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.