Putty and Plumes

Four more Burgundian coustillers assembled and prep'd, ready for the painting process, to create two more bases (alongside two more figures who are underway).

My approach, to make these figures have the appearance of Burgundian Ordonnance, revolves largely around adding cast metal plumes and some straightforward putty work (...as straightforward is the only putty work I can do!). Interestingly the image of mounted spear-armed troops by the Master WA, interpreted as a contemporary illustration of Burgundians, shows no plumes, only scarves and pennons attached to helms - but we'll conveniently disregard that image for the purposes of this post! [EDIT - see Jim Hale's comments below!]

So here's whats been done to these fellas, all of whom are Perry Miniatures Light Cavalry plastics. First figure on the left uses the brigandine and plackart body. As I'm getting lazy towards painting all those rivets, I removed them with a scalpel and smoothed with sanding stick. The right arm is one holding a sword with half-length coat sleeves over armour, which was drilled out to take a long metal spear (as a flagbearer). A coat was then built up with Green Stuff, instead of the brig. The contemporary reference for this is below; it's an usual combination of what appears to be coat over armour, with plackart over the coat. The image shows two small rondels on the chest, which could have secured the coat to the armour beneath? I've left these off my figure.

Next to him, an assembly using the arms with short brigandine sleeves. Again I smoothed off the rivets (more evidence of my lethargy!) and covered these with putty as coat sleeves. A hood, tied at the front, was added - inspired by the mounted figures in the Housebook Master engravings, which have long been one of my favourite images for reference material. I reckon I can pick out several items of dress and weapons which Michael Perry included in this box set from these images.

The other pair are just assemblies done with the aim of creating some combinations which I'd not done before. I have an eccentric aspiration to have every coustiller as a different looking figure, but not if I'll achieve this! Putty turned-down boots added to one figure. The flagbearer on the right is the brig and plackart body (again), this time with the chest cut-off at the waist and replaced with full breast & backplates from a figure in the Perry Foot Knights box. The right arm is a mailed sleeved longbow arm, cut away and drilled out.

Paint stage will commence next week.

Burgundian Coustillers - two more bases.

The prepared flag bearers from the previous post are now painted, have had their pennons attached, are in situ supported by more Burgundian coustillers; the supporting second rank for my men at arms. More pictures off the painting table.

These pennons were kindly provided by Artem ('Imperial Forge'), who created some wonderfully detailed flag designs for Burgundian Ordonnance several years ago, but which sadly have yet to be available to purchase. They are based on images of the plunder acquired by the Swiss from the capture of Charles the Bold's baggage at the battles of Grandson and Morat. Whilst a few pieces of cloth are carefully conserved in museums, other images (including these) are based on drawings made in the 17th and 18th century, as the originals started to deteriorate.

Both of these are pennons of unknown Burgundian captains. The first contains the motto "Atendes"and the original was taken to Solothurn after either Grandson or Morat. The second depicts St George with the letters "E E"and images of large fish, possibly dolphins. It remains in the Museum in Appenzell, with a facsimile on show I believe.

The figures are all Perry plastics, using the Light Cavalry torso & legs, (with one exception of a man at arms with riding boots added) with a mixtures of arms from these and other sets. One figure still carries a small shield, which are occasionally shown (for example, the mounted soldiers in the 'Housebook Master' in the Rijksmuseum) at the end of the fifteenth century - although none appear to be carried in the mounted figures of the period by the Master WA.

Both pennons need a coat of matt varnish. These figures are on 60mm wide and 80mm deep bases, which I've used to have sufficient room to pose the figures so there's just enough space between them and to make them not appear too uniform and 'parade ground' trained. I have more in Coustillers in preparation, so am hoping to get more done soon, then I will tackle the basing.

Coustiller - flag bearers prep.

Just as a follow up to the last post, I mentioned that I was adding flags to steel poles rather than the moulded plastic ones, for fear of potential future damage when handling etc. Tonight I've prepared two more Burgundian coustillers who'll carry flags or pennons.

They both use sets of arms comes from the Perrys Light Cavalry box, with the spear and bow replaced and drilled out. Both have plume and pennon added respectively to make them look a little more appropriate for Burgundians of 1470s. Paint to be applied - which should create two more bases this week.

That is all....

Back in the saddle.

I'd hoped to get in  a posting in January, to show that things are still progressing with my Burgundians, albeit slower than I'd planned, although I have been chipping away at prep and other painting which I will be able to show next month.

More mounted coustillers are the order of the day - just some iphone snaps off the painting desk. I'll re-post the unit when it's completed. I'm tackling these as individual bases and most of them will be the same composition - a flag bearer accompanied by two spear/lance armed companions. So two more bases done, apart from the basing which it's easier to do en masse.

All figure are Perry plastics; some of the horses have had some work done to vary their tack. Both flags are variations on Burgundian arms, from the really excellent free downloads at Krigsspil, although I have been fortunate to be given some designs which were done a few years ago and never released, which will be added to more bases very soon. For most of the figures carrying flags I've opted for attaching them to hardened metal spears, rather than plastic ones moulded on, for fear of future damage.

