A bit of momentum, at last!

I have finally finished the two long spear (pike) armed companies, which join the French mercenary contingent.

I’m working on a representation of Pierre de Brézé, first cousin of Margaret of Anjou, to command the mercenaries. Margaret of Anjou’s command group is coming along, and Baron John Wenlock’s command group is ready for undercoating. I’m trying to decide whether the man at arms is imploring Wenlock to don his helmet.

I’ve also prepared two companies of bill men and one of archers for painting. One company of bill men and one of archers will comprise Wenlock’s retinue. I’ll get on with painting these while assembling more figures.

Two companies of French mercenaries armed with long spears.

Baron John Wenlock considers donning his helmet.

A small host of figures ready for painting, along with Margaret of Anjou, Edward Prince of Wales, Baron John Clifford, and Edmund Earl of Rutland. Since taking the photo I have blocked-in the flesh.

Getting organised

I’ve been thinking about buying a rack for my paint for a while, and finally got around to it.

I also needed some more hydro foam for my wet palette, and some new sculpting tools for modelling long boots for Clifford’s mounted archers, so I sought these out at Green Stuff World. Overall, including shipping, this worked out ten quid cheaper than Amazon.

The rack is easy to assemble, and with a bit of wood glue for good measure the result is sturdy and stable. It looks neat, and has capacity for 60 17ml bottles.

Tidy!

French long spear armed mercenaries

Happy New Year to my readers, wherever you are in the world.

I had planned more progress with painting over the Christmas period, but influenza had other ideas. I am recovering, and now well enough to do a bit painting.

I have almost finished painting the first two ranks of the long spear (pike) armed French, with just a bit of detailing to do.

I have received another delivery from Steel Fist Miniatures, one of the figures – a flag bearer – is destined for Clifford’s company of dismounted archers. I am looking forward to starting these.

Slow but steady progress with the French mercenaries, a satisfying mix of Perry Miniatures and Steel Fist Miniatures.

Lancastrian limber ready for action

The Lancastrian cannon and limber are ready to join Margaret of Anjou’s army.

This model was inspired by Graham Turner’s painting The Hard Road to Tewkesbury in the fabulous The Wars of the Roses: The Medieval Art of Graham Turner, a similar model shown on the inspirational Full Harness blog, and informed by a bit of internet research looking at contemporary drawings and paintings.

The limber is from Perry Miniatures’ American War of Independence range (AW117), while the cannon is by Mark Copplestone. The figures are Perry Miniatures with one by Mark Copplestone holding the horse.

Graham Turner’s painting The Hard Road to Tewkesbury.

The model from the Full Harness blog.

My finished model, which isn’t as shiny as it looks here.

Lancastrian artillery: cannon and limber

The French cannon and limber in Lancastrian service is finally ready for basing.

The limber is from Perry Miniatures’ American War of Independence range (AW117), while the cannon is by Mark Copplestone.

The figures are Perry Miniatures with one by Mark Copplestone holding the horse.

French artillery on the move, and ready for basing.

Lancastrian French mercenaries

After a lengthy hiatus I have managed to finish two more small companies of French mercenaries.

A company of eight crossbow armed men and another of eight hand gunners will join the two French cannon, part of the Lancastrian mercenary contingent.

I have added a few pavises with different sized fleur-de-lis.
I also revisited the Yorkist mercenaries, adding a few more pavises for the Burgundians and the Flemish here, and ground foliage.

The fleur-de-lis and heraldic wolf waterslide transfers are from The Mighty Brush. These are very crisply defined and come in a range of very useful sizes. Everything else is hand painted.

I’ve also made some progress with the long spear (pike) armed companies and command figures. I want to finish these, the Lancastrian ‘butterfly’ limber and cannon vignette, then move on to the first of Clifford’s Flower of Craven.

The Mighty Brush waterslide transfer sheets.

The French company of handguners, a mix of Perry Miniatures and Steel Fist Miniatures figures.

The French crossbow armed company, more Perry Miniatures and Steel Fist Miniatures figures.

French hand culverins – lovely Mark Copplestone miniatures.

Mounted archers

I’m planning to have at least one company of mounted archers, with a matching set of dismounted figures.

I wanted to model a few horses waiting patiently for their masters to finish loosing arrows, so I sought out suitable models from Claymore Castings medieval range.

These are lovely pieces, finely detailed and crisply cast. I bought three sets, six horses in all. The first will be modelled for Clifford’s Flower of Craven.

Patient standing horses.