Advise for painting Goths?

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Skullzgrinda
Master Sergeant - U-boat
Master Sergeant - U-boat
Posts: 528
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:32 pm
Location: Dixie

Advise for painting Goths?

Post by Skullzgrinda »

And please, no comments about black t-shirts, green mohawks and chrome nose rings! :roll:

IIRC WRG had something to the effect of "faun" colored linen tunics, with somber colors edging the tunic hem, but something odd about whether the collar or cuffs were or were not edged in contrasting color - I cannot remember what the unusual wrinkle was and cannot locate the book anymore - buried in some box in the garage I hope.

Anyway, I figured a lot of medium and light value neutral and natural colors for the pants and tunics, darker browns, grays and black with perhaps some restrained dark blues, greens and reds for cloaks and trims. Here and there some Late Roman tunics amongst the nobles. Simple shield patterns, perhaps some imitations of the more basic Roman shield patterns as well. Ho hum. Anyway, does anyone have any informed knowledge of what the Goths did or probably looked like for clothing colors? The formula above except for the half remembered WRG reference is just my own speculation assuming bare bones resources for an often fugitive bunch of nomads.

Feel free to correct me. I am not enamored of the scheme as it seems so painfully drab. Creative use of light and dark values might save it though.
walker75le
Lance Corporal - Panzer IA
Lance Corporal - Panzer IA
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:19 am

Painting Goths

Post by walker75le »

I used the Osprey "WARRIOR' series reference book no 17 - "Germanic Warrior AD 236 - 568' as my own principal colouring guide. It really is great value and gives you a wealth of information on clothing and equipment for the Goths from period.

It all pretty much depends on what period of the Ostro/VisiGoth armies you are planning. If it pre or post the Adrianople campaign? If 'Pre' then you colour/equipment option will be pretty dull and limited. 'Post' the Goth army will look very much like a Late Roman Foederate army. (Barbarians with Roman Equipment). As their leaders wealth and political/military importance increased over the ensuing 5th C, so equally did their wardrobe and equipment options!

My own Goth armies started life as 5th C 'Foederate' ally/levy options for my Late Roman's and Hun armies respectively. I then found that I could not stop adding mounted and foot units to this army. I think of the 5th C Goths simply as a 'Barbarian Late Roman army' and have painted and modelled mine accordingly. There are plenty of great figures in both 28mm and 15mm to choose from, with many 'barbarians types with Roman equipment' to chose from. This army certainly does not need to look dull.

Good luck.
Skullzgrinda
Master Sergeant - U-boat
Master Sergeant - U-boat
Posts: 528
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:32 pm
Location: Dixie

Post by Skullzgrinda »

Thanks for that, walker. I will get the book you recommend. I am slogging through a bunch of Alans right now, but the Goths and Huns are at the gates, demanding attention.
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