PS - sure I'm not the only one to be frustrated by Blogger for the last month? It appears there are ongoing problems accessing via i-mac (which I do), so this has meant I've not kept up with other posts which I follow, as these are currently not being displayed as usual - hoping a fix is found very soon!

Condottieri Sideshow (Scene 1, Act 1)

Apologies for lack of recent postings. The only real progress made on my Burgundians has been the preparation and painting of sufficient horses for the next two units of mounted coustillers. Although there’s been some modest tinkering of horse tack, etc, I decided that this doesn’t really constitute enough for a posting, at least until the riders are done (and I’m currently about half way through). It therefore goes without saying that my mid-year aspiration that I would ‘complete’ the planned 

Burgundian army has not come to pass.

So here are some images of a possibly unwanted diversion that’s taken up my recent spare time – and apologies to any LAF members as these images have been updated there. The idea of creating  modest armies to game some facet of the wars in Italy in the mid 15^th century, have been intermittently  gnawing away since 2012 and some Italian skirmishers I painted. Probably like almost everyone in the hobby, other than the most disciplined, I’m too easily distracted by other figures and wars that I would like to recreate in some way and so dip in and out of them (and mine collections are not restricted to the 

medieval period, just for the record).

So I’ve grasped the nettle and converted some Perry Italian metals from swordsmen to spear and shield light infantry. Painting’s been done with washes and few highlights to help speed things up slightly. Shields done by hand in the current absence of any printed transfers, which I’d prefer to use Colour schemes have been taken from Italian battle scenes of the times – namely Florentine painted caskets in the Gallery of Ireland  and battle of San Romano. They depict Milanese, which I’ve decided to start with, having some of the excellent flag sheets by Pete’s Flags for campaigns in the 1440s, between Milan and a political alliance consisting of Florence, Venice and the Papacy, including the condottieri captains involved. Some units will need to be ‘state-agnostic’ to provide some flexibility when I finally get around to using these on a tabletop.

Next up has been adding some green stuff to create Italian styling to existing Perry plastics. My sculpting skills are limited,  but like everything improves with practice and I’m happy with the giornea (tabards)  I’ve added, as well as cloth coverings to the horse bard. The latter will be an elite unit of ‘broken lances’ from Milan. The metal plumes are Mirliton castings, drilled and pinned to armets. Painting on these won’t start until sometime in 2016. Working with ‘green stuff’ is a very gradual process I’ve learned, so I’ve now got a number of figure amends on the go, adding more when I can. However I’m pleased with my modest results, they’re at a level  which to my eyes makes them look sufficiently convincing and are enhancing the figures with an ‘Italianate’ look, and the sculpting tool is an enjoyable alternative to the paintbrush

A little Tudor outing to BLAM.

At the weekend some of my figures had another outing from their cabinets; contributing to a game at BLAM (British Lead Adventurer Miniatures) forum's gaming weekend, in deepest Surbiton.
Its a really well organised long weekend, with five different  2-hour participation games put on each day (on 6 x 4 Tables) and a bigger bash on the Sunday.

Stuart Mulligan took along selected units of his Tudors and French, with my terrain and a limbered bombard vignette I made, to play a Last Apostle scenario, in which Tudor forces have to rescue their artillery piece after its marooned in a deep stream. This was based on actual events from Henry VIII's 1513 campaign in France.

All good fun - rules were Lion Rampant - which work well for a quick skirmish type game for later medievals, One game was drawn and the other a clear French win. It was great to meet new folk and catch up with 'older' ones too (they'll know what I mean!). Many thanks to Giles for his organisation of the event and welcoming for us occasional players.

All the photos, a report on BLAM and some interesting historical context and on Stuart's very fine blog, so please click over for a great read.

Berne Baby Berne - game pics.

My Burgundian army had it's second day in the field, along with the Swiss that I've done to date, at Partizan show at Kelham Hall last Sunday. This was my contribution to an informal group we've called The Bodkins, who've been formed with the intention of putting on medieval demo games.

The decision to put on a Swiss- Burgundian game was a relatively late one and so myself, Dave Andrews and David Imrie spent a rather frantic few weeks painting extra figures and basing up older ones. Our concern that we'd not have enough to fill the 10 x 6 table was unfounded on the day - when following set-up we realised that ideally we really could have done with a longer table to allow the contingents some tactical elbow room.

The final set-up looked as we'd hoped it would do - visually appealing with three large pike blocs and supporting troops for the Swiss Confederation, whilst the Burgundians put their mounted troops on the wings, with shot and pikes in the centre. Terrain tiles and trees were by Keith Warren of Realistic Modelling Services and the fortified church is a hand crafted model by John Boadle. Thanks to all those who have passed kind and positive comments on the game.

We played the game using Impetus rules and after a few hours the Swiss appeared to be getting the upper hand. They had advanced in historical echelon formation, with the massive vorhut looking fairly impregnable, despite being shot at and attacked by mounted men at arms. On the other wing Darrell Hindley led a heroic charge of men at arms against other pikes, causing casualties but being repulsed.

We have discussed playing a full game out, perhaps based closely on Morat, but that will have to be next year. In the meantime the Bodkins are continuing to plan and prep for a different historical mediaeval game. Pictures here include some borrowed from Darrell and 'Wargames Illustrated'.

and finally...some Bodkins....