Mercenary artillery

Slowly building momentum, I returned my attention to the artillery, assembling all the cannons and finishing the limber.

I really like the rough hewn appearance of the Front Rank cannons (EQ73), which contrasts with the Perry Miniatures and Copplestone versions. With the limber in mind, I ordered an extra set of wheels from Gripping Beast, and Perry Miniatures’ tipping cart (WR31) forms the basis of the limber.

I added a base to the cart from Plastikard, scored planks of wood, and added grain by firmly rubbing with coarse glass paper. Metal reinforcing strips were added with Plastikard embossed rivet sheet.

I’ll add tools and other items to the limber platform, and crew figures walking alongside. I have one more figure to add, probably carrying a bucket.

The limber ensemble begins to take shape, with the assembled cannons, Front Rank breech loaders on the left, and Copplestone muzzle loaders on the right..

Hail Caesar Wars of the Roses supplement

I have a copy of Warlord Games’ Hail Caesar, so when the Wars of the Roses supplement was published recently I thought to buy it.

As with Blood on the Nile, their Black Powder supplement, it’s a great resource, whether one plays the main rules or not. It’s also full of great photos – inspirational stuff.

I really didn’t want the figure Warlord Games are offering with a purchase from their site, so I bought my copy from Wayland Games, and saved myself a fiver.

Warlord Games’ Hail Caesar Wars of the Roses supplement.

John, Lord Wenlock

I have been grappling with how to approach the organisation of my retinues, mostly who’s-who and their alliances, which were often fluid and self-seeking. I decided to take a top-down view of the project; I ordered a few more personality figures from Perry Miniatures, in order to gather the principal characters together.

When my order arrived it included a rather fine casting of John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock, a character I knew nothing about. As I read anything I could find online, I began to form an impression of an interesting, complex, and skilful player of the era.

Last week I stumbled on Dr Alexander R Brondarbit’s Soldier, Rebel, Traitor: John, Lord Wenlock and the Wars of the Roses and decided to buy it.

I am currently really enjoying the insights into character, lifestyles, and outlook of the era described in Desmond Sewerd’s The Wars of the Roses: Through the Lives of Five Men and Women of the Fifteenth Century, and I think my new book will be similarly revealing.

Perry Miniatures’ John Wenlock and Dr Alexander R Brondarbit’s Soldier, Rebel, Traitor: John, Lord Wenlock and the Wars of the Roses.

Margaret of Anjou and Edward, Prince of Wales

I had a bit of time to organise myself and get a view of my project. Practically, this entailed setting out my main references, and all the personality miniatures along with their associated figures such as pages and standard bearers. I am thinking about including musicians.

As I cogitated on this I made some welcome progress preparing and assembling Margaret of Anjou and her son Edward, along with their standard bearers, a page, and a hound. Margaret needed a bit of work with a file and ProCreate to get a really good fit for the saddle and the reins, but the result is worth the effort.

I have a banner for Edward (included in Perry Miniatures’ Foot Knights plastic set), and will purchase Pete’s Flags Herny VI standard for Margaret’s standard bearer.

Athena Miniatures’ Margaret of Anjou with Perry Miniatures’ Edward, Prince of Wales, and Steel Fist Miniatures’s hound.

Perry Miniatures’ Standard bearer and page.

Margaret of Anjou

I have been thinking about the principal characters I want to include in my collection, and the retinues I want to represent. Studying the standards, banners, and liveries of the various combatants has been instructive, while considering the livery badges, banners, and standards available from Pete’s Flags, Little Big Men Studios, and included in the Perry Miniatures plastic sets.

I have been quite taken by Athena Miniatures’ Margaret of Anjou, and decided to buy it. It’s a lovely miniature, complete with a fellow on foot leading the Queen’s horse by the reins.

I am now thinking to model Henry VI’s queen, and their son, Edward, Prince of Wales, and probably Henry himself – perhaps he will become an objective. I’ll probably add Buckingham to this little group too.

Athena Miniatures’ Margaret of Anjou in the middle, with Perry Miniatures’ horse and foot figure to left and right .

Happy New Year

As 2025 begins I am reading Desmond Seward’s The Wars of the Roses, which documents the lives of five people who lived – and in one case died – at the time: William Hastings, John De Vere, Margaret Beaufort, and Jane Shore.

As I finish my screw gun battery transport mules for a later era, I have restarted my attempt to ‘get my eye in’, continuing to paint anything other than an English retinue and its leader. Francesco Coppini, Papal legate to England and Scotland, and his standard bearer, serve here, then on to finish some mercenaries. I am attempting a different painting style for this project, with less use of Army Painter strong and soft tone shading, and more definite use of paint to define light and shade.

I am beginning to form ideas about which characters and their entourages I wish to represent. As noted in a previous post, John Clifford and the Flower of Craven are intended, with Clifford himself already begun. More of this in due course.

Meanwhile, I hope Santa delivered to you all of the toys you wanted, and that during the coming year all of your dice rolls are sixes!

Amidst mercenary artillery crews, hand gunners, and crossbowmen, Francesco Coppini and his Papal standard bearer, with John Clifford sneaking in to view, top right.

Ragged Staff Miniatures 3D resin prints

I’ve been interested in these characterful miniatures for a while, and curious to see the quality of 3D printed resin for myself I ordered four … and now they have arrived.

I ordered Watchful Lord, Captain of Archers, Knight Baronet with helm, and Loyal Standard Bearer. These are delicate, finely detailed prints, with no visible trace of the production process. The pole weapons are a little bit too flexible, so I will probably substitute these with plastic versions. They sit very well with my Steel Fist Miniatures and Perry Miniatures castings though, so I am looking forward to thinking about which retinues they will be recruited to.

Top: Watchful Lord, Captain of Archers, Loyal Standard Bearer, and Knight baronet with helm. Bottom: on the left Steel Fisst Miniatures dolly with Perry Miniatures plastic head and arms; on the right Perry Miniatures metal casting.