Gangs of Rome Project

[Furt]

Thanks gents - I'm running out of storage space! 

[Freddy]

It looks really cool!

[Furt]

This is the third wine shop (thermopolium) I have done for my Gangs of Rome table. As I've stated before, these types of tabernae would have been as prevalent as they are in a modern city and I could imagine citizens having their favourite places to drink or eat on every street. I think there would be an abundance of thermopolia as Plebeian Romans had no means of cooking in their own home and so relied on places like this on a daily basis.

The building I used for the thermopolium is another of Sarissa's Lower Rank Insula Corner kits. I like these particular kits because you can do something interesting with the bare wall around the corner from the shop front. I did some "renovations" on this build by making a second opening to the wine shop by simply dremmelling out a hole in the blank wall. I also added a drinking fountain on the corner's gutter out of blue foam and some beads. It was high time to prove to myself that I still have some scratchbuilding skills what with all this MDF I've been working with. I filled the fountain with some clear resin after making sure the basin was watertight.

I'm not sure about the bull mosaic and so have made it removable. The last image shows the wine shop without the mosaic and I'd like to hear what people think of it.

[Muzfish4]

Looks terrific and the bull mosaic is, for mine, a winner.

[Lost Egg]

Looks great and I actually like the bull mosaic in place, the wall seems kinda bare without it.

[ithoriel]

Love the whole thing and agree the bull mosaic deserves to stay. In a world where literacy is far from universal signs matter.

"Where are we meeting?"

"Cornelia Faustina's caupona."

"I don't know it, which one?"

"The thermopolium with the mosaic of the bull outside"

[OSHIROmodels]

Cracking on there mate, love it 

As to storage; build first, think about it later. It's worked for me 

[Shark in Exile]

Fantastic project and I agree the wall looks blank without the bull mosaic so I vote it stays 

[Poiter50]

Keep it, Keep it!! 

[rumacara]

Briliant work mate.
Time for a group photo?

[Furt]

Thanks all for the comments and thoughts.

The mosaics on exterior walls are likely unhistorical but the buildings do need something to break up the monotony of the limited palette I am using. I am planning to add some graffiti at some point but figure it will be either too small to read or gigantic like some examples from Pompeii or The Life of Brian.

As to storage; build first, think about it later. It's worked for me 

Unfortunately I have already taken your advice here James to the detriment of my wife. 

Briliant work mate.
Time for a group photo?

Thanks Rui and yes a group shot is well overdue mate but I am still waiting on a decent mat to display them on.

I'm about a third through the planned buildings at this stage. 

[Furt]

The next Gangs of Rome building is this nondescript property known locally as the House of the Pomegranate, an upscale lupanar, or brothel. My inspiration for this was from the scene when Titus Pullo takes Octavian to the brothel in HBO's Rome. The House of the Pomegranate is one of Sarissa's Semi-Detached Small with Flat Roof kits and it was a nice change to not have do add any pan-tiles to this one. At a later time I may detail the open roof area with some couches and plants.

The front room of the lupanar has a large wall mosaic of Venus. Roman brothels are well documented for their highly "descriptive" wall murals but I need to keep this pretty tame as the table will be displayed to the public and players may include kids. I also used a rug that was simply printed and cut out from normal printer paper.

[OSHIROmodels]

Unfortunately I have already taken your advice here James to the detriment of my wife. 

Good man, long may it continue 

(I see it certainly is  )

[PanzerKaput]

I so love this project and every time you add to it, it just get even better.

[Mesh]

Absolutely fantastic project, Rome really comes to life with those buildings! If I ever again doubt the potential of mdf buildings i need to come and revisit this one