Ubique

Tuesday, 9 July 2013

Batavi Iuniores Britanniciani - Late Romans, Lunt Roman Fort - Part 2 of 3

Field army equipment

Draco - Late Roman military standard

Late Roman Spangenhelm

Late Roman Ridge Helmet

Part 1 Batavi Iuniores Britanniciani

Part 3 - Batavi Iuniores Britanniciani

Monday, 8 July 2013

Batavi Iuniores Britanniciani - Late Romans, Lunt Roman Fort - Part 1 of 3

To quote directly from their website Batavi

"The BATAVI are a small, friendly group who re-enact military and civilian life in the 4th to 6th centuries A.D. Our military activities are based around a late Roman army unit, the Batavi Iuniores Britanniciani, which arrived in Britain in 360 A.D. and returned in 367 A.D. They then formed part of the mobile field army and remained here at least until the end of Roman rule in Britain. There is a strong probability that parts of the unit may have stayed to defend Britain against the Saxon invaders, as part of the Romano-British forces into the 5th century."

It seems only a short time since my brother and myself last visited the Lunt-Roman Fort but in fact its been over two years ago. As the site changes very little over the years, with the earthwork ramparts slowly being allowed to collapse, the only reason to revisit the site is to attend the numerous re-enactment events held there. The official website indicated that a late Roman group would be attending.

I personally think that after you've seen one Imperial 1st century re-enactment group such as the famous Ermine Street Guard you've generally not going to see anything new at another event. Therefore an opportunity to see and chat to a group that displays the uniform and equipment of a 4th century late Roman field army was an chance I didn't want to miss.

I find this particular time period fascinating, the style and innovations developed by the Roman(o-British) army during this time holds far more relevance for me than any 1st century soldiers. And don't forget it was soldiers of this type that won around 50% of their battles against enemies that were their equal (or even superior such as the Sassanids) unlike their early Imperial Roman army counterparts who were routinely thrashed whenever facing similar opposition.

Soldiers dressed such as these would have been a far more common (and welcome) sight throughout the later Roman period of occupation of Britain than the far more familiar steel clad 1st century legionaries. In particular the helmet and shield styles would remain influential for several hundred years even well into the medieval period.

It's taken a while to post these pictures as I've attempted (very crudely) to remove any kids picking their nose/eating ice-creams, guards in hi-vest jackets etc. from the images. I'll be posting two more sets of pictures over the next few days.

More images and details about the group can be found their own website Late Roman Batavi

As already stated on their website the group really are friendly and also very knowledgeable. If you get the chance to see them I'd highly recommend that you do.

Part 2 - Batavi Iuniores Britanniciani
Part 3 Batavi Iuniores Britanniciani

Monday, 1 July 2013

Bolt Action Pin Markers

Oh dear, nearly eight weeks since my last post? Without realising it I'm nearly half way though the year with apparently very little to show for it. Fear not gentle reader, for I have actually been quite busy painting away at several projects. One of which is on a Bolt Action theme which I filmed for my mate Ade for his 'Wargaming for Fun YouTube channel so no photos (they'd only be rubbish any way) and strictly video for a change (get me, I've gone all 1880's with moving images and everything):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUl76YdZnSM

I have the perfect face for radio and an accent to match. Funny enough our accent (I was even trying to talk posh! and Ade moved from the Dudley area nearly two decades ago) may actually be very similar to that of English medieval kings. If you think this is hard to believe then take a look at this link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-21369077

It all has something to do with the 'Great Vowel Shift' which we Black Country folk, quite properly, chose to ignore hundreds of years ago and what still distinguishes us, even from our Brummie cousins just down the road. So next time you watch 'Game of Thrones' or 'The White Queen' on the telly just imagine the characters speaking with an authentic Black Country accent. I do and it makes me chuckle every time.

"Alroight Queenie, arh bin ay, me babby? Yo'am lookin' bostin me wench." which roughly (very roughly) translates into "Greetings your loyal Highness, I pray you are well? You appear truly splendid."

I have plenty of material to post as soon as I can provide you with some half decent photographs. The weather over the past six months has been pretty dire but hopefully I willbe posting images sooner rather than later and definitely before another eight weeks passes by - I promise.

Wednesday, 8 May 2013

Italian Alpini, Bolt Action - WIP

After I looked at my own blog and realised I haven't shown any figures on here for quite a while I thought 'Just a quick post to prove I'm still alive'. These are a few images of my Bolt Action Italian Alpini figures.

Obviously I still need to dot the i's (literally) and cross the t's before these are finished. I need to paint a few more details on the figures rank chevrons etc. and complete the base work (to make it tuft-tastic of course).

I'll go into more detail about the figures and the unit once I've the squad is completed which shouldn't be too long (hopefully).

Friday, 12 April 2013

Shropshire Model Show, RAF Museum Cosford 2013

Another year rolls by and once again it was time for the Shropshire Model Show, organised by the Shropshire Scale Modellers held at RAF Museum Cosford. Photos from last year's show can be seen here, here and here. A very enjoyable show enhanced by the fact its hosted at the museum so there's always plenty on models and exhibits to look at as you wonder round the site.

Purchases were again relatively modest, a few 1/48 WWII Soviet aircraft and not much else apart from a kit plus brushes etc. from the Airfix stand. It was interesting to see models not yet released (a 1/48 Gloster Javelin for instance).

My photographs are up (or more actually - down) to my usual standards when I remembered to take them.