Roman army Review

Although I've started lots of Roman armies in the past I can't pretend I've always been enthusiastic about them. This one is just about my most successful attempt to date.

The cavalry. Back row heavies with a unit of each of the three Garrison heavy cavalry figures. There is another cavalry figure I've got and will probably do a unit of those - the other unit either replaced or was replaced by the ones with plumed helmets. Front rank African light cavalry is a very useful figure - Moors, Numidian, Egyptian ... As far as 'needs' go the cavalry are complete but will almost certainly be expanded in future!

The right flank infantry are the most interesting troops a far as I am concerned. Front ranks velites with wolfskins - what's not to like, need more. Middle rank auxilia are cavalry conversions and are my favourite Roman LMI auxilia with pointy sticks.  Need more. Rear figures are Praetorians but I'm thinking that they might be useful as Late Republicans - not quite right but I can live with that. Need more. 

Centre and left flank. Garrison artillery not exactly the best engines but... Slingers next to them have been painted as Spanish, white tunics and black cloaks. I'll be putting them in the Carthaginian army eventually and paint up another unit for the Romans. Middle archers, very Airfix in style, and the rather stiff 'ordinary' Auxilia - won't be increasing either of these units, archers because I've got enough, others because I don't like the figure! At the back, marching legionary - my favourite legionary figure. Need at least one more unit (probably more than one) which has been cast (several years ago!)

REC3 Cavalryman half armour, spear and shield

 

Almost the last unit of cavalry. REC3.

Not really my favourite - don't think I'll be doing any more units of this figure.

Still,it completes collection of units.

Except for this figure. These lousy photos are of a couple of figures I've included on the Roman mould I've sent off to be made. They are Garrison - virtually the same pose and style as REC4. Helmet the same as REC2. Best guess? An original version of REC6 that was discontinued and replaced by the figure with the oval shield. At some stage a unit of these will be joining the army!

With this unit finished it's time to tidy up the painting area ready for the Christmas tree to go up, so no more painting until January. 

Auxilia from REC4...

The original idea was to use these for another cavalry squadron... then I thought 'actually, nice pose for an auxilia figure.'

So left foot bent forward, glued on a thin card base to make painting easier...

For me, it's a really good auxilia figure! Prefer it to RE14B, it's nearest equivalent in the original range!

Still to do - 24 figure unit of RE14A, couple more units of the Praetorians to act as late republic, possibly another unit of  RE6A, the marching legioary. Currently being painted unit of REC3, Cavalryman half armour, spear and shield.

RE14A Auxiliary light javelinman with shield, unarmoured (Velite)

 

For light infantry I'm just doing 12 figures per unit - a 24 strong cohort is just too much!

Admit to liking the figure even allowing for the historical inaccuracies!

Obviously a velite and so should be part of a legion - except legions in 60AD aren't supposed to have integral light infantry.

Well, they're my toys so I've painted the tunics red anyway!

From their armament I'm not sure they should be based as light infantry. Later on I might do a full 24 figure auxiliary unit of them as 4Ax. They're already historically inaccurate, might as well take it a step further.

REC5 African auxiliary cavalry with javelin and shield, unarmoured

 

No idea why this figure wasn't made slightly differently and put into service with the Carthaginian range but...

Nice figure though and this unit will act as the light cavalry component of my Garrison Romans.

And here's one I made earlier. Might try cutting away the quiver and shield detail to convert it into  a Carthaginian Numidian.

REC6 Roman cavalry and general

 

Slowly getting on with the Roman cavalry.

I'm treating these as Guard cavalry  - this element is the general in purple.

While this lot are from the unit.

The entire unit...

Not great photos I have to admit

Here's one I painted and photographed earlier. About 20 years earlier...

Officer

Standard bearer

And REC6 itself

And another one I painted earlier...

Most of the classical range horses don't have any markings on the base. This one does and is RECH6!

Roman auxiliary RE14B Unit

 

Ran out of paint for the bases so basing the figures will have to wait until the new paint arrives...

I don't have any specifically Auxiliary command figures so just picked out an officer and standard bearer that seemed reasonable.

At the moment I'm painting a couple of cavalry units and some LI in wolfskins.

Roman artillery

Firstly, let me say straight off that I don't like the Garrison ballista... which is why my Greek artillery all use RAFM. Likewise, I've also got some RAFM ballistae for the Romans, now I just need to cast some crew for them.

Completed as 2 stone throwers and 1 bolt thrower

I think it's fair to describe the Ballistae as 'crude'

To add a bit of variety I've included one crewman from the Greek range.

The far one includes the commander of the unit.

I've painted the two crew on the bolt thrower with empty hands a bit differently, again to add a bit of variety.