Progress on all fronts

This week I assembled the men-at-arms and bill armed men for Hastings’ contingent, finished the bridges, and thought to take stock.

I have a fair few figures with a fair bit of paint on now, and I really need to get on with finishing these, since I don’t have room to assemble Hastings’ archers. A clutch of command groups, Wenlock’s two companies, and Clifford’s mounted archers are in the frame for finishing next.

The two bridges are finished, and I am waiting on delivery of custom MDF bases for them.

Left-to-right: some of Clifford’s dismounted archers, a headless Clifford (in Or – yellow) and his mount, Hastings’ companies of men-at-arms and bill armed men, and nine as yet unassigned bill armed figures.

Left-to-right: Edmund Earl of Rutland, Edward Prince of Wales, Margaret of Anjou, John Baron Wenlock and his companies of bill armed men and archers.

A pair of Clifford’s mounted and dismounted archers, and Hastings, his standard bearer, and a man-at-arms holding Hastings’ helmet.

The finished bridges.

More from Pete’s Flags, and a project plan

It’s been too hot to paint; my study is on the south side of my house and it’s been scorchio for weeks, so I busied myself with some figure assembly, more reading, and planning.

I reviewed the flags and standards that I have from Pete’s Flags and from the Perry Miniatures’ plastic sets, and made a plan for the various factions.


Lancastrian forces

Queen Margaret of Anjou will take to the field with a force of French mercenaries armed with long spears (pikes), hand gunners, crossbowmen, and artillery.

Edward Prince of Wales, Duke of Lancaster, will lead a small retinue of men-at-arms in full harness.

The main army will comprise:

John Clifford, 9th Baron de Clifford
leading The Flower of Craven, a mounted unit of men-at-arms, spears, and archers.

Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset

Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland

John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock

Henry Grey, 4th Baron Grey of Codnor

Sir Robert Baynton

All except Clifford will lead retinues of men-at-arms, archers and bill men.

The alchemist Henry Grey might even conjure mythical beasts!


Yorkist forces

Edward IV, accompanied by his brother Edmund Earl of Rutland, will field a retinue of men-at-arms in full harness, archers, and artillery, the latter commanded by John Judd, Master of The King’s Ordnance.

The main army will comprise:

John Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter
leading a mounted unit armed with spears and bows

Sir John Howard, Duke of Norfolk

William Neville, Earl of Kent, Lord Fauconberg

Sir William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings

John Tuchet, Baron Audley

Retinues will comprise archers, bill men and men-at-arms of various strengths. Since he was one of the wealthiest men in England, Hastings may field more figures in full harness. Fauconberg may lead a unit comprising mainly or exclusively archers.

I’ll need flags for Fitzwalter.

Pete’s Flags for Somerset, Wenlock, and Norfolk.

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 .