Manda’s (Amachan) Republican Roman Warband

Due to my developments in painting using oils and enamels I am going to redo this project. Yes, that means I am going to strip all that I have done for this warband so far. You may have already seen a couple of them show up on this project blog. The bases I am going to use are somewhat different and also magnetised. The basing itself is going to look different and this will just blend it all together as a single warband. The shields will stay the way they are as they are already done with the nice looking LBMS transfers. They will be brought up to date and blended in with the new paint style. The new paint style will be as follows:

Primer:

All miniatures will be primed with AK Interactive Primer and Microfiller Grey (AK758) unless stated otherwise. For the bronze and silver shields for their respective units will on the front be primed with Greenstuff World Gloss Primer Black (1743) and those that will be fitted with LBMS transfers will be primed with AK Interactive Primer and Microfiller White (AK759) on the front.

Shading:

The basic shading for all miniatures will be 2 coats of AK Interactive Streaking Grime (AK012) letting that dry to the touch and then removing the majority of it using mineral spirits and a woollen dauber and cotton buds.

Basing:

For the basing I will use a basic structure paste mixed with a bit of PVA glue and sand to form the structure. I will add logs, rocks and tufts in there and then prime the whole miniature with the base. I will then paint the tufts using my airbrush with AK Interactive Acrylic Colors Grass Green (AK11140). I will then paint the base and the rim with Vallejo Model Color Iraqui Sand (70.819).

Then for the rocks I will paint those with Vallejo Model Color Basalt Grey (70.869). Once dry I follow that up with a dry brush of Vallejo Model Color Medium Sea Grey (70.870) and then quickly without cleaning the brush with a drybrush of Vallejo Model Air White Grey (71.119).

The logs I will paint with Vallejo Model Color Mahogany Brown (70.846) and the broken off exposed bits with Vallejo Panzer Aces New Wood (70.311) and when dry I will drybrush them with Vallejo Panzer Aces Old Wood (70.310).

I will then add a bit of a flock mix with thinned out PVA with water on the base before varnishes. The varnishes will seal it to the base.

After the varnishes the second stage of weathering for the miniature will be a coat of AK Interactive Earth Effects (AK017) over the bottom of the miniature and the base with my airbrush. I will let that dry to the touch and then use cotton buds and no mineral spirits to remove the majority of it.

Once that is all set I will put a coat of AK Interactive Moss Deposits (AK676) on the rocks, logs, tufts and flock during the highlighting & detailing stage. I will let that dry to the touch and rub the majority off with cotton buds again.

And then as the final stage I will brush on a layer of Vallejo Pigments Desert Dust (73.121) on the bottom of the model and the base and then with a wet brush with just water remove the pigment that got on the flock and tufts. And I will also paint the rim with a fresh coat of Vallejo Model Color Iraqui Sand (70.819).

And this should be the result of that:

Skin:

The skin will be done with Scale 75 Scalecolor Golden Skin (SC-19) either by airbrush or brush depending on how much skin there is on the model. The skin will then get a bit of a highlight with Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Light Flesh Tone (ABT135) and a shade of Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Flesh Shadow (ABT215) if needed in the highlighting stage.

Metals:

For the metals I will paint bronze using Vallejo Model Color Bronze (70.998), Gold with Scale 75 Metal N’ Alchemy Elven Gold (SC-74), iron with Vallejo Metal Color Burnt Iron (77.721) and iron/steel plate armour with Scale Metal n’ Alchemy Thrash Metal (SC-64). After the varnishes go on the model I will add a second coat of these metallics to make them metallic again. Doing this if any of it chips it will just show a dull version of the paint.

And then when it comes to the highlighting & detailing stage I will highlight the bronze with AK Interactive True Metal Brass (AK460), the gold with AK Interactive True Metal Gold (AK450), iron with AK Interactive True Metal Iron (AK459) and the iron/steel plate armour with AK Interactive True Metal Steel (AK457).

Wood:

For the wood for spears I will use Vallejo Panzer Aces Old Wood (70.310) as that is a good representation of ash wood which is what they would most likely be made of. For the rest of the wood I will either choose or roll a D6 to pick one from the following list:

1-2 Vallejo Panzer Aces Old Wood (70.310)
3-4 Vallejo Model Color Mahogany Brown (70.846)
5-6 Vallejo Panzer Aces New Wood (70.311)

During the highlighting & detailing stage larger surfaces of wood will receive a coat AK Interactive Wash for Wood (AK263) with the excess wiped off with cotton buds once dry to the touch.

Leather:

Most belts and straps will be painted with Vallejo Panzer Aces Leather Belt (70.312) with Vallejo Panzer Aces Dark Rubber (70.306) being a secondary colour if there are a lot of belts and straps and I need to differentiate it a bit.

Other leather surfaces will be painted using either Vallejo Model Color Cavalry Brown (70.982) or Vallejo Model Color Red Leather (70.818) with the possibility of Vallejo Model Color Ivory (70.918) being used instead to represent painted leather.

