Italeri

1/72 (15mm) Gladiators

Kit Number 6062

Reviewed By Jim Pearsall, #2209

MSRP: $9.00 USD

Thanks to Italeri for the motivation to paint figures again, something I haven’t done in a long time!

The set contains a chariot and 2 figures (driver & spearman) with 2 horses, 2 lions, a bear, and 12 other figures.  Two of the figures are set in a small diorama where a victorious gladiator has either slain his opponent, or disabled him, and is waiting for the verdict from the crowd.

Gladiators were the superstar sports heroes of the Roman Empire.  A standard day at the “games” might begin with pitting some hapless prisoners of war against each other, or animal baiting, where either two animals fought each other or an armed man fought an animal.  The big attraction, next to the closing (vaudeville had nothing on Rome!) was a series of gladiators.  The games finished with executions of criminals of various sorts, unpopular religionists, and other enemies of the state.

Gladiators came in several types, each simulating an enemy of Rome.  There were retarii, who used the net and trident, and represented maritime enemies.  There were secutors, the standard opponent of the retarius, who carried a sword and shield, and wore a helmet.  Another “brand” of secutor was the murmillo, similarly equipped, but with a different helmet.  There were also hoplomachii, representing the Greek hoplite infantry, with a round shield, thraexii (Thracians), equites (horsemen, who nonetheless fought dismounted), and provocators, who had a wide brimmed helmet and a breast plate.  None of this equipment could be mistaken for the standard issue for the Roman army.

Gladiators did not wear full battle armor, as the gladiators indicated their readiness to die by not wearing full protection.  It also made for a better and faster contest.  Much of the gladiator mystique was built around the willingness to kill or be killed, and to do so with courage and honor.  Most Romans only lived about 30 years, so death was a constant companion, and personal mortality was never far from the average citizen’s thoughts.

So what does this set do for the average modeler?   Dioramas.  The equipment was not used in “real” battles, but the popularity of gladiatorial contests persists.  Part of my research for this review was watching Russell Crowe in “Gladiator.”

The figures are pretty well molded in soft plastic.  The soft plastic militates against fine detail, particularly faces.  Given the limitation of the medium, the figures look good.

The retarius has a pretty relaxed pose, but he also looks like a linebacker just coming out of the huddle.  The net could be made of the gauze from a band aid.  Previous attempts in this scale to mold a net have looked lumpy and out of scale.  The musculature on the arms and legs is athletic, as are all the figures.  Well done.

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