Vexillum (How to)

After seeing this excellent set of Roman commanders from Strelets, I decided to plan another small Roman Legion. This one I´ll name Aduitrix II after seeing Simons excellent representation of this legion on his blog TheBigRedbatCave

First though, the soldiers need recruiting and they need banners for thier units so...some need making :-D

Stuff needed. Pliers, thin metal file, florists wire, thin steel wire, some copperwire, tweezers, woodglue (not in pic) and some printed Vexillia patterns. I´ve painted above the prints to form the backs when folded. The paint has a tendency to soak through and destroy the pattern when painting the actual back of the print 

Make the spear head as here. A bit below the spearhead, make a groove using the file. This is so the crossbar fits without slipping up and down

Make a hole at the top of the folded pattern and push the shaft through. Smear some glue onto the inside of the pattern, insert the crossbar wire and fold shut. The copper wire is then wound around under the spearhead and down to the crossbar. Cut the copperwire off just below the pattern and using the tweezers fold the wire back on itsself. This makes a little loop where  a blob of woodglue can be added to form the "weights". 

The pic is a  bit dark, but basically just paint the copper wire dark brown or black and the bottom of the pattern and the "weights" gold. 

The senate discusses the Emporers idea to raise a new legion….

...and after many hours of discussion it is agreed upon....Hail Caeser!!!!!

 So now the standard can be given out and the recruiting of the 1st Cohort LegII Aduitrix can begin!!!

"Come to join the legion? Yes? Go along the path and go to the left. next! The legion? yes? go along the…"


Really annoying thing. The blogroll...it appears to have jammed..nothing more can be added to it. I  had a trick, carry on as normal..when it came to saving a new blog it would just stop. All I did was log out and the new blog would be added but even that has stopped now! Apparently the only way around it is to delete the blogroll gadget and start again!!!! What a pain in the ****!!

Khandibarian Infantry

Well, the 1st half of them....
Stands made up using Esci Muslim Warriors, Hat Dervish Warriors, and Caesar Arab Camel Riders and Bedouin.

Many many thanks to Paul, proud owner of The man Cave blog, for creating a  La Figoblogotheque best blog Finalist badge which, seeing as I dropped out, I don´t think I deserve, but it was a great idea and a wonderfull thought, cheers mate :-D
Who else was in the Final? Saxon Dog and Tiny solitary soldiers blogs.   
Congratulations on coming top, to  Fran  of the  Angry Lurker   Blog. 
The best french language blog was won by Pousse plomb
The best other language Blog was Wargaming historyczno-fantastyczny 
PS..I´ve said it a couple of times already, but if you aren´t on the blog roll at   La Figoblogotheque then drop along and register.

Jan Hus

Finally finished :-D

The last 3 bods from the Orion set, the "driver", Jan Hus and a trumpeter. The driver has got a new job...waving a muck fork and being threatening from one of the wagons. The figure of Jan Hus is an odd addition to a "Hussite Warwagons and command set" for the simple reason...he had been reduced to a pile of ashes a few years earlier. Anyway, he makes a good Priest bod and couls also be used as a replacement for the armoured version of Prokop. If anyone wants to read up on Jan Hus then look HERE. It´s well worth the look...interesting bloke.

The two bulls that are supplied to pull the war wagon. These are lovely looking sculpts, too lovely to be put to the task of pulling a big heavy wagon so I´ve put them out to pasture :-D

Now I can get back to making a bit of progress with the Khandibarians :-D

Hello to Figurines 1/72nd from Dioramas 1/72nd blog. Loads of 1/72nd bods...his Valdemar Knights are Great!!!!!
Hello to Ben B...from Ben´s Soldiers blog . 20mm, 54mm and 6mm wargaming and modeling in modern, WWII, and the Napoleonic eras and he does...some cracking perspective photos of the wargaming action!

Hussite War Wagon and Command (orion) Pt 2

The main "object" in the set, the Wagon.
There are a couple of problems with the wagon, but nothing major. 
The Wheels. The mold seems to be not 100% lined up and this leaves some extra plastic in the middle which needs carefull filing to remove.
The shield. This is a big piece and when added to the wagon just looks wrong..so I have left it off. but it will make a nIce seige mantlet.

Despite any minor problems, the wagon scrubs up really well. A nice big door to the rear....

..and a storage box at the front.This can be made, by cutting along the line where the hinges are, open or shut.

The woodwork is very well done. I really like the "used" and distressed effect.

