First based miniatures

I have finished basing the cannon and limber, an important milestone because it allowed me to work out how I wanted the bases to look, and which materials and techniques to use.

I wanted a muddy look to the ground, without overwhealming the figures, combined with a mix of earth and grass ground covers.

I made the mud using household filler (from a tube), fine sand and very small stones, all mixed with PVA and a household dark grey emulsion. Once dry I dry-brushed this with chocolate brown and dark grey acrylic.

I flocked the base with Footpath Scenes’ Grass Ground Cover Earth and Grass Blend (from Model Scenery Supplies), and added a few puddles with Vallejo Water Effects Still Water. It’s the first time I have used water effects, and I found that it was best to deposit a very small amount on a plastic palette, and then drip it into place with a small brush, gently spreading it into place. Finally, I added a few tufts.

I have to say that I have impressed myself with this, and I am looking forward to seeing how the various figures and equipment will look when finished.

On the work bench at the moment I have:

to base
– Francesco Copinni and Papal standard bearer
– 4 cannon and crews with associated stores

to finish painting
– 8 Flemish hand gunners
– 8 Burgundian crossbow men

undercoated and ready for painting
– Margaret of Anjou command vignette
– Edward Prince of Wales and standard bearer
– Edmund Earl of Rutland and standard bearer
– 8 French hand gunners
– 8 Breton crossbow men
– 24 French mercenaries armed with long spears

Based Yorkist cannon and limber, comprising a Front Rank cannon, converted Perry Miniatures cart, with Perry Miniatures metal and plastic figures, and a Steel Fist Miniatures dolly.

Yorkist cannon and limber based, and French mercenaries armed with long spears

I was making progress with cannon and crews for both sides, and the Yorkist cannon and limber, when I got distracted by the prolific Saxon Dog’s contingent of French mercenaries armed with long spears, recruited by Margaret of Anjou around the time of Tewkesbury, 4 May 1471.

I had enough figures and ‘pikes’ for 12 marching figures, but thought to add a bit of purposefulness with a further 12 in an offensive or a defensive posture. These are a combination of Steel Fist Miniatures’ L13 Late Medieval Front-Ranker dollies and Perry Miniatures’ Wars of the Roses Infantry, European Infantry, and Foot Knights sets.

I will present these as French to complement the small contingents of French hand gunners and Breton crossbow men.

Meanwhile, the 1459 Papal mission in the shape of Francesco Coppini and a standard bearer are ready for basing, about 20 artillery crew figures nearly ready for varnishing, eight hand gunners and eight crossbow men are in quite an advanced state of painting, with another eight hand gunners and eight crossbow men undercoated.

Yorkist cannon and limber, and two contingents of French mercenaries armed with long spears.

Standards, flags, and livery badges

A bit of excitement on my return from the supermarket this morning – an envelope from Pete’s Flags!

On opening, the contents are neatly packaged in a cellophane envelope with a card backing.

I haven’t seen any comparisons with other flags, so I thought to present one here. I already had the flags which come in the information booklet in Perry Miniatures’ plastic sets, and a couple of Little Big Men Studios sets. (I bought the LBM sets for the livery badge transfers, having always intended to use Pete’s Flags and Perry Miniatures for the standards and flags.)

Pete’s Flags are just as lovely as I expected them to be, and the style is compatible with the Perry Miniatures’ square flags that I plan to use. I bought sets for Edward IV, Lord Hastings, Lord Fauconberg, Herny VI, Earl of Northumberland, and Lord Clifford. My first use will be Henry VI’s standard for my Margaret of Anjou command vignette. I am looking forward to getting on with this.

Nicely presented … Pete’s Flags.

I bought sets for Edward IV, Lord Hastings (the Manticore sporting impressive genitalia and Maunch or lady‘s sleeve), Lord Fauconberg, Herny VI, Earl of Northumberland, and Lord Clifford.

A comparison: Pete’s Flags (at the back), Little Big Men Studios (top right), and Perry Miniatures (bottom).

Artillery

I’ve had a bit of time to get on with the project, a bit of painting and a bit of modelling.

The limber for the Front Rank cannon is now in pretty good shape. I had to base the horse and then base the partially painted limber in order to accurately match up the straps and chains of the harnesses.

I have started varnishing the four figures that will complete this vignette, two of which are attired in the azure and murrey livery of Edward IV.

I’ll probably add a couple of tools to the limber platform. The crew figures will walk alongside.

The cannon and limber with the assembled cannons at the rear.

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.