From MartinN: Balbus the Disfigured - Early Roman command stand (18 Points)

Finally I've made it! My first scheduled Friday-submission!

Well, life is rather busy around here with me being away on in-company training for much of the time as well as taking over new responsibilities in my job. Normally I would have planned to have more time for painting this challenge, but alas it was not to be. I'm rather sure most of you know such real live issues only to well so I stop blathering and will come straight to business.

I've always been fascinated by anything Roman. As a kid I loved to dress up as Roman centurion for carnival and birthday parties. Most of my friends preferred the more traditional cowboy or Native-American costumes though. This love continues to the present day and albeit not dressing up as Roman anymore I still read and watch anything vaguely related. So it's certainly of little surprise that I jump at any chance to paint up a few nice miniatures for this period.

The miniatures for this little command stand come from the excellent Aventine range of Early Republican Romans as well as Etruscans. The casualty though is from Armorum & Aquila miniatures and while a little rough in detail, still a very nice and atmospheric sculpt. The decals used are from the more than commendable Little Big Men Studios. What's a little odd about the commanders sculpt though is he's sporting six fingers on his left hand. It took me a while to figure out why I felt there was something odd with this miniature.

I had these cuties sitting in my lead pile for what felt like ages. Initially I had planned to paint them up for use with Impetus, but I prefer using 15's for games with largish formations. To this end I'll probably use these with SAGA or any other skirmish game. I think I'll call him (the commander) Balbus (latin for Stammering One). No idea when I'll come around to paint up some retinue for him though.

I want them to represent Romans from the early Republic, so arund about the time when they freed themselves from Etruscan rule and started to subjugate their immediate neighbours. While in Greece at that time large battles were fought with the well known Phalanxes fighting it out, battles in Italy still were fought at a somewhat smaller scale. Often these battles were nothing more than small skirmishes or kettle raids.

Three standing miniatures and a prone casualty should net me a whopping 17.5 points.

Welcome to the Friday Crew proper Martin! This command stand is stunning, even by the very high standards you've set with past entries. Colourful without being riotous, in your distinctive style, and the composition and basing are sublime. But six-fingered Balbus, now that is a mystery. 

I sympathise entirely on the life limiting hobby time, just look at my tally. Still, there's always the next Challenge, or the one after where we can hope to make better progress. 
17.5 points is not mathematically pleasing: I'm going to exercise my minion rights and call it 18. Let's just hope I've not overstretched my remit so much that judicial intervention is necessary. 

I'd be delighted if you had time to produce some more of the excellent Aventine Romans in this challenge, please?  

Phil