I've been very busy with work and clearly neglected my blogging for a bit.
Quite a lot has happened since the last update. Russ and I traded victories in the Punic Wars. In the first battle I used 4BG of velites but left them unsupported and a double 1 on a cohesion test meant they dropped to Fragmented then Broke - and essentially all 4BG were lost while my other troops were trapped in tight terrain. Russ played a blinder and I was soundly trounced.
In the other, I lined up my velites on one side of the battlefield, which Russ countered with his spearmen and scutarii. I then put all the rest of my troops on the other side of the battlefield (except for the cavalry). This meant his best troops faced nothing (as the velites then turned 90 degrees and ran towards the other troops). Thus his cavalry impacted my best troops while his spears were trying to get across. It also meant his elephants were surrounded by 3BG of velites which eventually polished them off (eventually because the dice were not with the Romans this day). His cavalry were eventually despatched - followed by the Gauls - and Rome could breathe easy again.
We've finished most of the scenery now. Just some fields and specialist pieces (lake and marsh) to complete.
Also Russ has now bought a Persian army so I'm now working up my Macedonian / Greek / Seleucid composite army to give us some different battles to fight. I've found out (d'oh) that my pike phalanx is actually an Eastern phalanx (with trousers!) whihc is OK but may mean I need to buy some true Macedonian pikemen (bare legs and greaves).
Russ is also going to paint up some of my Gauls (once his Persians are finished) to reduce the pile of unpainted lead I've got - a nice mutual solution as it gives Russ painting to do and gets me some painted figures!.