Progress - Celtic muster

This week I managed to get some more Celts done - some were with Contrast Paint on white or grey and some black undercoat with normal acrylics - I had to resort to the home made wet palette for these as the paint was drying too quickly due to the heat.

The aim was to try and make sure they all looked the same, so some of the black undercoat figures had Army Painter washes over the first coat of acrylic followed by highlights / touch up. After a coat of quick drying acrylic gloss varnish, most got based.

The Minifigs went on loose order bases as they are waving arms about - all mu other Minifigs are on loose order bases so it made sense to continue.

The Freikorps 15 were all based on close order bases, in some cases a challenge due to poses and weapons. They do look suitably wild and will represent better quality warbands.

Most are plain colours but some got fancy cloaks.

The figures were mostly eBay purchases in different lots; as figures turned up they were cleaned and primed and stuck in a box and painted in lots, some using Contrast Paints, others black and layers. The FK15 grew and I was unsure what would be light javelins. As it turned out, I had enough to move all but one with a small shield to the lights. Some more Minifigs light infantry also appeared.

As mentioned, I have moved to the idea of Strength & Honour - here you have a base representing a Legion or a warband. I've gone for 2/3 size (80mm v 120mm) to fit on the small table and decided on a warband being 6 x DBA elements - I will have to make some sabot bases and magnets eventually. So two bases wide and three deep.

Skirmishers can either be formed units or used to support other units.

Light infantry could be 6x bases but 4 is probably more practical. Cavalry will be 4x bases due to the deeper bases, so 4x 3 for 12 or 4x2 for 8 LC. At least that's the plan.....

When time allows I will have to mix up some basing gunk. In the meantime I have enough painted Essex for another close order warband and some "odds and sods" for either command stands or to make up another loose order warband. That would give 6x close order warbands and 14-15 loose order warbands. I'm tempted to add more close order - I have the figures - but am trying to finish the remaining Celts and Germans. A few of the latter have had some Contrast Paint splashed on them and are awaiting an Army painter wash.

While it may seem like overkill, I have no idea how big the forces will be generated by the campaign. I have been tying the game strength points to numbers of units. This gives the Celtae and Belgae a theoretical maximum of 18 units each. With the Aquitani (4 units) that's a whopping 40 units! Anything that big would have to transfer to the dining table just to fit them on.....