"LBMS Caesarian shield transfers and...." Topic

Is there another Shield Transfer producing company that is on par with LBMS and makes Marian/ Caesarian period transfers?

LBMS makes 10 variations but eventually I'd like to game Pharsalus so I would need a few more.

Thanks for any directions.

I have a question and a suggestion. Suggestion: If they make a pattern on a white background, you can change the color by sticking it on a shield painted in a different base color, if that is enough of a difference?

Question: I'm wondering whether you could get away with shields without a pattern? I was reading in the armies and enemies of the macedonian and punic wars that the Romans did not use blazons in that period. I'm not sure when they started using them and whether they might still just be using solid shields in Caesar's time?

A good point AND a good question.

Re: under paint colors, the answer is, I don't know! In 30 years of miniature war gaming I've never used shield transfers. This will kind of be my experiment. It's worth a try though.

As to unadorned shields, I was either planning to do that or do transfers but not a mix of both. I finally decided I would do transfers on the Marian stuff and leave my Middle Republic stuff unadorned.

Cheers.

Lbms work best on white or very light colors. They are a much advanced transfer compared to the water slide vvv ones for example.

I occassionly cut out smaller detail sections, put on dark colored cloaks and then paint over the pattern, sometimes I then claim outstanding freehand skills……

There is Magister Militum.

magistermilitum.com/scale/28mm/rr12-caesarean-roman.html

You can pick the colour of the print (monocolour). In that sense they are more like VVV.

(Edit: Wait! Maybe they are just VVV transfers …)

There is always doing it yourself!

Here is a quick guide to that:

tinyhordes.com/making-your-own-transfers

If you do not have a colour laser printer, a print-shop will and they are often just a dollar a copy (for an 8.5 x 11 sheet (A4ish)).

Testors makes transfer sheets, I am sure other companies do as well.

TBH I'm not even sure there even WERE shield designs during that period- so maybe just paint them basic colours? Some lines and graffiti on top? That's what I do. :-)

There was another post recently linking Barker's Imperial Rome book, which begins its survey with the Marian style army. He claims that legions began using uniform shield designs and symbols, but the evidence is sketchy at best for uniformity throughout a legion or cohort.

Thanks all! BRB, I may just do that indeed!

I wonder if anyone has any experience painting a (light) non white color and putting LBMS transfers over them? How'd that work out or does only white really work?

Any light colour will help the colours on the decals appear brighter. White is the brightest colour so naturally will work the best.

However, you may not really notice that much of a difference.

Like BigRedBat noted, there is no definitive evidence of what shield designs would have been (or colours!).

Take a look online and see how nice looking armies with just a single colour to the shields look (personally, I think they look very good!).

You could add designs to the shields over time, as well. (This would be the easiest for individually mounted figures.)

I haven't tried a bunch of colors, but I have tried an LBMS transfer with a white background with a black macedonian star on a couple of different colors. It happens to look great on bronze. I imagine if the pattern isn't black, it could be tricky, but I'm keen also to try a red pattern.

Some of these have Foundry transfers, they are waterslides and work over colours.

Cool, thanks guys!

They are a much advanced transfer compared to the water slide vvv ones for example.

Oh really. I thought you had to cut LBMS transfers out from the backing paper. Then again VVV transfers (mine) are on a clear film, so you can have any background colour you like.
RR12 transfers (Ceasarian)

Then have a look at XX2 designs on this pdf for Republican designs
PDF link
And remember the mantra

VVV transfers are printed onto a clear background film, allowing you to create your choice of shield design. The film is also printed, with holes for shield boss etc so no cutting out needed. Just soak in water and apply.

Can you get the XX2 designs individually on full sheets like the RR12 ones?

I am afraid that VVV sheets are what they are, a sheet. Its because they are silk screen printed, which is why we can print the carrier film as well as the designs. Also means a screen for the film and a screen for each colour, which is why VVV sheets are mostly single colour designs (although in a range of colours).
The RR12 sheet is just a sheet of a single design.

you have not had a lot of experience with LBMS? I await your howls of pain.

Here are some specifically designed for Agema's Republican Romans:

wargametransfers.com/agema-miniatures-shields.html

There are some great pictures on the web re what you are going to do. He has a mixture of different designs and also plain shields
link