-combatants in Foundry's EIR range here was nicked from Tellus. Other bits were scratch-built. The colouring is inspired by a piece reconstructed by Swiss reenactment group Legio XI.

[Captain Blood]

Beautiful, Tilman 

I’ve just finished reading Adrian Goldsworthy’s novel ‘Vindolanda’.
I think he’s a better military historian than he is a novelist, although it’s not bad at all. (I have a funny feeling his plot is a blow for blow retread of a 7th cavalry novel I read years ago, the name of which escapes me, but which kept coming back to me as I was reading Vindolanda. Still, I suppose most novels of soldiers guarding wild frontiers include many of the same themes and sorts of episodes. Perhaps it was a North West Frontier novel I’m thinking of... I used to read a lot of those in my youth )

Anyway, I mention this because the learned Dr G managed to weave both auxiliary slingers and scorpions into his battle scenes. So it’s nice to see them both modelled so beautifully here, just a few hours after reading about them

[Tellus]

Both entries are excellent, again.

The idea of using one of the few non-combatants in Foundry's EIR range here was nicked from Tellus.

Until you mentioned it, I just thought, the supervising Optio was part of the unit pack  ... he fits in perfectly!

Now, as it seems that your reaching the finish line, with the romans - who will be at the pointy end? 

[Fremitus Borealis]

Beautiful, Tilman 

I’ve just finished reading Adrian Goldsworthy’s novel ‘Vindolanda’.
I think he’s a better military historian than he is a novelist, although it’s not bad at all. (I have a funny feeling his plot is a blow for blow retread of a 7th cavalry novel I read years ago, the name of which escapes me, but which kept coming back to me as I was reading Vindolanda. Still, I suppose most novels of soldiers guarding wild frontiers include many of the same themes and sorts of episodes. Perhaps it was a North West Frontier novel I’m thinking of... I used to read a lot of those in my youth )

Anyway, I mention this because the learned Dr G managed to weave both auxiliary slingers and scorpions into his battle scenes. So it’s nice to see them both modelled so beautifully here, just a few hours after reading about them

I have similar feelings about Goldsworthy's novels. His battle descriptions are nice, but the plot and dialog are a bit contrived... Almost like he just had to cook up some way to write about "the good stuff" 

[bluewillow]

Fabulous Tillman, you have inspired me to go back and complete my Legions for the Dacian wars, I under coated 300 28mm Foundry figs today, and will crack on in about four days after I have completed another 28 Gaulois.

Cheers
Matt

[Mad Doc Morris]

Thanks to one and all!

I’ve just finished reading Adrian Goldsworthy’s novel ‘Vindolanda’. I think he’s a better military historian than he is a novelist, although it’s not bad at all.

IMHO people with an academic interest very rarely make for good novelists. That's why I also gave up on Harry Sidebottom despite my soft spot for 3rd century Roman history. It often feels dry and too 'deliberate', lacking any kind of engaging narrative. On the other hand, like mentioned earlier, I don't care either for the 'grittiness' and bold historical analogies found in a lot of modern military fiction. Most likely, though, I'm just spoilt and couldn't do better myself. 

Now, as it seems that your reaching the finish line, with the romans - who will be at the pointy end?

Dangerous question.
First choice would be Germanic tribes, just haven't yet found a range I like. Close second are Dacians as I've got an interest in them since early youth (see Connolly's books above) and there's another Perry range at hand. Finally, the wars in Judaea are on the cards as well, if arguably not very interesting from a 'battle perspective'.
But I've still to paint a couple of Roman groups anyway…

Fabulous Tillman, you have inspired me to go back and complete my Legions for the Dacian wars, I under coated 300 28mm Foundry figs today, and will crack on in about four days after I have completed another 28 Gaulois.

Good Lord, that kind of output is well beyond my league! But I'm glad you found some incitement here.

[bluewillow]

I passed the 500 mark for painted 28mm last week for the year, I should complete 90 20mm British this week to make 200 20mm, then back to a commission then onto the Romans mixed in with medievals for some change

All the best

Cheers
Matt