More of Harry's Gauls

Came across a load more Gauls from Harry I hadn't rebased yet. Just realised that the chariot is the same one I used when I did my Gallic chariots - hadn't noticed it before!

Firstly, a load of cavalry. Hadn't realized they were there - knew there was a load more infantry still to do, thought all the cavalry I got were Minifigs. This unit just about brings the historical Gauls/Galatians up to their full complement! Need a load more Ancient Brit light cavalry though.

I've also based a unit of Gallic archers. This is the second unit and completes the Gallic archery force.

I've still got enough figures around to make up  another unit or so of  regular LMI  and still have a lot more needed on top of that!

Might leave the Dacians/Sarmatians for a bit and cast up some chariots. Or a couple more units of  Dacian archers...

Gallic armies Review

 I've been working on several armies recently and building up numbers withour really thinking about where I am... So intend to do a number of what are really interim Reviews over the next few days - should settle what I still need to do.  Starting with the Gauls. Worth remembering this isn't just one army - it includes Gauls, Ancient Brits, Galations, Fantasy and assorted Celts fighting for Carthage...

The basic army as it stands. In general terms, there's the fantasy element on the right, Ancient Brits on the left, Galations back centre, and 'standard' LMI Warband figures all over.

A few more chariots would be nice, so I thought I'd include a picture with my Minifigs chariot force... not sure how many more chariots I'll add, at least six more planned.Looking at this picture, could aim for for another 14-15 though...  As for cavalry - generic army could do with at least one  unit of HC, ie standard bare chested figure with bronze cuirass  painted on...

This is the 'fantasy' flank - infantry and cavalry wearing bison headdresses. No idea how this lot will develop.

Galations at the back. Probably need another 100+ infantry.

Ancient Brits, light cavalry, slingers and LMI infantry. I need at least one more LC unit plus chariots... and got 24 slingers in an army that can take up to 150... Probably settle for another 24?

Quick look at the army from a different viewpoint. Chariots in front, second row cavalry, then light infantry and finally the bulk 'line' infantry units. The only reason I can justify saying it's about half finished is by saying it represents at least four different armies plus mercenaries for a couple of others! Think I still need more light infantry... perhaps a unit each of archers and javelinmen as well as whatever I do with the Ancient Brits.

Quick update on Sarmatians - gather from Pete the latest mould has been made and will soon be with me...

Latest Celtic warband

For this unit I've painted 9 bases to give a 27 man unit rather than my normal 24 figure unit.

This means I can combine 2 units to make a 48 figure warband without having two command groups. Warbands tend to be impulsive; the command group here seems to be having trouble holding the unit back - those warriors are really champing at the bit...

I've now got a reasonably diverse range of figures available including some swordsmen.

Command group - officer is converted from the standard bearer and includes a dismounted cavalry figure.

The use of paint pens really makes a difference when painting colourful cloaks...

... and shields.

Gallic Noble chariots

First unit completed - should give me a good general figure if nothing else!

I admit I'm quite pleased with the result.

I'll probably do at least two more units as line rather than Noble.

I've used the GA1 Mounted General horse for these - will probably use the 'standard' cavalry horse for future 'line' chariots, as well as using bronze rather than brass for the brightwork.

Comparison between the new unit with my original test figure. Current one far superior in all ways so the original will be quietly retired.

More Gallic cavalry

This lot means I've now got three Gallic cavalry units. Again, I've made good use of paint pens for the shields and cloaks.

I'm probably going to do one more unit, the next lot being armoured. That will be simply achieved by painting the torso bronze...

Finally, a command group I should have painted earlier! This means my Dacian light cavalry can double up as Ancient British light cavalry.

New moulds RY155 and RY156

This one fills in a few gaps in the classical Roman Range.

 

Mostly an attempt to expand the Gauls by giving them a few swordsmen as well as upgrading the cavalry moulds. Not 100% successful - some of the conversions didn't survive the mould making.

Haven't a clue what happened to the colours on this photo - the blues seem to have gottten lost somewhere. It's a royal blue tablecloth for instance! Meanwhile gives an idea of the 'new' figures - they'll really need another mould.

A Gallic chariot

 

Well, of course I was going to look at making chariots for the Gauls...

I literally used things that were just lying around! The chariot sits a bit high off the ground, any future ones I'll probably use smaller wheels - possibly Rose 20mm artillery wheels. On this particular chariot body the axle is a bit further back than I like.

