Carthaginian

[General Bt Sherman]

Please add my vote to all the Carthaginian stuff.

Thanks

[Techno]

Just about to make a start on the Vets and the Libyan spearmen chaps.
Pics to come as soon as there's something to see.
Cheers - Phil.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Woot! 

[Techno]

Right chaps.
Quick question (s) re the Vets and the Libyan Javelins !
In reality, how long would the veterans' spears have been ? And....
Would I be right in assuming that the javelins for the Libyans would have been around 6 feet long ?

The figures themselves are just about done, apart from those items.

Ta - Phil.

[Techno]

Right then chaps.
Still some cleaning/finishing and tweaking to do, but can I just ask if the shields look about the right size ?
I'm assuming that the shield on the 'vet' on the left needs widening fractionally with a 'rim', so it looks similar to the one next to it ??
Does the round shield 'blue takd' on to the Libyan look about right, size wise ?
I've been mucking about with these shields for what seems like forever now !

Lemmey's answered the question above...so that's sorted.




Cheers - Phil.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Sheilds look good (they 'liberated' a lot of Roman kit during their stay in Italy), think the Libyan's shield hand needs to be a little more central?

[Techno]

Thanks Lemmey.

Pants !
Now I've got two conflicting bits of reference.
One shows the shield held by a central strap....
The other shows the shield held near the rim...with a central strap for the elbow.
I think I'll go for being held at the centre....As these were smallish shields that sort of makes it more likely...Doesn't it ??
Cheers - Mr confused.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Makes more sense to me, I'd want my hand covered! 

[SV52]

Why not simply use the existing Roman republican triarii as veterans, remove the plumes or not and there you go.  After all Hannibal admired the Roman infantry so much he equipped his own men with the gladius at one point.  At the rate they killed Romans, getting kit would not be a problem.

[Techno]

That's rather a spiffy idea !
I'll see if Leon's sent me back the original masters....Could do some ultra quick conversions on those.
Cheers - Phil.

[Phobos]

Right chaps.
Quick question (s) re the Vets and the Libyan Javelins !
In reality, how long would the veterans' spears have been ? And....
Would I be right in assuming that the javelins for the Libyans would have been around 6 feet long ?

The figures themselves are just about done, apart from those items.

Ta - Phil.

Veterans were former lybian, iberian and italic soldiers of Hannibal, so I think that a long thrusting spear like the one in the current lybian spearmen, or if you prefer, long as the latin hasta of the new Triarii could be right.
6 Feet long for a javelin looks way too long imho.

P.s. Excellent work Techno

[Techno]

Many thanks for the input Phobos.

The cunning plan is....
Finish the little chaps off...Post some photos...
If the javelins look a little on the long side, it will be the work of moments to cut/grind them down a tiny bit.

Really pleased you like them so far 'P' !

Cheers - Phil

[Phobos]

Another idea, stolen shamely from Angus Mc Bride plates: Falcatas in their scabbards for the veterans, This way they don´t look like "other" Romans.

[Techno]

Another cunning plan !
Thanks - Phil.

[Techno]

EEEK !!
Someone shrink the piccy !! Please !!......By 50 % ?? (More ??)
Libyans and vet's.
Cheers - Phil.

[Theo]

These look very nice (the falcata on the figure to the right has been done exceptionally well I thought). May I put forth two observations please?

a) The leg guards on the veterans to my eye look a tad out of scale i.e. oversized.

b) Regarding the spear on the third figure from the left i.e. the spear holding veteran; could we please have the spear pointing upwards and closer to his body as he would have held it in battle. This pose (and again this is just in my opinion) looks as if he is standing guard and not about to enter battle.

In all other respects these are lovely indeed. 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nice one Techno!

[Techno]

These look very nice (the falcata on the figure to the right has been done exceptionally well I thought). May I put forth two observations please?

a) The leg guards on the veterans to my eye look a tad out of scale i.e. oversized.

b) Regarding the spear on the third figure from the left i.e. the spear holding veteran; could we please have the spear pointing upwards and closer to his body as he would have held it in battle. This pose (and again this is just in my opinion) looks as if he is standing guard and not about to enter battle.

In all other respects these are lovely indeed. 

Thanks Theo.

I'll see if I can 'thin' the leg guards just a tad...(I understand exactly what you mean)..The problem with ankles and shins, is that if we make them too thin, (i.e..much more lifelike in proportion) they cause problems in the casting and end up becoming too fragile once cast.
Looking at the actual model, I'm really not sure how far I dare go....They look a far worse blown up 2 1/2 to 3 times as you see them in the piccy ....honestly !

I'll tweak the arm.
Pants !.....I thought I'd put in a wire in the arm and I could just chop a bit of putty out, bend it into position and then fill it in with a tiny bit of new green stuff. WRONG !
I'll re-do that tomorrow morning. (Nurse...the screens !....armechtomy and we'll stitch a new one on.)

Cheers - Phil.

[FierceKitty]

Remember how your feet and ankles swell while marching, everyone.

[Theo]

Thanks Theo.

I'll see if I can 'thin' the leg guards just a tad...(I understand exactly what you mean)..The problem with ankles and shins, is that if we make them too thin, (i.e..much more lifelike in proportion) they cause problems in the casting and end up becoming too fragile once cast.
Looking at the actual model, I'm really not sure how far I dare go....They look a far worse blown up 2 1/2 to 3 times as you see them in the piccy ....honestly !

I'll tweak the arm.
Pants !.....I thought I'd put in a wire in the arm and I could just chop a bit of putty out, bend it into position and then fill it in with a tiny bit of new green stuff. WRONG !
I'll re-do that tomorrow morning. (Nurse...the screens !....armechtomy and we'll stitch a new one on.)

Cheers - Phil.

Needless to say Phil I am the first to admit I know next to nothing about sculpting/casting and I totally respect what you are saying about them needing to be a tad thicker to avoid weak ankles. For what it's worth I am full of admiration for what sculptors like yourself can do and quite a bit thankful as well, as it is via your talents that we get all those lovely miniatures!  Keep'em coming please!