Cloth/Dyes:

For any cloth, painted surfaces or other things using dyes I will use this chart to pick a colour from or I will let a D10 decide for me:

1 Vallejo Panzer Aces Stencil (70.313)
2 Vallejo Model Color Black Grey (70.862)
3 Vallejo Model Color German Cam. Med. Brown (70.826)
4 Scale 75 Fantasy & Games Goblin Flesh (SFG-24)
5 Vallejo Model Air Duck Egg Green (71.009)
6 Vallejo Model Color Yellow Ochre (70.913)
7 Scale 75 Scalecolor Sol Yellow (SC-40)
8 Vallejo Model Color Amaranth Red (70.829)
9 Scale 75 Scalecolor Cantabric Blue (SC-53)
10 Vallejo Model Color Flat Red (70.957)

Any natural undyed linen or wool will be painted using Vallejo Panzer Aces Stencil (70.313). Other colours may be used on special occasions like on characters, heroes or special units. Any cloth might get a highlight during the highlighting & detailing stage using an oil paint representing a similar and/or lighter colour.

Horses:

If I don’t have a specific colour in mind for the horse I will use the following chart to determine the colour of the horse:

1-2-3 Bay
4-5-6 Leopard
7 Tobiano (Brown)
8 Tobiano (Black)
9 Black
10 Chestnut

Horses will painted in the fur stage using oils according to the following schemes:

Bay
Fur: 3 Parts Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Dark Brick Red (ABT220) + 1 Part AK Interactive ABT 502 Oils Ivory Black (AKABT110)
Manes/Legs/Snout: Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Smoke (ABT005)

Leopard
Fur Black: Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Smoke (ABT005)
Fur White: AK Interactive ABT 502 Oils Titanium White/Snow White (AKABT001)
Snout: Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Light Flesh Tone (ABT135)

Tobiano (Brown)
Fur Brown: 1 Part Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Dark Brick Red (ABT220) + 1 Part Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Sand Brown (ABT245)
Fur White: AK Interactive ABT 502 Oils Titanium White/Snow White (AKABT001)
Snout: Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Smoke (ABT005)

Tobiano (Black)
Fur Black: Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Smoke (ABT005)
Fur White: AK Interactive ABT 502 Oils Titanium White/Snow White (AKABT001)
Snout: Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Smoke (ABT005)

Black
Fur Black: Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Smoke (ABT005)
Fur White: AK Interactive ABT 502 Oils Titanium White/Snow White (AKABT001)
Snout: Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Light Flesh Tone (ABT135)

Chestnut
Fur Brown: Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Sand Brown (ABT245)
Fur White: AK Interactive ABT 502 Oils Titanium White/Snow White (AKABT001)
Snout: Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Color Smoke (ABT005)

Bone & Hooves

Any bone and hooves will be painted using Vallejo Model Color Ivory (70.918) and receive a coat of Vallejo Game Color Sepia Shade (73.200) during the acrylic stage. During the highlighting & detailing stage they might get a highlight of Abteilung 502 Modelling Oil Buff (ABT035).

This is my work order on how I get through all the miniatures. Things need to dry/cure between each stage and that is why they’re split up.

Stage 1: Assembly.
Prep the base, seal the bottom of the MDF, drill a hole and glue a magnet in. Assemble the miniature and attach it the base, in formation if need be. And finally add my basing paste and any scenic bits I want in there.

Multi based models will only be assembled in sub-assemblies as in animal, rider and shield or any other forms needed.

Stage 2: Primer.
Apply a coat of primer with my airbrush.

Stage 3: Furs.
Any furs that need to be done with oil paints.

Stage 4: Acrylics.
All the acrylic basecoats to bring colour to the miniature.

Stage 5a: Assembly 2
Glue any shields to the model and attach riders to horses. And also apply a little bit of flock to the base.

Stage 5b: Multi Based Model Assembly
Glue the models to the base and then add my basing paste and details to the base. Prime the base by hand and then paint it like in the Acrylics stage.

Stage 6a: (Metal Miniatures Only) Gloss Coat.
Apply a coat of gloss varnish.

Stage 6b: Matte Coat.
Apply a coat of matte varnish.

Stage 7: Shading Part 1.
Apply the first coat of weathering and remove excess using mineral spirits when dry.

Stage 8: Shading Part 2.
Apply the second coat of weathering to the base and the bottom of the miniature and remove excess without mineral spirits when dry.

Stage 9: Highlighting & Detailing.
All the highlighting and detailing work with oils and enamels to enhance the miniature.

Stage 10: Final Touches.
A coat of pigment over the base and the legs of the miniature and then any blood, water or other effects that need to be added.

I love the satisfaction of getting a block of 28mm infantry lined up on 20mm square bases. This is a group of Leves (not Velites) which will be used as levies for my Republican Roman warband for Saga: Age of Hannibal.

