Monday 3 May 2021

Belisarus' Boukellaroi


Carrying on from my overly enthusiastic post yesterday, Sneaky Peaky, I present to you Belisarius' Boukellaroi/Bucellarii. I have enjoyed painting up this unit more then any of the rest in the army and I think that is really says something! Every unit from the Aventine Early Byzantine range so far has been a real pleasure to paint up. Minimal cleaning up, perhaps a little filing here and there and very crisp castings. Adam's sculpting is sublime. I really think the whole range is exquisite.

The banner will be a dead giveaway to many so it will come as no surprise that I have painted up this unit as Belisarius' Boukellaroi. I have tried to include as much variation in colour on the horses to keep a real sense of individuality. Same with the bards on the equines. I have equipped the Boukellaroi in similar colours as their equipment would have been personally handed to them by the general himself and a degree of uniformity with minor variations such as patterns on the caparisons beneath the horse armours to allow for a small degree of individual expression without diminishing the uniform look.

I have been debating with myself as to whether to include pennons at the end of the kontos. I am almost certain that pennons would not have been used to decorate such a lengthy weapon as it was used as both a thrusting weapon and a fencing weapon. Fencing with a four meter long "spear" would have been almost impossible with the added encumbrance of the pennon.

As usual all the images are "clickable".

The Front Rank:




The Second Rank:

I have included a Draco standard in the back rank, carried by an officer, as I believe dressing the ranks would have been paramount for the unit as it entered combat at a cantor. The Draco standard also helps to offset the whopping great banner of Belisarius to the right centre of the unit. In art college speak by placing the Draco where I have the eye will move around the unit. Or at least that is my hope!




The Unit from Just Above Eye Level:







From a Higher Angle:










14 comments:

  1. The painting is, of course superb, but the trim at the bottom of the caparison is such a wonderful touch. Such a small detail adds so much to the figures.

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    1. Thanks Codsticker. As I mentioned above, I wanted to keep a degree of uniformity to express their elite status but give a little smidgeon of individual flair too.

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  2. Hello,

    I'm impressed by this superb unit !!! I like shades of colors...

    Nikkobourges

    Nikkobourges

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  3. Replies
    1. Thanks Jack. I love your work too mate and have your site as one of the Blogs I follow on here. Always inspirational. :)

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  4. Some lovely, subtle work in there, nice job.

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  5. What an amazing looking unit! Brilliant!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks John. The idea is for all the Elite Cavalry and Infantry units to have something a bit more fancy than a Chi Rho for a banner.

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  6. Replies
    1. Apologies John, I've just noticed your question. The bases are 50mm x 50mm.

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