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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Strategos and his men

Like a proud dad, I want to show off my new "baby."  I showed this bunch to my neighbors and my parents before boxing them up for  California. Yea, you're probably wishing you were MY neighbor!
I love this warlord figure.  I do wish the horse came in full barding but perhaps this model represents a moment when the Byzantines were short of cash.  Paying the Varangian Guard and bribing invading barbarians to go away has a way of putting a dent in the treasury.

Four of these Saga fatigue markers go out the door with the warband and one goes to my Normans.

With the lovely Gripping Beast figures and bright palette, the Byzantines were my favorite war band to paint to date. I'll come back to them again by book and perhaps, by paintbrush too.  I love  painting Dark Age war bands but I'm also on the lookout for a bigger project in 2014.
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63 comments:

  1. Michael AwdryNovember 13, 2013 at 3:45 PM

    They certainly catch the eye, stunning work Monty!

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    1. MontyNovember 13, 2013 at 4:58 PM

      Thanks Michael! You know what else catches the eye? A Stegosaurus' tail…OUCH! ;-)

      Delete
  2. roma912November 13, 2013 at 3:48 PM

    Excellent looking figures! Great colours on the barding for the warlord.

    Cheers, Ross

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    1. MontyNovember 13, 2013 at 4:59 PM

      Thanks! I almost went with baby blue and white. But this combo turned out quite nice!

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  3. EngelNovember 13, 2013 at 3:59 PM

    Ohh, they look terific.

    Really good job on your Byzantines.

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  4. MillsyNovember 13, 2013 at 4:01 PM

    Simply stunning mate. The colours are wonderful!

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  5. Jonathan FreitagNovember 13, 2013 at 4:04 PM

    Excellent piece! The barding on the horse is striking. The warlord ain't no slouch either. Nice work!

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    1. MontyNovember 13, 2013 at 5:03 PM

      Thanks Jonathan! The Byzantines would make a nice Impetus army if I had someone to play against.

      Delete
  6. The Angry LurkerNovember 13, 2013 at 4:25 PM

    Talk about vibrant colours my friend....beautiful!

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  7. LonewolfNovember 13, 2013 at 4:28 PM

    Lovely painted figures and a good choise of colors!

    Regards
    Bruno

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    1. MontyNovember 13, 2013 at 5:05 PM

      Thanks Bruno, and thanks for following! I'll be following your blog as well!

      Delete
  8. Ben GilmourNovember 13, 2013 at 4:48 PM

    Please, can I be you neighbour? Pretty please?!

    Brilliant work, Monty.

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    1. MontyNovember 13, 2013 at 5:07 PM

      I bet the 6 months of winter here might put you off. So, I need to be your neighbor. I'd so love your Napoleonics games!

      Delete
  9. Christopher(aka Axebreaker)November 13, 2013 at 5:32 PM

    Lovely looking figures Monty!

    Christopher

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  10. Dan VincentNovember 13, 2013 at 5:49 PM

    Superb work - camouflage was not really on the radar for these guys was it? Unless they plan on hiding in a rather bright floral arrangement, that is. The army must look great on the table.

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    1. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:20 AM

      Thanks Dan, and lol, no. I'm thinking of a nickname for them, the Butterfly Warband? ;-)

      Delete
  11. CyrusNovember 13, 2013 at 5:54 PM

    Lovely Strategos and Byzantines Monty!

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  12. PrufrockNovember 13, 2013 at 7:46 PM

    Inspirational work as always Monty!

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    1. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:20 AM

      Thanks Pru! If you weren't so far away, we could have a Gallic throw down!

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  13. James BrewertonNovember 13, 2013 at 8:02 PM

    great work very vibrant.
    Peace James

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    1. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:21 AM

      Thanks James and congrats on the Blog COn. Looks like it was a blast!

      Delete
  14. thefrenchjesterNovember 14, 2013 at 12:50 AM

    Hi Monty,

    Well done!

    they are great ! and not only because they are 28mm figures ;-)
    you done a great work on them .

    is the bigger project have something to do with the new Gallic light chariots in the Xyston Range ?
    or a "Longstreet Army"?

    Cheers

    thefrenchjester " Gallic breed this morning;-)"



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    1. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:23 AM

      Gillies! I didn't know Xyston is doing Gallic light chariots! Very cool, I need to scoot over to their site.

      You are a very good guesser. We're firing up Longstreet here shortly so I need to rush an ACW army out. I'm thinking something even bigger one day. I don't know what it is yet!

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  15. PhilNovember 14, 2013 at 1:16 AM

    Fantastic work on the colors Monty, they are looking great...and I really like the markers too!

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    1. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:23 AM

      Thanks Phil! The markers are nicer than just dropping fatigue markers down.

      Delete
  16. Jonas MNovember 14, 2013 at 2:03 AM

    These are stunning Monty! If it were me, I don't think I could ever part from such excellent models. :)

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    1. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:24 AM

      Thanks Jonas and that is a good point. I always think I can come back and paint up my own one day. But of course, I can't really assume that. Knock on wood!

      Delete
  17. DHC WargamesNovember 14, 2013 at 2:06 AM

    Great stuff, as always!

    Already made this comment on your last post, but it seems bloodspot has eaten that one up, so I am doing this again. I like that you are going much brighter with your Byzantines then I did with mine (wanted a uniform look for the non-nobles to depict their roman heritage). I would not do mine any different now, but it is great to see how different these minis look with a more colorful take, so I am watching this with great excitement!

