15 mm Byzantine Mounted Commanders (Donnington "Originals")

Introduction

As a change of pace I've painted two command bases for my "fantasy" Byzantine project. This time they are figures specifically bought for the project, not cheap figures from eBay.

In keeping with my "fantasy" approach to this army I painted one commander astride a white horse. Every wargamers knows that all the best commanders ride white horses (except for Alexander the Great of course).

My intention is to use these for the Byzantine armies of Justinian to Nikephoros a five-hundred year span marked by frequent changes in arms and armour. Accordingly, I’ve opted for models whose equipment is indicative rather than strictly historically accurate. Even so, I’m reasonably confident that each figure will be plausible for at least some point within that period!

I'm rather enjoying this flexible approach.

Painting & basing notes

For those interested in such things, some of the colours I used are listed on my new paint recipes page and I wrote a tutourial on painting white horses in 2021. Details of the basing scheme, along with others I use, are available here.

I recently came across a classic railway modeller’s tip: adding just a pinch of talc stops fine foam scatter from clumping after sieving. The clumping is caused by static electricity and the talc helps dissipate that charge. Only a tiny amount is needed, and it doesn’t noticeably alter the colour.

Figure review

The figures are "bold" & stylised sculpts with very prominent details. They suit my preferred cartoon-like painting style. They were straightforward and quick to paint.

They are from the venerable Donnington "Originals" Romano-Byzantine range. Specifically, RBC01 (General), RBC05 (Bucellarius) & RBC06 (Standard Bearer). I used four Donnington horses and a couple from other manufacturers.

I think they were sculpted by the same person who did their Mongol and Thirty Years War figures.

Some filing and scalpel work was required, but nothing significant. Mostly I just cleaned the various edges making them easier to paint.

One thing to note: the standard was attached to the helmet of both RBC06 castings. I separated them with a sharp blade and very gently twisted the standard to allow me to file the helmet smooth. I then twisted it back: both survived the process and were much easier to paint as a result.

Closing remarks

I found these figures a joy to paint and the completed bases feel reassuringly solid & heavy in the hand (as commanders should).

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