Thursday 3 April 2014

Mediaeval Steel


I now challenge you to get this out of your head;



Now that’s the background music sorted, on with the toys. Since I’m now back on the15mm Mediaeval swing, thought I’d take some better pictures of the Feudal Scots I’d previously posted here, in addition to new work in progress.

As previously noted, the plan behind this project is the Feudal host of Alexander III, with a bit of forward stretch to Bannockburn. Maybe.  At some point. Essentially it was an excuse to paint the heraldry of the combined nobility of Scotland in 15mm. Not one of my brighter ideas, I grant you. With this in mind, some heavy horse were the first pieces to be painted. Normal DBM rules call for a maximum of 5 bases of these guys, at three figures a pop. I’ve got 12 to do, as conventional DBM games, featuring “what everyone knows” as the composition of Scottish mediaeval armies do not figure in my plans.

The Community  of the Realm
The first couple of bases finished feature some of the pre-eminent Earls and Lords of the Kingdom. From left to right-
John de Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl; Uilleam II, Earl of Ross; Maol Iosa III, Earl of Strathearn; Domhnall I, Earl of Mar; John Comyn, Earl of Buchan; John II “The Black” Comyn, Lord of Badenoch.




Atholl, Ross, Strathearn 



Mar, Buchan, Badenoch






Work in Progress, Gilbert de la Haye, Constable of Scotland.
He’ll feature on a base with two of the other Great Officers of Scotland; Walter Stewart, the High Steward, and William Keith, the Earl Marschall.






The Commonality of the Realm
The inevitable pike blocks. In this case, lead by Robert Wishart, the indefatigable Bishop of Glasgow. Wishart can be seen in the front rank, resplendent in his red and white heraldry, attired “like a man of war”, and in possession of his trusty flanged mace; as a churchman, Wishart was forbidden to use an edge against another man, however this did not it would seem, prohibit  him from spattering out their brains with a blunt object…

When finished, the schiltron will be 4 rank deep, with the well equipped, semi-professional soldiers in the front rank, with the better off burgesses and farmers behind them, backed up by the more poorly equipped subtenants, cottars and other “arrant scum”.


Wishart and Co.
“Never mind your leaky roof, Abbot, The Cause needs more lead for a trebuchet counterweight…”




Front ranks






Second rank




I’m currently working on another base of second rank men, and making a start on the Earl Marschall. However, doinf nothing but heavy horse and pike has sent me a little strange, so to counteract this, I’ve ordered some archers from Essex Miniatures, enough to do 8 bases of three, under the command of Sir John Stewart of Bonkyll.

Other more esoteric units to follow will be ribaulds (also on order), hobilars, Highlanders and Islesmen. I’ll intersperse the painting of these with more pike and heavy horse, in a desperate bid to preserve my sanity, or at least until I get another attack of the Ooh Shinies, and whale off to do more 20mm Cold War, or 28mm French & Indian War, or Hundred Years War, or…

Cheers
Iain

Wednesday 2 April 2014

2014 to Date in Painting.


With one thing and another this year, I haven’t had a great deal of time for painting so far, most of my efforts have been focussed towards the continuation of the 20mm Cold War Project, and a long overdue addition to the 28mm Muskets & Tomahawks force.

After the completion of the Fox armoured car shown in the last update, Cold War doings have otherwise been somewhat Soviet, as I worked my way through Elhiems’s Soviet Support Weapons pack.

Following the completion of the figures for these back in February, I’ve now finished a spotter for the sniper and a No. 2 for the SA-7 operator, who’ll be based in pairs, and a further Motor Rifleman.
Things were going fine until I realised half-way through painting that I’d forgotten to sculpt a hood onto the spotter’s smock…

However, with the addition of this, I was back on track…






…and finally managed to get everyone based up.






Sniper Team




SA-7 Team


Motor Riflemen



In addition to this, back in the world of 28mm, I finally got on with the 3pdr Butterfly Gun from Perry Miniatures. While not the best set of castings I’ve ever received from Perry Miniatures, which are normally pretty damn good, a night spent with a scalpel and needle file soon had things sorted out, and work got under way.



 With the crew finished (now complete with correct coloured plumes)…




 …I could concentrate on the gun itself



And the beast was done*…!





However, with that all done, and with the help of a number of decent mediaeval themed documentaries having recently appeared on iPlayer, my fickle nature has risen to the fore, and I’ve taken a wild swerve back to painting 15mm Mediaevals. Me? Easily Distracted? Nev- ooh a birdie….
On with the Feudal Scots!

Cheers
Iain




*Spot the musical reference.