Roman Centurion, 1st Century AD, ICM, 1/16

[Matt Bacon]

 

A really nice kit. He's very well sculpted, although this cunning fox of a character bears little resemblance to the guy on the box and poster art, who looks like he ought to be played by Dave Bautista. The only issue (which I'd have fixed if I'd learned about it earlier in the build) is that contrary to the way he's depicted, the short dagger (Pugio) was always worn on the left, and the long sword (Gladius) on the right, high up on a loop around the neck. The "obvious" solution, with a draw by the right hand across the body, is not how the Romans did it, instead using the right hand to pull the gladius out from high under the right arm. I guess the rationale is that for Roman close order fighting, you need every shield on a left arm, to lock together, and the right hand wields the sword in the gaps between the shields. So if you want to make the figure truly accurate, you need to extend a strap loop around the neck with the long gladius scabbard glued high and more horizontal under the right arm (which means completing the belt ornamentation on that side), and mount the short dagger on the left with the two supplementary straps running from the belt to the top two rings on scabbard...

Still he's a characterful and attractive addition to the slowly growing 1/16 figure collection...

best,
M.

 

 

[unclescott58]

Looks great! 

[bisc63]

Nice paint work!

[Jim B]

Very nice job.  what did you use to paint him: oils or acrylics?

[Matt Bacon]

Thanks, guys! @Jim B he’s mostly painted with Games Workshop (Citadel) and Vallejo water based acrylics. The shield is a home made decal.

best,

M.

[Slimguy]

Really well done.  The painting looks so real and precise.  How did you learn to paint figures?  

[Mike999]

That is some great work.  Right down to the "oh ####" expression on his face. I have a couple of these Mini Art 1/16 figures, including the "Roman Legionnaire - 1st Century." Your work will be a real inspiration when (if) I paint them, and I will shamelessly steal your ideas. ?

Verlinden is out of business now, but they did several different Roman figures in 1/16 scale.  Just for comparison, here's the Verlinden 1/16 Centurion.  I like the Mini-Art version better, it's in more of an "action" pose.  (This is NOT my build, I stole the pic from the internet.)

[Snake45]

1 hour ago, Mike999 said:

That is some great work.  Right down to the "oh ####" expression on his face.

I was gonna say I thought he looked scared of something, too. 

Beautiful piece of work, BTW. You're making me wanna go watch Barbarians Rising for the fourth or fifth time. Model on! 

[shoopdog]

Spectacular paint work!

[Matt Bacon]

Thanks, guys. @Slimguy I started with Shep Paine’s “Building and Painting Scale Figures” and “How to build dioramas” (which is the best. modelling book I know of...) and keep at it...

best,

M.

[MAGIC MUFFLER]

Brilliant ..!!!  Would be proud to display that anywhere!