Now with the crew on board. Bods from Redbox, Strelets, Miniart and Revell

Now a description of how to build it. The set comes without any plans so I hope this will be of help.

I´ve given each piece letters (repeat pieces the same letter)

Main body
Take parts A and B and glue them to C in the ruts provided on C, add part D. When they are all dry add the floor E. You will notice there are two spaces in the floor. These should go towards the door side of the wagon. If they dont line up with the door..not to worry..they didn´t on mine either but are hardly noticable when finished.
Then add the front of the box F and the Lid G
Be very carefull with the loops on E and C!!!! I broke one off  but was able to glue it back on. You  replace them with metal wire  loops  if this happens and glueing is a problem.
The axle and wheels.
Check the wheels fit on the axles. The big wheels N come onto the rear axle J, the smaller ones O on front axle K.. Be carefull when checking for fit as I have already mentioned, there is flash in the middle of the wheels that needs removing.
The rear axle J when fitted. lines up with one of the support struts on the outside of the wagon (see pics).
The front axle K has a hole in it. This fits over a pin on the rear axle, allowing the front axle to turn left or right. Check the fit..it is tight and you may need to enlarge the hole on K.
When fitting the wheels I used a bit of cooking oil smeared on each axle to help slide them on.
The Shield supports.
There are two rows of small plastic discs, P and P. Why two sets of 4 I don´t know. Spares? Cut these carefully from the sprue and slide one over each axle so it pushes up to the wheel hub.
Stand the wagon on it´s wheels. Parts L and M are the outer bars that would hold the shield H and prevent it from bashing against the wheels. 
The L ones come on the rear , the M ones at the front. Simply push a prong through the loop on top of the wagon´s side wall and then rest the end of the support on the little plastic disc and glue. I advise doing the back wheels first then the front.
You will notice that when the supports are added to the front wheels it stps the axle from turning and holds it fixed in position
Parts R simply fit over the ends of the wagon (see pics) to stop (in real life) the walls falling outwards. They are a tight fit, so either carefully expand the loops at each end or shave the poles a bit thinner.
The rest.
Q is the towing bar for attaching the oxen team to. I have put it so that it is leaning up on the wagon.
S is the Yolk for the oxen team and the if in an horizontal posistin, Q would fit through the hole in the middle.
?..I really do not know what these pieces are for. Maybe if the box lid was made to be opened the could be used as lid supports..or they are for the sides of the yolk when fitted to the oxen. The extra rings..?? Parts I are for attaching to the shield H but are very thin and broke easily..replace with  wire is my suggestion.
The ramp..I´ve just noticed I didn´t give it a letter but it´s the part above E. It´fits very easily. ;-D

If anyone has any questions then do not hesitate to  ask..:-D

Hussite War Wagon and Command (Orion) Pt 1

A bit of a mixed bag this one as the PSR review reflects.  Jan Žižka.  He was blind in one eye...which eye is difficult to acertain, I´ve done a LOT of research and come up with either.  As most of us only have at most two, it must have been the left one or the right one..but the bod in the set appears to have the use of both.! There is no indication as to wether one of them is in fact blind, we can´t ask cos it´s a lump of plastic but in ALL the woodcuts, statues etc of him one at least eye is covered, wether it be the left one or the right.
I´ve gone for the right eye as it´s the one shown as covered on the statue on Viktov Hill, Prague (btw, it´s the largest stone statue of a horse in the world!!) and as he was nicknamed "One-eyed Žižka", without any mention of which eye...the right one  is ok by me.

The 3 mounte bods in the set. Jan Žižka in the middle, Prokop the great (Procopius the Great) and a standard bearer. The standard beare comes with an embossed flag bearing a goose emblem. I now know this is an invented insult and have replaced the flag with one bearing a chalice.

Eye bandage on Jan created with..wait for it..Toiletpaper :-D  I tried with having him totally blind, the bandage across both eyes but it looked..well, stupid.The other "mistake" with the sculpt..his mace. he is always protrayed as carrying a mace in the form of a clenched fist holding a dagger.

Prokop the great, later leader of the Hussite / Taborite army until his death in the Battle of Lipany, 30 may, 1434

Something not mentioned in the PSR review..the size of the horses supplied with the set. 6 horses and only 3 riders is a bit of a mystery but the size is odd to say the least. To the left, Italeri and the right..Orion. They aren´t badly sculpted, but they are just too small!!

