Christmas 2000, Joseph my good friend and gaming buddy, and I met for our annual Roman Civil War. We were playing WRG 7th edition rules. Suddenly I found myself on the receiving end of massed fire of a unit of carroballista. Joseph and his wife, had spent the evening before my arrival, converting some Airfix Ancient Britain chariots, mated with Airfix Roman scorpio bolt throwers. It was a nasty surprise and the speed of the unit on the battlefield was inspiring.
 |
| Three of Joseph's carroballista run circles around his Legion |
Warlord Games used to offer a scorpion mounted on a mule cart. From the time I first saw the image until recently it was always out of stock. This afternoon I couldn't even find it listed on their site. Meanwhile I squandered my hard earned sestertius on other frivolous figures and projects.
While combing my mountain of lead, I uncovered some ancient (30+ year old) Ral Parta/RAFM scorpions. The Early Imperial Roman Cart is nearly always available for purchase. So I ordered three. This project has been sitting on my painting table for the last 6 months and I finally found time to complete it,
 |
| Image of a carroballista on Trajan's Column |
Yup, that's the Joeseph I remember. Good to keep the memories alive.
ReplyDeleteI thought RAFM had Roman crew but I don't see it. Perhaps one of their packs of legionaires with separate weapons and shields. Bare handed they should work.
Thanks Ross, you got me thinking. I may have some figures I can use from Jef Lauzon's Roman Army. I will take a look there.
DeleteWow, superb and impressive carroballista!
ReplyDeleteThank you Phil.
Delete>some ancient (30+ year old) Ral Parta/RAFM scorpions
ReplyDeleteBelieve ir or not, I have some of these...unpainted for ~30 years(!).
Hi Bruce I've dug out some older figures to paint during The Twelfth Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge that have been in the pile of lead since time immemorial. A group of 6 dwarves that were originally to be passed to a gamer who is no longer with us. Long time since Maritime Mall days.
DeleteI switched careers from IT into acc'ting starting 2007. (At middle-age, mm, mebbe not so advisable?) Anyway, I remain wargaming - both minis & boardgames - plus paintingpaintingpaint. (huff!puff!) I've never entered a minis painting competition. Too lazy to clean my Iwata. ha.
DeleteMy "brush with the Grim Reaper" = a double lung transplant in there during 2005. But I still had unpainted miniatures so 'the fix was in': you can't die while owning unpainted house ballast(!).
>A group of 6 dwarves
--wait. what? I thought there were 7!
>a gamer who is no longer with us.
...Ah. That explains it. :D