Roman Auxiliary Heavy Cavalry - Early 1st Century

This is the Auxiliary Heavy Cavalry - Early 1st Century that first appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PBC 110. I have added 'Roman' to the title - Minifigs taking it as read. 

As with all the 'PB' range it is derived from Phil Barker's pair of books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. PBC standing for Phil Barker Cavalry. This figure corresponds with illustration 10 in the first edition of AEIR.

He is riding the ubiquitous PBH 65-217 which is listed as two different horses in the 72/73 catalogue: PBH 65 Cavalry Horse and PBH 217 Roman Cavalry Horse 1st and 2nd Centuries AD. The code is stamped on the base in the usual way.

As is often the case we have both rider and mount with saddlecloth - the result of Minifigs' never quite knowing whether to put the cloth on the horse or on the rider.

I've not see variations in the thickness of spear with this model, but the chances are that there are 'thick' and 'thin' versions out there.

This figure has what is described as a Gallic shield and wears scale armour. The illustration the model is taken from lacks a helmet but the designer has thoughtfully given it one taken from the preceeding illustation of a light cavalryman.