Size comparison with the Airfix chariot.

Construction... for the sides I just used a couple of pieces from an Airfix chariot. I'm not sure what the body of the chariot was from - either Khmer or possibly the 28mm AG/AB Range of  Celts. Could even finish up making future chariot bodies totally from scratch.

GAC1 Cavalryman with spear and shield and cloak unarmoured

 

GAC1 Cavalry figure with a GA1 Mounted general/officer/noble in command and converted standard bearer.

At some stage I'll do another of these units, possibly including some figures converted to swordsmen.

Not often that I go for a back view, but the use of paint pens makes a big difference on how I do cloaks (and shields!)

I would expect to do at least one other unit based on this figure, possibly including some sword wielding conversions. This figure also makes a good infantry conversion, again probably including swordsmen conversions.

Gallic (Hykranian?) cavalry

Based on GAC4, Cavalry standard bearer, this lot would make nice fantasy cavalry! 

 

The cavalry are simple conversions - officer is the standard bearer with the standard cut down and hammered into a sword, the other ranks just had the top of the standard cut away and the end hammered and cut into a spear point.

The standard bearer can also be simply converted into infantry giving useful variations for the infantry with 'horned head dress'

Last Gallic warband based

 

Or, at least the figures I got from Harry. 

It was short a few figures including a standard bearer - about six figures all together.

I'm currently going through the cavalry - one unit nearly finished, another cast but hasn't been undercoated yet. Realistically about five cavalry units needed, plus perhaps another unit of light javelins and 150 or so warband infantry - half Gallic, half Galation!

The Galations

 

When I was going through the figures some of the GA4 spearmen were painted slightly differently to the rest. Naturally, I thought 'OK, make them medium rather that light medium infantry and call them mercenary spearmen from beyond the Alps'.

Then I thought 'why not do all the spearmen on MI bases and call them Galations?' 

So I now have 80 Galation spearmen... which really means I don't have enough of either the LMI or MI for full armies, which means I probably need a load more figure...

Incidentally, the lack of swordsmen in the range bothers me. I've looked at the various figures and this figure looks like the one that works best as a swordsman. So need to do some of them as well...

Gallic light javelins

 First, quick reminder of what day it is. We owe a lot of servicemen and it's only right to make a big thing of it. Thank you.

Simple conversion of GAC2 - Cavalryman with javelin and shield, unarmoured. Left foot bent forwards and stuck on a base... I can live with the thin legs.

I'll probably 'need' a couple more of these units as well as a couple of units of them as light cavalry. Paint pens are a major boon when it comes to doing the cloaks and shields!

Slings and Arrows...

GA8, Infantry with bow unarmoured (plus GA3 officer!). A few of these were mixed in with the warband units so I've painted up some extras and made a unit of them.

I did convert this figure into Scythians, then decided it was just as good using them as is and letting paint mask the differences!. Seems to work OK.

Next lot are an unintended conversion. GA4, Infantry spear and shield. Except on a lot of them the tops of the spears kept breaking...

As the result reminded me of a sling, and as there wasn't a slinger in the range, bit of green stuff to bulk out the bottom of the spear shaft... I now have two 12 strong units of slingers...

Comparison between the original and the conversion. It works well and, if used for Ancient Brits, one I'll probably finish up making more of...

Garrison Gauls 2 - current!

 

I've finished basing a load of Gauls for the Carthaginian army. This lot are the standard run of the mill Gallic infantry. At some stage might do some more of these.

This lot with the buffalo head dresses could act as an elite unit or a bunch of fanatics.

I've also cast and painted the rest of the range. This one is GA1, Mounted general/noble/officer.

GA2, Armoured standard bearer.

GAC1, Cavalryman with spear and shield and cloak, unarmoured.

GAC2, Cavalryman with javelin and shield, unarmoured. May convert this to a light infantry figure by turning the left foot forward and putting it on an infantry base...

GAC4 Cavalry standard bearer. I did do one of these as an infantry standard bearer for the buffalo horned head dress figures!

It looks like this!

Another horned head dress standard bearer - in this case by giving GA7  a standard. Prefer the  GAC4 version!

Still painting a few archers to give a light infantry archer unit, plus will probably base some  GA4 as MI  and call them mercenaries from beyond the Alps! Could do a cavalry unit or two.

Though... I am still working on Romans and possible Spanish 'conversions'.