    BTW... it really looks like you will have an army for every faction in SAGA if you go on like this!

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    1. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:28 AM

      Burkhard! It is being dodgy, isn't it? I love your Byzantines! Here, I got free rein to try something different. The beauty of painting ancients and medievals is that we're not "restricted" like Napoleonic painters are. But you know that better than most anyone!

      And on to your second point, a friend gave me his Scots to paint. One more war band, one more war band. Always one more.

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    2. AnonymousNovember 14, 2013 at 5:57 PM

      Ah well, Napoleonics have a certain appeal of their own. I think the worst thing with them is that even thought it is only 200 years in the past, some things can not be verified either, which unfortunately does not keep some people from knowing better! ;-)

      At least you have the option to do some other SAGA Warbands... I have had the minis for my Saxons for over a year now, but right now I am not in the mood to work on them.

      Delete
    3. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 6:14 PM

      I'm frankly afraid to paint Napoleonics and have a world of respect for those like you that do. I've seen too many critics pop in over the most lovely eye candy and rip them because "the sleeves aren't right for the 1813 campaign." Grognards indeed. It is the most lovely painting in 28mm but with a high cost to morale.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousNovember 17, 2013 at 1:10 AM

      I know what you mean. I have been there myself. Worst are those who make clever comments what you should have different, but never realise you already did so, since they did not care to read your post in whole.

      Delete
  18. BigRedBatNovember 14, 2013 at 3:06 AM

    Very bright, Monty! There just aren't enough painted Byzantines out there, I'd love an army of them.

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    1. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:29 AM

      Simon, thanks! Yes, and I'm a bit embarrassed to be so late to the Byzantine fan table.

      Delete
  19. Paul´s BodsNovember 14, 2013 at 3:29 AM

    Lovely. I like the red/Yellow Combo on the warlord´s horse.

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  20. Stefan (aka. Monty)November 14, 2013 at 4:14 AM

    Excellent work, Monty.
    I like those bright colours especially on the warlord's horse's barding.

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    1. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:29 AM

      Thanks Monty! If I could do it a 2nd time, I think I'd go checkerboard pattern.

      Delete
  21. DalaupprorNovember 14, 2013 at 5:07 AM

    Greate work Monty, most impressive !

    Best regards Michael

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    1. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:30 AM

      Thanks Michael! I love the new project you're firing up!

      Delete
  22. fireymonkeyboyNovember 14, 2013 at 8:18 AM

    He only needs barding in the front because he never runs away ;)

    FMB

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    1. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:31 AM

      There is the answer, right in front of my nose!

      Delete
  23. DeanMNovember 14, 2013 at 8:24 AM

    Stunning figures - the two-tone barding is a show-stopper. Best, Dean

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  24. Moiterei_1984November 14, 2013 at 10:09 AM

    That's some amazing stuff again! Your warlord is absolutely amazing.

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  25. MontyNovember 14, 2013 at 11:37 AM

    Thanks Andrew, and it looks like you all had a blast at Blog Con!

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  26. The KiwiNovember 14, 2013 at 10:53 PM

    Great work. Like you I have found I really enjoy painting dark age figures.
    cheers

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    1. MontyNovember 16, 2013 at 7:41 AM

      Thanks Kiwi! Dark Ages is almost all I've painted in 2013. Its a big change for me because before 2013, I paint exactly zero Dark Age figures. I have a lot of catching up to do!

      Delete
  27. Ray RousellNovember 15, 2013 at 9:05 PM

    Beautiful painting....so colourful!

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    1. MontyNovember 16, 2013 at 7:43 AM

      Thanks Ray! And thanks to you and Fran for introducing the term "budgie smuggler" into my house. Its a big hit and as a swimmer, I want to make clear that speedos are ok to wear at the pool for lap swimming. ;-)

      Delete
  28. Evan HughesNovember 15, 2013 at 11:08 PM

    Monty, thanks so much for these pics, they are excellent. The strategos is a riot of colour, matching the bold palette of the rest of the warband. Clearly, camo wasn't an option back then, and why should it be, when you can look this fabulous?

    The fatigue markers are a great idea as well, although for one lunatic moment there, I was wondering why each dead guy had a small blackboard easel next to him. "Hmmm, is that so you can chalk in the fatigue figure, perhaps...?" Then it dawned on me, "No, you idiot, that's a space for a die." And yes, it's been a long week!

    Who made the casualty figs, BTW?

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    1. MontyNovember 16, 2013 at 7:48 AM

      Bright is beautiful, baby! Well, that was my theme here and I'm very happy with the results.

      That one is on me. I was a bit rushed getting the pics done and left the small dice out of the frame!

      Gripping Beast offers Viking and Norman casualties. I know there are other makers but here in the US, I can get GB easily and at a good price so they make up most of my warbands.

      Derail alert...I finally got my video card and my main functioning PC is back up and running! This calls for a celebration of some sort!

      Delete
  29. KevNovember 16, 2013 at 6:23 AM

    Superb brushwork Monty

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  30. Sylvia, Reed and KidsNovember 17, 2013 at 7:07 AM

    Great work!

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  31. peterNovember 19, 2013 at 11:17 AM

    Eyecatchers indeed! Lovely colour combination on the horse!

    Greetings
    Peter

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