The
big aim of this challenge ( apart from a big push on terrain) was to
paint up some light cavalry units for the Great Italian Wars, so I have
painted command bases, pike blocks, artillery and wagons, none of which I
really need (I now have 3'0" of artillery pieces for the Italian wars
lined up side by side!). So finally I have a unit of mounted crossbowmen
finished! Most of these are Hinchcliffe figures with Perry head swaps,
which I think works pretty well, the change of heads help because they
are all in the same pose, still I quite like them, which is good as I
have two more units primed up! There is also an unknown ebay purchased
mounted crossbow man, the flag bearer is an old glory spare and the
slightly anachronistic Henry VIII type chap (who I am using as the unit
proprietor as it were) is a Hinchcliffe one piece moulding.
The
colour scheme is inspired by Simon Miller's recent Italian army over on
his Big Bat Cave blog. We seem to be going through a phase of warlord
Pike and Shotte games (ECW campaign at the moment) and I'd like to have a
go with the Italian wars, but we will no doubt go back to To the
Strongest as we really enjoyed that ruleset too.
I
hope to add some more troops in the last phase of the challenge, this
should take me past 500, halfway to my rather optimistic total and so
half of what I achieved last time out (who knew painting renaissance
figures takes longer than WWII Soviets?!), still I'm happy with what I
have painted with eleven days to go, so eight X 28mm mounted figures is
80 points?
All the best Iain
_______________
Nice work!
ReplyDeleteYou may be stunned to read that a part of my Italians Wars collection will take to the field on Saturday using TtS! Yippee!
Thanks Jonathan! Stunned and delighted,I look forward to an AAR!
DeleteBest Iain
Nice grouping. The Henry VIII figure sets it all off rather nicely.
ReplyDeleteThanks Norm! Yes he might be anachronistic but he kind of works!
DeleteBest Iain
"who knew painting renaissance figures takes longer than WWII Soviets?"
ReplyDeleteWho didn't. LOL (seriously though - I find some older periods with lots of color and details take longer than more modern periods (or other eras/genres) without lots of different colors and details to be quicker to paint - not that I am ever fast)
Nice work! The plastic head swaps to add variation is a good way to go. I'm not generally a fan of multi-part plastic minis, but I do like some of the kits as a sort of bits boxes for shields, conversions, head swaps, weapon swaps and such. Even if I'm working with metal minis it's a lot easier to swap in a plastic bit than a metal one usually, especially if I'm pinning any of it.
Thanks Fitz! I mean,I didn't get the memo,it's funny block paint, wash, highlight done as opposed to the full spectrum. I really like having all the spare Perry plastic heads, it's so easy to do conversions!
DeleteBest Iain
Excellent mounted crossbow, the staggered basing works well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cyrus! Slavishly following Olicanalads basing for light horse I'm afraid!
DeleteBest Iain
Fantastic work sir!
ReplyDeleteNice looking unit Iain.....not sure I could cope with this period 🙂
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt! If you can paint Berber shields I'm sure you could cope!
DeleteBest Iain
The head-swaps are undetectable and really add to the unit's look.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe! I think they work pretty well!
DeleteBest Iain
Beautiful mounted crossbow men, splendid units!
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil! Good of you to say so!
DeleteBest Iain
Nice looking figures! Of course these took longer than Soviets with all the colors and head swaps. I really like the command figure too. 😀
ReplyDeleteThanks Stew! Longer to paint but actually the Warlord plastic bolt action figures are madly fiddly!
DeleteBest Iain
Really nice results. Do not despair, you are totally up to the challenge!
ReplyDeleteThanks Suber! Onwards and upwards!
DeleteBest Iain
Very nice job Iain - I was never a fan of Hinchcliffe even back in the 70's but you are right, the head swaps have given great life to these crossbowmen!
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith! They've come out better than I expected to be honest!
DeleteBest Iain
Great work, and the head swap idea is quite inspired.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence! Yes they seem to have worked quite well!
DeleteBest Iain
Nice additions to your Italian Wars project, Iain.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dean! Every little helps!
DeleteBest Iain
Nice looking figures, and the staggered basing is interesting and effective!
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter! Yes the staggering is a nice idea courtesy of Mr Roach!
DeleteBest Iain
Beautifully done Iain, a unit of real character. I always liked mounted crossbowmen, the variety within the unit really works well with the basing style. Great painting!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee! Yes I think they're pretty characterful considering over half are the same pose and horse!
DeleteBest Iain