Bring on the Saxons, this time for Dux Britanniarum Rules

This is a very old project of mine [started last century, ahem - now that makes me feel old] which looks like it may be finally heading towards the finishing line. Yes, I started it prior to the year 2000, I kid you not, for a collaborative "Dark Ages Skirmish Game" club project that required each member collect, build and paint a small warband of Saxons or Vikings .. I went for the brave Saxons. I also went halves with a fellow club member for half a pack of Gripping Beast 'metal' Saxons, twenty for a tenner .. absolute bargain in hindsight. Sadly, I left London before completing the project and even playing a game. However I did continue painting them, albeit it slowly, using Warhammer Historical Shield Wall as a painting reference (see below, I obviously had great fun with the shields - in the background are more 'plastic' Gripping Beast miniatures recently [as in a couple of years ago] purchased for Saga - then Saga II - again another false start): 

The warband set above is for Dux Britanniarum rules from the Two Fat Lardies stable of games. Third time lucky perhaps. The original pack allows for eighteen for a "warriors" block and a leader, twelve unpainted plastics for a group of twelve elites, three more leaders and a champion - with four "archers" the final group (see below, being based alongside a bevy of 20mm Esci Warsaw Pact Infantry in the foreground):  

A close up of the Saxon Elites and the Saxon Archers (see below, going through PVA basing and rough sand mixture experience for an uneven terrain look): 

Old and new, in the foreground 1970/80s Soviets [20mm], while in the background a millennium earlier, Saxons [28mm] (see below, despite the time and scale differences they still share the same 'basing sand and undercoat'):

More close views of the Saxon Elites (see below, I am already trying to think what patterns the shield will have): 

Next: Comes the primer .. usually a case of time consuming dabbing on of Airfix Acrylic Primer, but I have been recently converted to the art of priming with an aerosol can - it's a lot quicker ;)