From SimonG: Wrathful Roman War Machines [Wrath] (125 points)

So, it's been several weeks since my last post. But I am back with a return to one of my ongoing projects -- the first century Jewish Rebellion in 28mm and based for Impetus.

In part this delay has been down to the complexity of what I chose to paint this time, but more importantly, the need to take time out to deal with the sudden death of my father. In fact I would like to dedicate this posting in his memory as it was a trip we made to Israel in 1973 while he was on sabbatical from his university lectureship, that stimulated my interest in military history and in particular the Jewish rebellion. Visiting Masada at the age of 8 (back in the day when you still had to hike all the way up) kind of does that to you(1).

My Scrapbook of Masada (1973, age 8)

The figures this time are all Victrix early imperial Romans -- a stand of legionaries defending their signum. These are on large (120x60) diorama like bases for Impetus. As always these are great sculpts with loads and loads of detail which I cannot help but fill out (even the hands holding shields have painted nails!). Every time I do a Roman suit of armour I discover more leather straps that should be picked out, and once you've seen them my anal retentiveness says I need to do them!

The other two stands for this week are each bolt throwers -- machinery is another level of fiddlyness and I couldn't help but bind up the dragons teeth with thread -- something has to hold them together after all! These are on super big 120x80 stands and altogether look quite impressive.

So much as I enjoy the result the time taken is considerable -- anyway here's hoping you appreciate it -- some close ups so you can get to know the characters. 

The paint is mostly Citadel, with some Army Painter. 95% of the work is in the base coat which takes me about 1-1.5 hours per figure -- washes, highlighting and dry-brushing then flies by. The key is close inspection at the end under a 2.75X Optivisor. It's easy to correct all the little defects at this point. One quirk I have is that I always do a flesh tone first, there's no colour logic to this (it will need loads of touch ups as other colours spill on to it), but for me it makes the figures come alive! Eyes are a straightforward five step pricess: black eye socket outline, white eye within the socket, reikland fleshshade wash over the face which dulls the white of the eye, black eyeball (option for colour at larger scales or with larger animal eyes), gloss finish.

Photography under artificial light tends to make the finish seem glossier than it is and masks some of the dry brushing, so please fill in a requisite overall level of grime and dustiness! Also be assured that all toenails are present and correct, I just didn't trouble you with any close ups this time around 🤪

Blowing his own horn?

Bearskins in Judea! No way!

Studying what brown bears look like!

So thats what they look like under their helmets!

This should also count as a Inferno stop off for Wrath -- my Dante inspired piece of literature this time is Gary Panter's "Jimbo's Inferno"(2), a loose reimagining of the Divine Comedy set in "Focky Bocky", an alternative Los Angeles shopping mall!

Watch out guys!

Points wise that should be 120 (16 28mm figures = 80, plus two crew served weapons for 20 more and the 20 point Inferno bonus) --- a major haul by my standards but not really helping me achieve my target.

Not sure what to do next but I think I need to start on my early Medieval British special musical project so looking forward to sharing that with you in a couple of weeks.

(1) And my interest in modern miltary history as we lived through the Yom Kippur war as well, I still don't know why my mother let him take us on sabbatical again after we'd been in Nigeria for the Biafra conflict in 1967 as well!

(2) Full size hardcover limited edition, Fantagraphics, March 2006. Mine is copy 30/150. Gary advises "Don't try to pass a pop quiz on Dante's hell based on a reading of this comic: it won't work."

TeemuL: Very sorry to hear about your father, especially when he seems to have been a very influential person both to you and most likely to his numerous students.

Thank you for an excellent entry, lots of beautiful photos, historical and personal background, theme entry and the minis itself are very nicely painted. I especially like the photos, where most of us are happy with the mandatory three photos (or less), you are giving as several ones from different angles. They are like action shots. I like them very much! And not to mention the groundwork you have done on those large bases, they look great. Have your 120 points and 5 bonus points, too!