I wanted to create a few command bases specific to each unit of Unarmoured Skutatoi, of which I have two completed units and another on the way. The problem is, like most ranges of miniatures there is a finite number of miniatures, even in the extensive Aventine Early Byzantine range. I did however want the Unarmoured Command bases to consist of purely unarmoured miniatures to match the units with and preferably with a different look than the other Aventine Early Byzantine command packs.
The first base was simply a repositioning of the arm of the standard bearer from a miniature running forward from one of the Unarmoured Spearmen packs. After repositioning the arm, filling in the gap with ProCreate putty is was just a simple matter of adding a Draco standard I had ready and undercoated.
From a practical point of the command stands being moved around on the tabletop without the protection or larger bases or movement trays I have stuck with Draco Standards in all my command bases as opposed to hand painted banners. It would be soul destroying to damage and have to replace a hand painted paper banner after a game.
Command Base 2:
What we have in the image below is the basic look of the animated base. An officer and banner bearer charging forward, the officer barking out commands to to his subordinate. The bases are on 50mm diameter "rounds" and is enough space on the base so the miniatures interact with one another to my satisfaction.
And Coloured In:
The Running Unarmoured Skutatoi Base should sit well with the unit below:
Command Base 3:
The second conversion was a little more intricate. I had to clip off the banner from the hand and the side of the head before sawing the head off with a razor saw. During this process there is inevitably some damage that occurs to the torso of the miniature. I was pleased to note that by filing sway at any unwanted cuts I was able to limit the ProCreate stage to just adding a broach after re-filing the cloak back into a plausible shape. Next I took one of the spare heads from the
Aventine Miniatures BYZ12 Command Variation 1 packs, drilled heavily into the neck and glued the had into place. The pole for the Draco comes from an unwanted North Star Steel Spear pole, sans spearhead. It was then quite a simple job of just drilling and gluing the Draco into place.
And Coloured In:
Again, the Standing Unarmoured Skutatoi Base should sit well with the unit below:
