Spanish Caetratus

 

This is the Spanish Caetratus that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 50s and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PB 50.

Both PB ranges were based on Phil Barker's books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. This figure is taken from illustration 50 in AMPW.

The 's' designation was used to distinguish the newer 25mm style of models from the preceding, smaller 1/72nd range. The transition was soon complete and the 's' - special - was dropped from the figure codes thereafter. 

The base is stamped PB 50 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

This figure has the chunky version of the javelin - it was re-modelled with a finer weapon at some point. 

It's not often you find a figure in pristine condition like this, so I thought I'd photograph it warts and all before I got carried away and added it to my Spanish army. 

As you can see the javelin has been carried over behind the figure and into the base - to carry the metal through to the rear end of the javelin when the figure was cast. Obviously, the customer is expected to cut this off! 

Similar feeds were often modelled into the ends of spears or bows, and sometimes you find them dutifully painted on the completed model as if they were part of the figure.