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