I have also reversed my original basing idea for SAGA and now kind of use a different basing scheme that I am going to try to use across various historical or fantasy project. It should be in line with the Kings of War single miniature basing scheme with some variations where needed.

Don’t expect regular updates on this project yet, I have still got plenty that I want to get done first.

I have been struggling with massive disabilities causing me to not be able to paint or build miniatures. The major disabilities limiting my hobby are tremors in my right hand making it very unstable and lots of pain in my left which I was learning to paint with. I am getting physiotherapy to try and help me cope with the disabilities, but I am not sure it is going to solve anything. I do not know if I will be able to return to miniature painting and such and for now I am starting a new project involving LEGO, something I can do with my disabilities.

I decided that for my republican Romans I wanted different scuta (shields). All transfers available for the Aventine Miniatures scuta were all of the same design, on one sheet at least. But the some sheets of the transfers for the Victrix scuta had more variety, so I bought a couple of scuta and transfers from them. I also really like the transfers on the bottom scuta for my Hastati, they are basically the younger guys who do not have the funds to get their scuta professionally designed, so they did it themselves. I think the varied scuta is definitely a better representation of the Roman army during the Pyrrhic war, on which my SAGA: Age of Hannibal warband is set. Any exposed white areas will obviously be hidden when they go on the models and get shaded.

Don’t worry, the older scuta will make excellent fatigue markers.

This is my Tribune as an alternate warlord option for my republican Roman warband for SAGA: Age of Hannibal.

Here are my 12 Leves for SAGA: Age of Hannibal. They will be levies armed with javelins in my republican Roman warband.

These are my Eques for SAGA: Age of Hannibal. They will be warriors on horseback in my republican Roman warband.

As I started painting the horses for the Roman Eques I quickly realized that my painting technique has changed somewhat since I did the Order of Heimdallr. Therefore I started experimenting with a new paint scheme based on the old one, but one that fits in with my newer techniques. So this is my renewed horse paint scheme.

Horses come in a variety of colours and during my Order of Heimdallr project I did some research as to what different kinds of horses where common in Scandinavia. It so happens that this research also includes data from around the 3rd century BC, so I am using the same data source as before. You can find it below.

I will be using the same die chart as listed below in the Colour Scheme.

• 1-2-3 Bay
• 4-5-6 Tobiano
• 7-8 Black
• 9-10 Leopard

Some Basics.

Hooves

For the hooves on all horses I will use a base of Vallejo Game Color Bonewhite (72.034) shaded with Vallejo Game Color Sepia Shade (73.200).

Nose

Unless specified differently, I will use a 50/50 mix of Vallejo Glaze Medium (70.596) & Vallejo Model Color Black Grey (70.862) to do the noses of all horses.

The Horses

Bay

I will start with a basecoat Vallejo Model Color Red Leather (70.818) and I will then paint the manes, tail and bottom half of their legs with Vallejo Model Color Black Grey (70.862). I will paint a stripy bit on the front of their heads using Vallejo Model Air White Grey (71.119).

Leopard

I will start with a base coat of Vallejo Model Air White Grey (71.119) and then apply dots in various sizes and locations using Vallejo Model Color Black Grey (70.862). For the nose on these I will use a 50/50 mix of Vallejo Glaze Medium (70.596) & Vallejo Game Color Cadnium Skin (72.099) as opposed to the regular scheme. And for the manes and tail I will then use a coat of Vallejo Model Air Aged White (71.132).

Tobiano

The Tobiano will come into 2 variants, but remain mainly the same. I will list the difference when it comes to it. I will start with a base coat of Vallejo Model Air White Grey (71.119) and then I will paint on a pattern. For this I will roll a D6 and on a 1-2-3 it will be the brown variant for which I will use Vallejo Model Color Red Leather (70.818) for the pattern and if it rolls a 4-5-6 I will use Vallejo Model Color Black Grey (70.862) as the pattern for the black variant. I will paint the manes where it meets the body and the tail will be split between the base colour and the pattern colour. I will paint a stripy bit on the front of their heads using Vallejo Model Air White Grey (71.119).

Black

Probably the simplest of all. I will start with a basecoat of Vallejo Model Color Black Grey (70.862) and paint a stripy or spot on the front of their heads using Vallejo Model Air White Grey (71.119).

The Rest

I will then paint the tack and hooves in the appropriate colours, apart from the metal bits. I will put a drybrush of Vallejo Model Color Ivory (70.918) over the whole model. I will then paint the metal bits according to the Colour Scheme set before. The horse will then be shaded by a 50/50 mix of Vallejo Glaze Medium (70.596) & Citadel Shade Agrax Earthshade (99189953018) and the other bits will be shaded according to the Colour Scheme set before.

I will paint the eyes at the end with a simple coat of Vallejo Game Color Black (72.051) and then a coat of gloss varnish after the model has been finished.

The riders will be painted separately according to the Colour Scheme set before.