The last practice game for the refight of Zama at the Society of Ancients Battle Day at Bletchley this Saturday. Dave and I are providing the Carthaginian and Roman armies at 25mm, so the last three months has been manic painting and rebasing, as well as weekly test games to refine the army lists and deployment. We are doing it at double normal DBMM scale, so 1 element is 500 men (neither of us could afford to provide the figures for normal scale). Last night was the last run through, aided by Chris Hanley, so here are some photos of the almost finished armies - still 2 days of painting to go...

First up, the Roman army, part by part. The right wing, of Numidians under Massinissa. These need quite a bit of work, although they will probably just get a quick inking tonight.

Next, the Roman centre, consisting of the two Roman legions - V and VI. Legio V has the white shields with blue boars, Legio VI has the red shields with yellow boars.

Legio V is flanked by its allies, Latin colonists and Italian socii:

As is Legio VI on the other side. The allies have varied shield patterns to distinguish them from the Romans.

On the left flank are the Roman and Italian cavalry, commanded by Laelius.

Now the Carthaginians arrive and start deploying. In front are the juvenile elephants, modelled as Expendables because of their minimal impact in the real battle. Behind them are the second line - the late Mago's mercenary army from Liguria. The third line is the Carthaginian levy spearmen and behind them are Hannibal's seasoned veterans from Italy.

The two armies, from the Roman point of view:

And again from the Carthaginian point of view:

And now the action in the centre, after the elephants have been disposed of and the Roman hastati are slugging it out hand to hand with the Ligurians.

The end of the Ligurians - the last remnants are about to break and the Carthaginian levies brace for the Roman impact. The Romans have had to bring up principes to fill the holes in the front line though, so both sides are suffering.