House of Oscarus...humble beginnings. (Pontus fight, last page!)

[Little Odo]

Very nice conversions and great paint jobs. I too have neither the eyes nor hands for getting decent three-stage shading going so I too rely on "The Dip" method - you however have achieved a far better result than I ever could with it - Nice work.

[Elbows]

Some new recruits...actually have four of the five new Paul Hicks gladiators nearly complete.  One complete Hoplomachus and a Secutor without shield have been based (my plastic box of Romans arrived today so I'll have shields for everyone by this evening).

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Hoplomachus.  Having now painted most of the Brigade Games/Paul Hicks gladiators, I'd say I like the poses better, but the details are not quite as crisp as some of the Wargames Foundry ones I've painted.  They're still a joy to paint, but seem a little more tricky in some cases.

The pictures of the Hoplomachus show some greying due to anti-shine which was applied during a humid morning.  It's less noticeable using them on a tabletop, so it's not a big concern.  Note that the Hoplomachus figure does not come with a spear nor a small sword, both which have been added.  After reading several Gladiator books I'm going with the idea that a Hoplomachus would have thrown his spear/javelin and then engaged with his sword.  Both are plastic weapons from various sprues I had laying around.

The Secutor is nice, but I wish I had straightened his ankles a bit.  Perhaps an added shield will balance the model, as he seems far too "leany".  Overall, very happy with them except for the Myrmillo (details later when he's posted).  The Thraex is my favorite so far (posting him when he's done later!)

[Whitwort Stormbringer]

Nice work!  Those new Paul Hicks minis do look like they fit side-by-side with the Foundry models pretty well, which is good seeing as I'm looking to get some of both!

[Dr Mathias]

I think you're being too critical of your paintjobs, they look good.

Something painted by a medium level painter is far better than the unpainted figures the 'better' painter has collecting dust

[Elbows]

It's funny you say that...because of one of my gaming groups, I'm the only person to ever have things painted...in any form of completion.  More pictures coming in a bit on the remaining figures.  I think I'll go paint the Provocator now.

[Captain Blood]

Something painted by a medium level painter is far better than the unpainted figures the 'better' painter has collecting dust

Too true.
They look absolutely fine. Looking forward to seeing the complete collection. There are an awful lot of 28mm gladiators out there, so knowing when to stop might be the problem! 

[bandit86]

Never enough.

[cram]

Nice work! I think they have come out well.

Its good to see they fit in well size wise with the Foundry ones.

[Elbows]

Some more.  The secutor is my favourite model (love the look).  The Thraex is also quite an excellent sculpt.  The Myrmillo is rather poor.  The sword arm is at a weird angle, and he comes with midget feet.  Also holding his shield at a rather shallow non-fighting angle.  It doesn't help he ended up with a "meh" paint scheme and paintjob.  Either way he'll see service and have his blood properly spilt.

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The Provocator is drying from his dip bath...will be flattened and based tonight for a total of 10.  The Laquearius got a half-arse repaint on his flesh (using a better tone).  The model may need a bit more work though.  Overall, 10 gladiators, all the models I have, covering most of the common types.  The next Paul Hicks set flush out the ten most common types.  Been reading several Gladiator books lately, and learning quite a bit.

[Whitwort Stormbringer]

Looking good!  Maybe the troubles with the Myrmillo could be fixed with a bit of bending of both arms?  Seems like a bend at the elbow on the shield arm, or just shifting the whole arm more forward, would put him in more of a combat pose, and then bending the sword arm at the wrist to have the sword lowered a tad would make him appear at the ready.

[Furt]

I think these look great mate. Your ludus is near done!

I personally like the murmillo's stance myself - without seeing him in the flesh.

It looks like he is probably in no imminent danger and closing ground with an opponent.

[Elbows]

Possibly.  I didn't mess with it, because I don't care too much - also my sword arm had a chunk of metal missing from where the palm of the hand would be...so any bending/flexing near the wrist/sword would have broken the hand off.  I'd just say of the five minis, he's my least favorite (and simply isn't as nice as the others in my opinion).

Only other complaint on the Brigade Games gladiators is that the swords are not very well sculpted.  The secutor's is not much more than a rod really.  The Thraex's is nice, the Hoplomachus doesn't come with any, and the Provocator's is "decent" but the secutor and myrmillo's swords are "meh".  I debated chopped them and replacing them with some plastic gladius I have laying around, but I didn't bother.   (lazy and all that).

I'd give the box of five gladiators an 8/10 (ignoring the poorly cast shields which have been fixed).

PS: Furt, the Myrmillo grew on me a little bit when he was finished, and I don't "mind" him.  His helmet is the nicest bit.  These guys'll see some BOTS action here in the next few days whenever my buddy breaks free of his pesky wife.  Dice, sheets and minis are ready.  Next step...start on the Playmobil arena project.

[Furt]

PS: Furt, the Myrmillo grew on me a little bit when he was finished, and I don't "mind" him.  His helmet is the nicest bit.  These guys'll see some BOTS action here in the next few days whenever my buddy breaks free of his pesky wife.  Dice, sheets and minis are ready.  Next step...start on the Playmobil arena project.

Great news - looking forward to an AAR. And as for the pesky wife - gladiatrix. 

[Elbows]

She's one of those who puts up with geeking out and gaming with a form of mild disdain...but she at least is disinterested enough to let him disappear for an hour or two every six months...I may try to get my brother to hop over and try it after we figure it out.  He's not a gamer and glazed over when I tried to rope him into a game earlier.  Perhaps I can win him over with new shiny dice and more miniatures.

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Nice paintjob, Elbows, well done. Ordered Brigade stuff already, looking forward to it.