Wednesday, March 4, 2015

How to Paint 240 Roman Legionaries in 20 Minutes

The secret is not to paint their eyes. That and getting them in 2mm is very helpful.
The photo above shows the results; you will have to take me for my word that the eyes are left unpainted. Starting with a black base coat over the figures which have been glue-gunned to popsicle sticks, a semi-drybrush technique is used. The tip of the brush is basically dragged along horizontally rather quickly, picking out the details. Flesh was first used for the legs (both front and back), as well as what should be heads. Red, lightened with yellow is then used for the standards, shields and edges of the tunic (both front and back). Gold is used for the tips of the standards, and helmets - actually just the front of the helmets for the front rank, and rear of the helmets for the rear rank. Then Silver is used for the back of the helmets for the front rank, and front of the helmets for the rear rank. This seems to simulate the tips of the pila - which I assume they should be holding. Silver is also used on the rear of the figures for the armor. Finally a wash of sepia (I mix black and red brown inks) is applied to the mostly the legs and heads.
The rear of the figures
I'm still deciding on how to base them - along with the earlier painted figures. Who knows, I may one day game them.
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29 comments:

  1. Jonathan FreitagMarch 4, 2015 at 5:54 PM

    Positively tiny but your technique is quite effective.

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  2. Paul WMarch 4, 2015 at 7:01 PM

    Amazing amount of detail for the size, great work Dean. I'm sure one of them was looking at me!

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  3. PrufrockMarch 4, 2015 at 7:49 PM

    The look great, Dean! Brilliant method. Please give it a distinctive label ('how to') or something so we can find it again when needed! :)

    Cheers,
    Aaron

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    Replies
    1. DeanMMarch 4, 2015 at 8:49 PM

      Thanks for the kind words and great idea for a label. Didn't think of that before, but a how to label sounds great. Regards, Dean

      Delete
  4. Ray RousellMarch 4, 2015 at 10:38 PM

    You've let me down Dean........I wanna see the whites of their eyes!!!

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    1. DeanMMarch 5, 2015 at 6:12 AM

      I know, I know, Ray. I don't even want to talk about skipping the SPQR on the standards :) Regards, Dean

      Delete
  5. Black PowderMarch 4, 2015 at 11:24 PM

    Haha, love it! These blind-like-a-bat legions will surely need a good commander to lead them to victory...

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    1. DeanMMarch 5, 2015 at 6:13 AM

      Thanks, Soren. If they do crazy battlefield maneuvers, we'll know why :) Best, Dean

      Delete
  6. Simon Quinton March 5, 2015 at 12:30 AM

    lol don't paint there eyes and they are 2mm. Great tutorial .

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    1. DeanMMarch 5, 2015 at 6:13 AM

      Great minds think alike, :) Thanks, Simon! Regards, Dean

      Delete
  7. RodgerMarch 5, 2015 at 12:50 AM

    Brilliant stuff Dean!

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  8. TamsinPMarch 5, 2015 at 12:59 AM

    They might be 2mm, but not painting the eyes? Well, really? *tsk, tsk* ;)

    Nice work Dean :)

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    Replies
    1. DeanMMarch 5, 2015 at 6:15 AM

      Thanks, Tamsin! Yes, I am getting really lazy - wait, I've always been lazy :) Warm Regards, Dean

      Delete
  9. PhilMarch 5, 2015 at 1:22 AM

    Nice job and a great, efective, technique!

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    1. DeanMMarch 5, 2015 at 6:15 AM

      Thanks, Phil! I felt like I could paint up another hundred or two :) Best, Dean

      Delete
  10. RogMarch 5, 2015 at 3:05 AM

    No eyes...? Well, they sure have quite a look! :) Great work!

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    1. DeanMMarch 5, 2015 at 6:16 AM

      Eyes are over-rated :)! Thanks as always, my friend! Best, Dean

      Delete
  11. MillsyMarch 5, 2015 at 1:37 PM

    Hmmmm... Rather you than me sir! I find 6mm challenging at times despite my exceptionally good eyesight for my age. This would make my head spin. :-)

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    1. DeanMMarch 5, 2015 at 1:52 PM

      Michael:

      I think 6mm is probably a better scale which combines compactness with figure detail. I only went with these to go with 1/1200th ships. Although, just this morning I was looking into what these 2mm Rep. Romans could be used for. I thought possibly the Battle of Alesia. But then my head started to spin when I thought of the terrain building involved. :) Warm regards, Dean

      Delete
  12. Christopher(aka Axebreaker)March 5, 2015 at 6:00 PM

    Don't forget to paint all straps! Nice work.

    Christopher

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  13. BigRedBatMarch 6, 2015 at 2:19 AM

    They are good, those Irregulars. A man could do a legion at 1:1!

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    1. DeanMMarch 6, 2015 at 6:19 AM

      Thanks, Simon! I've been thinking about doing Alesia in 2mm - it would involve a lot of terrain building - which I haven't done a lot of, so may be a nice challenge. Warm regards, Dean

      Delete
  14. JasonMarch 6, 2015 at 12:29 PM

    Very effective indeed! Though a bit of scale contrast to your samurai to say the least :-) :-)

    Best wishes,
    Jason

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    Replies
    1. DeanMMarch 6, 2015 at 12:56 PM

      Thanks, Jason. It's nice to switch scales sometimes. Regards, Dean

      Delete
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