Late Roman Auxillia

A couple more codes painted up from Newline Designs 1/72 Late Roman range. This time the two Auxillia codes. I was quite pleased with the "white" tunics, I used Vallejo Beige, Citadel sepia wash followed by highlight of Beige, then I introduced Vallejo Ivory into the mix which I blended on the wet palette untill I had the desired shade. I didn't use straight Ivory like I planned but I liked the finish. I tend to apply a basecoat, wash and highlight in the original colour but since moving to a wet palette I have found mixing shades satifying and end up with a more pleasing and subtle highlight, aided by the fact that its an extra level of highlight. Just to note the swordsman came with a spear but the angle of the forearm was crying for a sword which a made out of plastic card.

Auxillia Advancing

Auxillia Standing

Altogether the two codes work well with each other: 

Goth heavy cavalry

A few more painted examples of Newline Designs 1/72 Late antiquity lines, after painting some Romans I have finally got round to getting their enemies the Goths. These are the Heavy Cavalry and a very nice set with 3 riders, in scalemail or chainmal, one in a cloak and one poised with a kontos.

New Newline Late Roman scans

 I have recently received a few more new Newline Designs 1/72 Late Roman codes to paint, with only a week left on the 2022 winter sale I'll not be able to get some painted examples done, but it would be a shame if enthusiasts could not see the fresh casts at least. Apart from the rebasing that was finished late last year which have a few work in progress posts currently, I have just finished the Goth heavy cavalry that are now just awaiting pictures.

As I have stated before the Late Roman period is not one that I am well versed on so I'll just let the scans of the casts speak for themselves and hopefully get some painted examples done soon.

Guard Infantry 

I'm in the process of trying to determine whether to paint the muscled cuirass as metal or leather armour? 

Cataphracts

Equites Rebased

A straight up rebase with a little bit of highlighting on this old paint job. These 20mm Newline Designs Equites had their faces highlighted, the standard bearers vexillium also was brightened up. Other than that the shields had a bit of brightening up from my earlier choice of basecoat heavy wash and beige dry brush. A bit improved, but overall the rebase means they are ready again for battle. 

 

Late Roman Cavalry Comparison

The question often asked when Newline 20mm miniatures are shown is how do they compare with plastics, namely the traditional 20mm being a tad smaller than 1/72 scale. However Newline sets labelled as 20mm over the years have veered closer to 1/72  and these Late Romans were specifically made as 1/72 despite being located in their 20mm Ancients page (for navigational convenience). The only way to know for sure if ranges and manufacturers are compatible is to physically compare the specific figures and make your own personal judgment.

Before comparing Newline and Hat I dug out the Hat cavalry sets, medium, light and cataphracts. I noted that the Hat miniatures themselves differ in size and sculpting style with the light cavalry being slightly smaller than the other 2 sets. As a side note I love the early Hat style of the cataphracts and the equivalent legionary set and again the medium and light infantry were of a softer cast.    

Next up are the Newline casts, with the earlier heavy cavalry and some of the newly released codes lined up. Being the same sculptor throughout there is consistency through the range.

I'll let the pictures do the talking, but sizewize to me there is not a great deal of difference. The Hat medium cavalry rider matches well with the Newline riders. In general the Newline horses look slightly smaller but overall I am hoping to use them all together. 

Late Roman Cavalry II

A few more painted examples of new and older codes from Newline Designs 1/72 20mm Late Roman range. Its great to see and expansion to the range and I hope these paint jobs do the casts the justice they deserve. I'll let the pictures do the talking but I have some comparison pictures with some Hat plastics to post up shortly in the next post.

NEW Roman General and Standard Bearer

 Roman Heavy Cavalry

A look at the new Newline Late Romans

Fairly recently Sean at Newline Designs released some new codes for the Late Roman range. There seems to be quite a few new codes so hopefully there will be some more to come to cover the Late Roman era further (Horse archers for example or more enemies). I acquired a few of the new codes to add to the codes I previously had and have set about getting some painted examples of them all. 

It's been a struggle to keep on top of the online aspects of the hobby and I apologise for not being engaged as much as I would like to be on forums, groups and the amazing blogs of my fellow hobbyists. Recent times have been challenging and when the opportunity arises I take to the workbench which is overflowing with an overwhelming amount of tasks. One of which being the rest of the Newline Late Romans I have undercoated, and another task is a backlog of photographing. I am still getting used to the new camera on my phone so these and the following posts will be a bit trial and error with regards to the focus, lighting and colour of the pictures (of which I am very dependent on automatic features). I really want to get cracking with my Classical Mediterranean project and the rebasing but I also have to make a start on my friends Heroquest miniatures. The plan is to get the Late Roman examples done then work between the Classical and Heroquest miniatures.      

I still don't have much direction with regards to a Late Roman project, but I am veering towards a more fantastical "Dark Age" Britain or Europe, painting and forming armies as I feel, without much historical precedent. With that in mind these examples are just random schemes and designs if came across on search engines. Each code from what I can gather from the examples below feature two rider poses and three horse poses:

Equites Dalmatae

Moorish Light Cavalry

Light Cavalry bareheaded 

Light Cavalry in Helmets

Legionaries

These have been available for a few years now and I love these miniatures. I will end up getting quite a few more and will make up some well equipped units in the "Dark Age" project not only as Romans but by swapping out shields or some simple greenstuff work I could use them as generic Dark Age warriors, even if its just a fantasy interpretation of my own. The third warrior is wielding a sword made from plasticard, originally I was going to give him a spear but the position of the arm was calling out for a sword.   

Overall some very welcome additions to the Late Roman collection and the light cavalry are well covered! I have the brand new General and Draco bearer set part painted along with the Roman Heavy and Gothic Heavy cavalry codes so the next sessions at the desk will be about getting them finished. Then the rest of the Roman and Gothic foot codes I have here will be getting done. If you like the look of these it's an ideal time to grab some from the 28th of Janurary  there is a 25% off sale running for the month I believe check out https://newlinedesigns.co.uk/ from that date to see.