Late Roman Armoured Cavalry: 28mm Dark Ages Unit Guide

Plan the unit around command figures first

The Victrix Late Roman Armoured Cavalry set gives you 12 riders and 12 horses, with enough optional parts to build an officer, a musician and a standard bearer alongside nine troopers. Before you glue anything, decide which three riders will carry the command roles. That choice affects head selection, arm pairs and cloak placement, and it is easier to make on the sprue than after assembly.

The set includes varied head and arm options with spears, javelins and swords, plus standard bearer and musician arms. Cloaks are also included to make command figures stand out from the troopers. Sort those parts into three piles: command, trooper and spare. The spare pile is useful because the set is designed for versatility, and you may want to use leftover heads or shields later.

What the box provides for your unit plan

• Late Roman Armoured Cavalry: 12 riders with options for officer, musician and standard bearer, plus 12 horses with javelin cases, water bottles and bedrolls. This confirms you can build a full 12-model unit with integrated command and horse gear without buying extra models.

  

• Late Roman Armoured Cavalry: Many and varied head and arm options with spears, javelins and swords, plus standard bearer and musician arms. These options let you vary poses across the unit and equip the command figures appropriately.
• Late Roman Armoured Cavalry: Cloaks are included to make command figures stand out from the troopers. Cloaks give you a simple visual way to mark the officer, musician and standard bearer on the tabletop.

Assembly order for a 12-rider unit

Work in batches so the command figures do not get lost among the troopers. The sequence below keeps the unit visually consistent while still giving each model a distinct role.

1. 1. Separate command parts: Put the standard bearer arm, musician arm and any cloaks you plan to use into one tray. Decide which three riders will be the officer, musician and standard bearer.
2. 2. Match heads to roles: The set includes many head options. Give the command figures the most distinctive heads, and keep the plainer heads for troopers so the unit reads clearly at a glance.
3. 3. Choose weapons for the troopers: The set includes spears, javelins and swords. Mix these across the nine troopers to suggest a real cavalry unit rather than a uniform block.
4. 4. Add horse gear: The 12 horses include javelin cases, water bottles and bedrolls. Fit these to the horses before attaching riders, so you can reach the horse sides easily.
5. 5. Attach riders and cloaks last: Once the horse gear is in place, attach the riders. Add cloaks to the command figures after the rider is seated, so the cloak sits naturally over the shoulders.

Choose shields and heads for the look you want

The set includes two sizes of oval shield: a large oval S1 and a smaller oval S2. The supplied description notes that historical reference seems to depict two sizes in use by Late Roman heavy cavalry, so both are included for that reason. You can use the new cavalry transfer sheets on the larger oval shields, or you can use previous Late Roman, Byzantine, Goth and Romano British transfers on them. That gives you a way to tie the cavalry to an existing infantry force or to a different army entirely.

The versatility extends to heads. The set is designed so you can use all the heads from the previous Late Roman infantry, which gives you even more variety. The same design approach means you could easily use these models as Romano British and Goth cavalry by adding the appropriate head, shield or cloak. If you plan to do that, decide before assembly which models will be which, because the head and shield choice carries most of the visual identity.

Shield and transfer options from the record

• Late Roman Armoured Cavalry: Two sizes of oval shield are included: a large oval S1 and a smaller oval S2, as historical reference seems to depict two sizes in use by Late Roman heavy cavalry. You can vary shield size across the unit or standardise on one size for a cleaner look.
• Late Roman Armoured Cavalry: You can use the new cavalry transfer sheets or previous Late Roman, Byzantine, Goth and Romano British transfers on the larger oval shields. Transfers let you mark the unit as Late Roman or repurpose it for another force without freehand painting.
• Late Roman Armoured Cavalry: The versatility of the set means you can use all the heads from the previous Late Roman infantry, and you could easily use these models as Romano British and Goth cavalry by adding the appropriate head, shield or cloak. This is the key decision point if you want one box to serve more than one army.

Painting armoured cavalry miniatures in a batch

The riders are described as Roman heavy cavalry in mail and scale armour of the 4th to 6th centuries. That gives you a clear painting brief: armour first, then the rider's clothing and horse. Because the unit has 12 riders and 12 horses, batch painting by stage will keep the project moving. Work on all the horses together, then all the riders, then the shields and cloaks.

The supplied record does not include painting instructions, specific paint colours or step-by-step techniques. Treat any painting order you choose as your own workflow rather than a manufacturer requirement. A practical approach is to assemble the horses and riders separately, paint the horse gear while the horse sides are accessible, and leave the shields off until the rider is painted. The two shield sizes and the cloaks give you natural places to add contrast, but the record does not confirm which colours are appropriate for a specific unit, so that decision is yours.

One box, three possible armies

The set is built for versatility, but each use asks something different from you. This comparison is based only on the supplied product description.

• Late Roman heavy cavalry: Use the included heads, shields and cloaks as intended. The large oval S1 and smaller oval S2 shields both fit this role, and the cavalry transfer sheet can mark the unit.
• Romano British cavalry: The record says you could easily use these models as Romano British cavalry by adding the appropriate head, shield or cloak. You will need to source those parts separately if they are not in your spares.
• Goth cavalry: The same note applies to Goth cavalry: the appropriate head, shield or cloak changes the identity. The box gives you the armoured riders and horses; the conversion parts are your choice.

What the supplied record does not confirm

The record does not include specifications such as figure height, base size, material or assembly instructions beyond the parts list. It also does not include care, safety or compatibility guidance. If you need a specific base size for your ruleset, check the product page or the packaging rather than assuming one from this guide. The set is listed as coming soon to the Late Roman range with Light Cavalry, Horse Archers and Cataphracts, but the record does not give release dates or prices for those future sets.

The catalog price shown is USD 20.70, with a comparison price of USD 30.00. Prices can change, so confirm the current price before ordering. The record does not state how many of each arm or head option is included, so if you need a specific combination for all 12 riders, check the frame contents or plan to use spares from the Late Roman infantry set.

Product facts for your buying decision

• Late Roman Armoured Cavalry: This set represents Roman heavy cavalry in mail and scale armour of the 4th to 6th centuries. It sets the historical period and armour type, which helps you decide whether the unit fits your army's timeline.
• Late Roman Armoured Cavalry: The box contains 12 riders and 12 horses, with options for officer, musician and standard bearer. One box gives you a complete 12-model unit with command, which is the core buying decision.
• Late Roman Armoured Cavalry: Catalog price is USD 20.70, with a comparison price of USD 30.00. This is the supplied price context; confirm the current price before ordering.