"Late Romans and early Byzantines" Topic

After reading Ian Hughes book on Belisarius I bought a few of the Aventine early Byzantines as a tester. I'm aware of the history so expecting to see a lot of similarities but I'm struggling to see the difference between early Byzantines and "Late Romans". This is reinforced by several ranges being described as late Roman/early Byzantine.

The Gripping Beast plastic infantry are described as suitable for later Roman/early Byzantine from the 4th to 5th century and early 6th century up to the wars of Justinian. Would this apply to the Aventine figures too or am I missing something?

The only difference I can see at the moment is the use of crested helmets on some late Roman figures (Gripping Beast and Footsore).

These are the ranges I'm comparing

Footsore who state their figures are "Late Roman/Romano-British/Early Byzantine"
link

Gripping Beast plastics described as later Roman/early Byzantine in fact they state on the box 4th to 5th century and early 6th century upto the wars of Justinian.
link

link

Aventine (my preferred choice)
link

I'm not too sure if any of us modern folk have an answer to how different the Late Romans looked from the Early Byzantines. All the evidence that remains is fragmentary, and sometimes contradictory. Personally, I would use crested helmets, drop plumes, or bare helmets to mark different units or ranks, etc. No one can say you're wrong. I think the most significant change was the increasing prestige of cavalry, due to the recruitment of many nomads, and the subsequent change in cavalry equipment due to their influence after the 440's or so. Just my two cents, for what it's worth.

My guess is the early eastern troops still looked a lot like figures from "late Roman" ranges after the fall of the western empire; so about 476. The exception would likely be more heavy horse archers. There are then 6 emperors before Justinian (527) and his attempts to regain the west. Again my guess is a slow transition to the troop types used by the general Beisarius (the common wargames early Byzantine army). Aventine likely model the latter; the other manufacturers the former.

The Vinica fortress plaques –

and discussed at link – are probably 6th-century "Early Byzantine" soldiers.

"Hold, hold it, where are you, boys going?"

"Uh..to the fields?"

"Not dressed like that you aren't. We're the Early Byzantines now, not Late Roman
anymore since the whole 395/476 debacles. See? Your crested Germanic-looking helmets need to be tossed over there and you need to wear these weird pointy things."

Somehow I doubt the above happened. If it's close, say within a century, you can use it. Uniform accuracy anytime before the Industrial Revolution leaves a lot be desired.

There were no uniforms per se. Soldiers scrounged what suited them. Perhaps at the beginning of a campaign tunics or shields were painted similarly to distinguish units. But this may have been the exception rather than the rule. Anyway, our miniature armies are probably much prettier than the real thing.