Dulce bellum inexpertis - Romans

Plodding along with progress on the Caesar's War project. The last two weekends have seen attention turn to the Romans.

While legionaries are plentiful, the light axillaries were looking a bit thin on the ground, as were extra command stands. The existing stocks were raided and extra command figures purchased. Sadly, the Freikorps 15 range which most of the existing Romans came from have been redesigned in many cases and the current website lacks pictures of the whole range. Rather than buy something blind, I had to hunt around to find who does suitable command figures.

There was not a lot of choice for Marian Romans. I ended up buying some of the Xyston figures as these had the correct standards if lacking in Centurions. While they are a bit larger than most, it was a case of make do.

I did find the last of the FK 15 Legionaries.

From the same range came slings and javelins (early unarmoured auxilia figures):

Some stray Minifigs Cretans were also enlisted:

Then the Legion command stands; each "Legion" will consist of a command stand, 4x stands of Legionaries, 1-2 x LI and possibly cavalry. So looking at available FK15 legion figures and existing command stands, another 5 command stands will give 8 Legions. With one eye on the Civil War, 2 were painted as "Pompeian" or "Optimates" and 3 as "Caesarian" or "Popoulares" using the schemes I had decided on long ago when raising 2x DBA armies; one in light purple and dark red/crimson the other in red, no doubt influenced by the maps in Terry Wise's  Battles for Wargamers.

So the Optimate faction:

And the Populares:

When time allows they will receive some ground work and basing.  There remains still some more bits to finish. Two more Legions need assembling from painted figures, there are more Germans and Celts to add as well as baggage / camps, villages, more trees to base, possibly ships and fortifications. Hopefully, leave in April will allow time to make a start on the actual campaign and battles.

Next weekend is Hammerhead. No doubt I shall bump into a few bloggers.

Progress report

 Perhaps not as simulating as a discussion on storage  options😎

 https://russetcoatcpt.blogspot.com/2026/02/fnurban-40-boxing-clever.html

Nevertheless, an update on what progress I've made since last post.

Remember  those Gallic cavalry?

Well after touch ups, repairs and basing they look like this:

Some individual shots.

The "buying other people's painted figures that look like mine, but might need work" project continues with the addition of some Germans, looking very similar to mine, although on 3-to-a-base loose order. The bases need a bit of TLC....

A bit of a "PB&J" post (as Stew would say), but aside from uninteresting views of cleaned up Roman command figures and some remnant Gauls and Romans awaiting priming and painting respectively, not a lot else has happened chez moi. 

A lot more terrain has been purchased as well as fortifications for those Romans and houses for the Celts, oh and some storage boxes......😎 mainly as due to all these additions I needed to expand. These are of the small craft or DIY bits boxes, with 40mm or wider compartments and some deeper toolbox types for those pesky pikes, lances and elephants.

More Gallic War or "what a lot of old Gauls!"

The "old Gauls" in question are another lot of painted Celts from eBay in a bit of a sad state - "preloved" is the modern term I believe...

They were in a bit of a state with broken weapons and the infantry having a figure broken at the ankles on each stand, with the odd figure a bit wobbly when re-bent upright. Out came the super glue gel and baking soda.

Some work in progress shots, cavalry first.

You can see the red broom bristles flattened at the end to make spears.

A broom bristle was also used to make the top part of a Carnyx horn, bent into an "L" shape and when the glue had dried liquid greenstuff was applied and roughly shaped to look like a Carnyx - it came out much better than I expected.

Some spears and one man waving half a sword were repaired with broom bristles, the sword blade being flattened and cut to shape.

Again liquid green stuff was applied, including providing a new hand. Here's the group shot after paint touch ups and a few tufts of static grass added.

Some close ups, the Carnyx horn came out very well.

The cavalry were repaired, loose figures stuck to bases and the odd touch up of paint. Since then, they have had base texture added and the light cavalry have had a black AP wash.

While hunting for something else, I found these (not where I expected them to be)....

Designed for 20mm, they are perfect for 15mm. The hillfort will make an excellent Oppidum and the Roman fort either a variation of Oppidum or large Roman camp.

Saturday started clear and sunny, despite the forecast, so I took advantage of the weather to undercoat some of the back-log with spray can - mostly Seleucids but a few Romans and Celts. Today I have cleaned up more Roman command stands, finished the Gallic infantry and made a start on basing the Gallic cavalry. A productive weekend!