Hannibal and the Enemies of Republican Rome

[Corso]

Many years ago, when I was 13 years old, I found a book in a secluded library of a school. That book was Hannibal and the Enemies of Rome by Peter Connolly. I was entirely fascinated by that book, in a time when I didn’t have a computer and the internet was something I couldn’t have fathomed it would ever exist.

At that time, I used to do helmets and shields out of cardboard while imagining myself one of the Etruscans under Lars Porsena marching on Rome or one of Hannibal’s men crossing the Alps. There weren’t any  28mm historical miniatures available in shops here at that time. I could only imagine.

Time passed, and two years ago, a friend of mine sent me a link of Victrix. I was intrigued by their models and shield designs. Later I did a Republican Roman force while waiting for their enemies - which maybe I'll show in another thread, though they do need some details added. Last year Victrix released the carthaginian kits and though I bought them, but I dithered a lot on them, hardly doing any.

When Victrix announced the Samnites releases, I was ecstatic – they seemed to have jumped out of Connolly’s book (I have Greece and Rome at War by the same authour which includes artwork and information taken from his Hannibal book – though every now and then I still barrow the original book from the library – it has a sort of ‘feeling’).

The new armoured samnites arrived last Saturday, and immediately started doing some of them. The kit is very detailed, though personally I would have like more helmets like the phrygio-attic (6 out of the 4 helmets are the same from their Roman Italian Allies kit) and the trumpet arm needs conversion because it’s odd – I guess it should have been mirror imaged to be on the left instead of the right. Only 2 sheets of shield designs have been released so far, though another 2 should be released soon. All in all, a good kit which I recommend to all enthusiast modellers of this period.

The first one I did is this. No conversion work was needed. He is the unit leader and I painted the trim of the tunic with flame-like designs whilst trying to keep a steady hand! I find that a white undercoat is best, and use Ceramite White – not spray, too much humidity here. The model isn’t based yet, because I base them on multi-bases unless skirmishers, which in that case models are based individually.

More Samnites on the work bench...............

[Emir of Askaristan]

Excellent figure, looking forward to seeing more from you.

I'm also a Connolly fan and just bought a few of his books from Amazon just so I can have the books which inspired me so many years ago.

[FierceKitty]

Connoly's work on ancients is a boon to fantasy players everywhere.

[Corso]

Cheers guys.

Added a second Samnite, this time a standard bearer.

[Emir of Askaristan]

Nice skin tone and the bronze looks well burnished!

[Corso]

Nice skin tone and the bronze looks well burnished!

Thanks Emir!

I use GW paints, mainly because they're the ones available at my local store but also because I find them very good - the only colour I really find unsatisfactory is Runefang Steel - I still treasure a pot of the old Mithril Silver. A friend of mine suggested diluting a bit of Lahmian Medium with Runefang Steel, but have yet to try it.

A trio of Samnites ready, another three nearly ready since I have to change a shield because I didn't like the way it turned out, but plenty of spares.....

[Corso]

Samnites finished! Waiting for the promised new shield decals.............

The basing is brownish grass from 4G - very good for Mediterranean grass scorched by the sun.

[Emir of Askaristan]

Looking good. Great job on the shields too.

[James Morris]

Lovely stuff! I too was transfixed by Connolly's books when I was a kid - an unusual level of detail and gore for children's books of the era! I am about to go back to work on some Victrix republican Romans and Connolly's 'The Roman Army' is my top visual reference 😀

[Corso]

@Emir - Thanks! The shields are from LBMS though I'm still waiting for the promised 2 extra transfer shields before doing more samnites.

@James - looking forward to see your republican Romans.

[Corso]

Finished a Samnite command stand. Used the new gw paint Fulgurite Copper - really liked its effect.

[fantail]

Very nice. Any advice on applying the shield transfer to Aspides. Yours look great.

[Corso]

Hi Fantail, they are a bit difficult and after doing 100+ models I'm beginning to do them right!
1) Basically cut around it and remove the protective film,
2) Position the design as centrally as possible
3) Press the design, especially the outer sides
4) Dab some water and wait 20-30sec
5) Remove the paper on which the design was
6) Use kitchen paper and gently press again, especially the sides.

Hope this helps!

[fantail]

Cheers for that. 

[Corso]

Finished another unit of Samnites