Atheling's Thematic Byzantines- Kataphractoi *Close Ups Added* PAGE 6. 21-03-23

[Bravo Six]

Not my period, but AMAZING PAINTING has to be recognized nonetheless. Fantastic work Darrel. This is the kinda stuff you should be wowing us with over at the Society! 

[batu]

Love em!

[OB]

Love em!

Me too.  Great work in all respects.

[Major_Gilbear]

Absolutely beautiful, and the colours of the shields set the unit off perfectly! 

[Roo]

Stunning brushwork, so clean, as always in awe

[Tonhel]

Beautiful!

[Atheling]

Many thanks chaps- appreciated

Not my period, but AMAZING PAINTING has to be recognized nonetheless. Fantastic work Darrel. This is the kinda stuff you should be wowing us with over at the Society! 

As soon as I can find the time sir! 

Absolutely beautiful, and the colours of the shields set the unit off perfectly! 

Steve at Little Big Man Transfers will be very pleased to hear that the LBMS range of transfers for both shields and banners is excellent.

[Captain Harlock]

These are so magnificent that I have to post an Akritic song. The translation is ruining the feel but it’s enough to complete the picture

Young Kostantinos and brave Alexis
and the young Vlach who fought in castles
the three were eating and drinking
and sweetly singing all together,
and had their horses tied together to the same block of wood.
Kostantinos' horse ate iron, Alexis' horse ate rocks
and the young Vlach's horse could uproot trees.
As they were eating and drinking and singing sweetly together,
a little bird came and perched upon the block's right side.
It didn't sing like a bird or like a swallow,
it spoke with a human voice.
- Here you are, eating, drinking and sweetly singing,
while Saracen corsairs pillage behind your backs.
They've taken Kostantinos' children, Alexis' wife
and the girl who would wed the young Vlach.
[Before Kostantinos had saddled his horse,
before Alexis had mounted his,
the young Vlach was already galloping away.
- Hey, young Vlach, get down to the watchtower and take a look.
If you see fifty or a hundred men, dash down and slaughter them.
If you see more, come back and we'll go all together.
So he rode to the watchtower and took a look, gazing down upon the vastness.
He saw the plains red and the mountains blue
and was ashamed to go back and afraid to march forward.
- Steed of mine, will you swim through rivers of blood?
- Master, I will swim through rivers of blood.
He brought the whip down and they burst onto the plain.
Leaping down, he killed a thousand,
leaping back he slew two thousand more,
and when he made his final turn, there were no foes left alive.
He took back Costas' children and Alexis' wife
and the young Vlach's bride-to-be.]

[Atheling]

These are so magnificent that I have to post an Akritic song. The translation is ruining the feel but it’s enough to complete the picture

Young Kostantinos and brave Alexis
and the young Vlach who fought in castles
the three were eating and drinking
and sweetly singing all together,
and had their horses tied together to the same block of wood.
Kostantinos' horse ate iron, Alexis' horse ate rocks
and the young Vlach's horse could uproot trees.
As they were eating and drinking and singing sweetly together,
a little bird came and perched upon the block's right side.
It didn't sing like a bird or like a swallow,
it spoke with a human voice.
- Here you are, eating, drinking and sweetly singing,
while Saracen corsairs pillage behind your backs.
They've taken Kostantinos' children, Alexis' wife
and the girl who would wed the young Vlach.
[Before Kostantinos had saddled his horse,
before Alexis had mounted his,
the young Vlach was already galloping away.
- Hey, young Vlach, get down to the watchtower and take a look.
If you see fifty or a hundred men, dash down and slaughter them.
If you see more, come back and we'll go all together.
So he rode to the watchtower and took a look, gazing down upon the vastness.
He saw the plains red and the mountains blue
and was ashamed to go back and afraid to march forward.
- Steed of mine, will you swim through rivers of blood?
- Master, I will swim through rivers of blood.
He brought the whip down and they burst onto the plain.
Leaping down, he killed a thousand,
leaping back he slew two thousand more,
and when he made his final turn, there were no foes left alive.
He took back Costas' children and Alexis' wife
and the young Vlach's bride-to-be.]

Thank you so much Captain! I'm definitely speechless but definitely appreciative of your kind words too 

[Atheling]

Another addition to my (slowly) growing Thematic Byzantine army. This time the famous/infamous Varangian Guard.

For many more pictures and the usual discursive meanderings p-lease feel free to pop over to my Just Add Water Blog here:
http://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2023/02/thematic-byzantines-varangian-guard.html
As I say, you will find many more pictures including those of the individual bases- and some nice hem decor!

I noticed that all the shield armed models came open handed and with four poses available I wanted to have as much variation as possible. I chose to clip off some of the right hands and replace with different weapons as seen below:



Pics from more or less front on:



And from a slightly higher angle:



A couple of close ups/single bases:



Cheers

[Old Hob]

Cor, they're excellent. And as a very recent convert to free-handing hems I took your advice and visited the blog. Lots of beautifully executed ideas there which I may try and emulate at some future point (baby steps and all that). I also love how they're definitely Vikings but they still have a strong Byzantine vibe, which is a pretty impressive trick to pull off. Probably my favourite unit so far (but then I've always been a sucker for the adventures of Haraldr Sigurðarson).

[Atheling]

Cor, they're excellent.

Thanks Old Hob

And as a very recent convert to free-handing hems I took your advice and visited the blog. Lots of beautifully executed ideas there which I may try and emulate at some future point (baby steps and all that).

Give it a go, it's honestly just a matter of patience.

I also love how they're definitely Vikings but they still have a strong Byzantine vibe, which is a pretty impressive trick to pull off. Probably my favourite unit so far (but then I've always been a sucker for the adventures of Haraldr Sigurðarson).

The Varangians have a very specific romantic, if I may use that word when referring to warfare, image and are an extremely attractive prospect to paint up- mind, I'm glad they're done! 

[aircav]

 Cracking stuff Darrell 

[Atheling]

Cracking stuff Darrell 

Thanks matey

[LouieN]

Very nice conversions of the weapons.

The Mercs from the North look great