Young Miniatures - Roman Optio

[RobertC33]

Hi All,
Here's the new bust of Young Miniatures.

Title : [YH1850] ROMAN OPTIO
Size : 1/10 Scale
Material : Resin
Weight : 200g
Pieces : 9
Sculpted by Young B Song
Painted by Kirill Kanaev

 

[JasonB]

Wow
Nice bust and the painting on this one is astounding. Might be the best application of red I have ever seen, and the metallics... . One thing. I believe as an Optio, his crest should run front to back, the Centurions having the crest that ran side to side. Easy correction should you choose to do so, or leave him as is and call him a Centurion.

 

[peedee]

Oh....WOW !


Paul.

 

[Robert Laclavik]

Realy nice bust, but what a painting. I believe, that the reflections on metal parts is painted in! I have not seen something like that before. Unbelievable panting

 

[Redcap]

That is a fabulously sculpted bust and the painting just incredible, truly fabulous I'm sure the experts will know more but it looks like a hybrid Optio and Centurion bust as (to my knowledge of historical findings - but 'never say never') Centurions did not wear Lorica armour and the Optio wore their helmet crest lengthways like a Greek hoplite; not a transverse crest which was how a Centurion wore one.

Perhaps it's an Optio who borrowed his Centurion's helmet or was performing 'Acting' rank duties?

I am not being petty I hope but there is loads of historical info out there to avoid elementary mistakes like this (appears) to be.

Gary

 

[franceso sbarile]

Wow
Nice bust and the painting on this one is astounding. Might be the best application of red I have ever seen, and the metallics... . One thing. I believe as an Optio, his crest should run front to back, the Centurions having the crest that ran side to side. Easy correction should you choose to do so, or leave him as is and call him a Centurion.

Nothing more to say. The role of the crest was to easily identify the Optio and centurion position in battle formation so they should not be confused. Very nice bust.
Francesco

 

[mil-mart]

Superb sculpting and painting, takes it to another level.

Cheers Ken

 

[tonydawe]

 

[Martin Antonenko]

Boooaaaah - what a figure!!!

But I think, his rank should be "Centurio", for he carries the "crista transversa", the transverse helmet bush on his "Imperial Italic Type D"-helmet...:






But this one word does the splendid bust no break.

Cheers

 

[JasonB]

In addition to turning the crest to run front to back, I think it would be necessary to remove the "tail" part of it in the front. I have seen depictions of Optios with the crest forming the tail in the back, so that would be fine either long or short. If leaving him as a Centurion I would remove both tails, if only because they look very Greek to me. As far as Centurions wearing Lorica armor, its a toss up. It is far more common to see them represented as wearing everything but Lorica (chain mail, scale and muscle Cuirass), perhaps again to make them stand out or as a sign of authority, but its probably not out of the question that they could have worn Lorica. This is however the first time that I have seen a Roman depicted as wearing his Flare (decorations) on a harness over Lorica, which may be the reason those Centurions (who would likely have amassed a few decorations in their time) wore something else, it might have been a bit too bulky?

 

[storm_zh]

Very nice bust. Really impressive painting

 

[Reptor]

Wow ! Young is just a master in the bust sculpture! The painting is just beautiful!

 

[Chris Ribchester]

A very nice bust with magnificent painting.

Chris

 

[franceso sbarile]

IMO , as Redcap already said, this is an Hybrid of Centurion and Optio, to move to a centurion lorica segmentata to be removed, to move to an optio crest must be routed, front tail must be removed and two feathers must be added to the side of the crest. Also to me is difficoult to see such a Flare on an Optio.
Cheers
Francesco

 

[Nap]

Hi Guys

It's a nice bust painted really well ....

Wonder why Yooungs decided to name it so

Nap

 

[tomifune]

. This is however the first time that I have seen a Roman depicted as wearing his Flare (decorations) on a harness over Lorica, which may be the reason those Centurions (who would likely have amassed a few decorations in their time) wore something else, it might have been a bit too bulky?

The correct way to display flare:

Bob

 

[MCPWilk]

Superb sculpting and painting. As regards crests and armour, I am in the process of sculpting a 200mm centurion with an Italic H helmet with transverse crest and chain mail shirt. My version of an Optio has a fore & aft crest, but without side feathers:



The problem is that references are somewhat hazy. A newly appointed centurion probably equates to a lieutenant in modern terms (in command of 80 men), whilst the Primus Pilus was a senior officer, probably the equivalent of a colonel or possibly a brigadier. Uniforms, armour, medals and helmets are likely to have been very variable, especially as there was no mass production as understood today. Although there were supply centres producing similar styles of helmets etc., there was also recycling of equipment and the acquisition of kit from defeated enemies on the battlefield. We cannot even state for certain what colour tunics legionaries wore (most likely undyed linen on a daily basis), or what colour their shields were.

Mike

 

[JasonB]

The correct way to display flare:

Bob

15 pieces...minimum

 

[Krest063]

Wow ! Super sculpt and great paint !
Andrey

 

[T50]

Excellent bust!!!