Next part, the Wagon...:-D

Medieval assassins and more

Another set of medievals from Alex..this time "special forces" :-D

From Fredericus-rex a Trebuchet crew sculpted by Markus Eckmann. They could be used for any other seige machines, onboard a boat or whatever. The bod picking it´s nose is a great idea

 

and from Andreas from Kamarzinnfiguren, a viking chief and a viking shield wall

Hello to Fireymonkeyboy from The Monkey that Walks blog. He´s been painting and gaming with minis for over 20 years and has a large range og wargames and minis to look at on his blog.
Hello to James Cotgrave from twitter..thanks for following :-D

The figoblogtheque voting went into another round..5 blogs got the same amount of votes and it´s been extended for 5 more days so..VOTE HERE and if you´re not on thier blog list...get and do so
(PS....I have removed myself from the running :-D)

English Archers in Burgundian service...

... Halbardiers, upgraded / rebased Command unit and the whole army ...so far.
The project is being put on ice for a while until I can come up with a decent idea for some scurriers, or some get made....Ok..I can dream :-D

Archers. From the Redbox WotR´s sets and the command bod from caeser

Halbardiers. A generic term as not all are armed with halberds. Bods from RedBox, Italeri and Caeser.

Command rebased . I´ve added two bods from RedBox and the drummer..a converted Revell Knight.

Right flank....

....center....

...left flank....

...and from above

Medieval Bombard "Harlequin"

The titel is the English for this guns name. It´s original  name in French  is "Hellequin" (Arlequin), a black-faced emissary of the devil, who chases the souls of the dammned to hell.
The fact that the gun sends it´s enemies to thier doom and it´s muzzle is black is the reason for the French gunners  painting the carriage as it is and it´s "petname" name "Arlequin". The whole of the IVth cent French ordnance was nicknamed the Mesnée d'Hellequin, the household of hellequin, whose traditional colours are black and red, but the yellow and red colour scheme looked better.

I know the Flag is a (speculative) company flag of the French Ordnance but it looked a lot more colourfull than the individual unit flags.

Phew!!!! I almost believed my made up  historical background bumpf myself ! :-D
Real fact of the matter is..I saw this one...I liked the colour scheme so much..I had to have one ;-D

Hello to Broke n English...Your google friends link isn´t set up.
Hello to Jose  from Muñequitos de goma blog . An amazing collection of largescale "toy soldiers"

Town and County Levy (RedBox)

It seems that RedBox have really upped their game in the area of sculpting. This is the second set in thier WotR´s series and another good one.
The set divides into more or less two groups...the men armed with bows and the others with various edged weapons.

One complete sprue of the 4 sprues in the set.

The archers. I´ve painted them up as english archers so they can be added to the burgundian army.

The edged weapons group. The bod with the axe and the one holding the buckler up are ok, but the three with the pole arms are very nice, even if thier weapons are a bit long. . A couple of them will find a place in the next pike block.

A couple of ideas that redbox have included. The bod on the left seems to have brought all his bagge with him. The bod in the middle. When I first saw the scans of these I couldn´t make out what was at his feet...the object   turned out to be a sack of arrows. The last bod.. he carries not only a quiver but his bow wrapped up in a carrying bag. Wether they did this or not, I cannot say, but it´s an original idea.

All in all a nice set. Unfortunately  there is on one or two mold lines running down the middle of thier faces but the overall flash is minimal and the set mixes well with the previous Men-At-Arms and Retinue.
Hopefully this will be the standard of future RedBox sets and I hope they continue the WotR´s line.....some armoured cavalry, scurriers, gun  teams, arquebusiers etc would be nice....please :-D

Atlantic Roman Chariot

I know...they didn´t use them for warfare and it looks way too fancifull for a battlefield anyway, but this set was one of my all time favourites some 30 plus years ago. I can still picture it crashing through the Airfix celts, who were being supported by Robinhoods men, atlantic greeks  and various other "they will do to fill the line" troops.

One bath in brakefluid, a new whip from a bit of copper wire and an acrylic paintjob. I haven´t added traces or reins...I didn´t want to make holes etc as the set can still be obtained..but only for silly money.

Hello to Landser83, from Oh! What a lovely war! blog  He´s only just started blogging but he´s done some lovely line drawings of WWII subjects.

Medieval Washday

Or alternative Titel "over here big boy"
I´ve looked but I can´t find any evidence of them using..or not using washing lines but I suppose it would be the most obvious method to dry washing.
All bods from different Valdemar sets.