"Should I "shield" my Numidians?" Topic

I'm building a late Republican Roman army, and am using some plastic Numidians I got in a trade with another fellow across town. I was going to use them as simple skirmishers, so I have javelins in every bloody hand you can find, but I was thinking I might cut and scrape the "hoplite" shields they came with into something resembling hide, and use them as my auxiliary light infantry.

I'm wondering if I could use hide shields for light infantry (if I did, they could double as skirmishers if need be), or if I should use some Roman-trained imitation Numidian legionaries for that role (but wouldn't they then be fighting like the close-order legionaries I already have?). What do you think?

I would.

the figures i use have shields

I would, too. You might be able to use the heads of tacks or drawing pins.

You probably should. It's a very nasty world out there.

:)

now that idea re: the heads of tacks is worth the price of admission, thanks

I did that years ago, using drawing pins, to convert Hinchliffe unshielded Greek light cavalry into Carthaginians.

now all we need is an entire range of Little bigmen decals to fit tacks/drawing pins

Cool. I'll snag another box of Numidians and shield them up for use as my light infantry. I was shooting for a Senatorial, "Thapsus-ish" theme for this army, so that should fit right in.

I'll look into that thumbtack idea, and also see if the plastic shields they come with can be trimmed and modified a bit. Should be fun.

I have been using tack heads with plastic figures since 1975, converting Arifix French cuirassiers into Carthaginian HC. Those were the days.
I also used beer can tabs for Celtic shields with US Cavalry.
Back in those days, Real Men painted their shields.
Genesis 6:4

I'd think a think skin of greenstuff over a tack would make a particularly fine Numidian shield.