Off the painting desk today is the eighth pike block to march over into the completed column in the 28mm Great Italian Wars project. Pike block #8 maybe the last too. We will see. How many pike blocks does one really need? With 39 figures mustered in each block, that is a lot of Renaissance figures to paint and field for one unit. Eight such blocks is most likely plenty to field for one army and even having two armies with four pike block each may be good enough for many battles.
Included with the 39 pikemen is one stand of four dopplesoldners. These two-handed swordsmen sure look like Old Glory figures to me.
Next time, artillery for the 30mm ECW project should be coming out from the painting desk. Of course, the next unit may be anything, really.
Great looking unit Jonathan and 8 blocks is an impressive force and a significant storage challenge, not sure we have seen these in a battle for some time ?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Matt! you are so right about storage problems. All of these collections consume a lot of space. Figures are stacked up in boxes throughout the game room but primarily under the gaming table.
DeleteLast time these troops were out in battle was May 2019, over a year ago. Once we move beyond the pandemic, perhaps we can get the troops back out onto the table for a multi-player game?
That is a BIG unit Jonathan. What's the flat bit on the Swordsmen base for?
ReplyDeleteYes, big, for sure. The cleat at the back is used for affix unit stats onto the base for either Impetvs or "To the Strongest!" games.
DeleteThat's a lovely looking unit and the doppelsolden are a nice touch. The only down side is I'd be scared to pick it up so as not to damage myself and/or the pikes, plus it must be quite heavy? I'm so used to 10mm figures that are easy to move etc.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Steve! One of these pike blocks does have significant weight. Picking one up and moving it around can be a bit hazardous at times. Leaning over the table is undertaken with great caution!
DeleteThe pikes are affixed to the figures with epoxy. They are not likely coming off. When a pike is bent slightly and then released, you hear a satisfying "twang."
Lovely looking pike block! So 8 is a decent start but I expect you to kick on from that ! Seriously though they're great, the dopplesoldiers are Artizan and I recognize at least one warlord figure in the ranks,the many manufactures work really well together, when's they're next battle?
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks, Iain! I thought you might enjoy seeing another pike block. You are right...eight may is be enough.
DeleteArtizan dopplesoldners? You are right! I wonder when I bought those?
Next battle? Good question!
Fantastic pike Jonathan, very colourful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mike!
DeleteA serious task for sure, but what a splendid result. A lot of freedom with the brush / colours and plenty of flags make for a real eye catching unit.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the result, Norm! I always tackle one of these pike blocks with great trepidation. The best part about painting a pike block is starting and finishing!
DeleteI love yours and Iain’s Italian Wars figures.
ReplyDeleteAny chance of seeing all 8 blocks in one 300 strong mega unit?
Thank you!
Deleteall eight out on the table for a review? That is a good idea! I need to clear table space first...
Great looking Pike block, Jonathan! Love the mingling of the various makes - they blend together very nicely.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dean! In a large block, individual manufacturers' differences tend to blend into the whole product.
DeleteFantastic! 8 pike blocks is an impressive collection, specially when they are so beefy.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Eight blocks are a big chunk of lead, for sure.
DeleteGreat addition to the collection. I have another block waiting for me to finish it as well. Plus some more guns and gendarmes. Always something I guess.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It is about bloody time I painted those figures you gave two Christmases ago.
DeleteWhat was the name of the company from which these Kickstarter Landsknecht pikemen originated? The name has escaped me...
DeleteDo your talents have no limits Johnathan? As you know this is one of my favourite periods and probably because of the real life characters and the colour. Personally eight blocks seems a little modest but then how many does one need.Still beautiful, well done.
ReplyDeleteRobbie, you really are too kind! Very much appreciated!
DeleteI know this is one of your favorite periods and has become one of mine as well. Great color and great characters, no doubt. These traits make getting hooked into the period very easy.
Eight blocks not enough? Perhaps, but these eight are designed to fight a friend's army so I could use all eight in one army. While The Lead Pile is devoid of all but a smattering of pikemen, it would not take much to convince me to add more figures and push another block into the painting queue.
36 figures is an army on its own in some game systems. That is a monster unit. But very impressive. I think seeing all 8 out will be even more impressive either in one force or against each other.
ReplyDeleteAnd it’s so very pretty! 😀
Stew, there are actually 39 figures in this block but who is counting? Having eight out on the table at once will be an interesting sight. i ought to clear some table space and put them out on parade.
DeleteGlad you like them!
That's awesome looking unit Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI thnim everyone else has already said it all Jonathon - I really do not know much about the Great Italian Wars at all - I assume from looking at the figures and the time frame that they involved a multitude of Italian city states, the Vatican, the Borgias and the Spanish, so I can see the attraction! The mixture of different manufacturers works really well and the sheer bulk of the unit is awe inspiring!
ReplyDeleteKeith! There is always more to say!
DeleteAs for GIW, don't forget the French! if you are interested in an intro to the period, I can offer suggestions.
Glad you like the look of the pike block!
Another great looking PB Jonathan. Think the mix of figs is a great idea, adds to the variety that you look for in this periods units.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sir! Having a mix of figures boiled down to necessity. I had a few figures from several different ranges to use in building one final(!) pike block.
DeleteThese look terrific Jonathan. We recently played a game using DBMM (and a few generic stand-in figures) and I was completely taken with how much variety there is in the army lists and how much fun they were to play. So much so that I ended up purchasing several 15mm armies which will be added to the pile, although I plan on getting stuck into them reasonably soon after I have slogged my way through the rest of the Republican Romans I have been working on so I will be returning to these for additional inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lawrence!
DeleteI really look forward to following your new Renaissance project and to see how DBMM works. I may have a copy of those rules laying around somewhere so I need to find it and give it a read so that I can better follow along.
What figures are you using for this project?
I have purchased the Spanish and French from Khurasan and the Italians from Mirltion Miniatures. DBMM is very much a points game so any combination of these are likely to be playing against Scandinavians of Chinese, something from roughly around the same era rather than anything historical. I was more taken with the flexibility of the list itself, which does have an essentially historical basis and is a lot of fun to play.
DeleteI have not seen either of these ranges for this period in 15mm. I really enjoy Mirliton's 15mm Italian War of Independence cavalry sculpts. They are the best for Sardinians and Austrians. If only they made French cavalry, I would be set.
DeleteJonathan, 8 pike blocks is nowhere near enough. I would expect a man of your painting throughput to get another 8 out before year's end.
ReplyDeleteThey only look good en masse - well they also look bloody excellent as a standalone unit - but you know what I mean.
Would be wonderful to see the collection all out if you are close to done.
Richard
Richard, it is great to hear from you!
DeleteAnother eight blocks before years' end? Oh my. That would be a HUGE undertaking.
I will clear the table and muster the troops for a parade.
The look great Jonathan, the colours work really well.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know that you can never have enough pike blocks, it's not even a question of how many you need!
Thank you, Oli! Consensus seems to be growing that eight is not enough!
DeleteOh wow! That is superb! And I have to join in the chorus that one can never have enough of pike blocks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mike! Another vote for more pike blocks...oh my.
DeleteThey look great and if you are playing Italian wars I don't think you ever need to stop painting pike blocks.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Paul! You guys are very persuasive at committing my time to more pikemen!
DeleteA fine looking pike block Jonathan...
ReplyDeleteI am impressed that you have now painted eight units... I am not sure I would have managed one...
All the best. Aly
Thanks, Aly! First one is the hardest...
DeleteWell, these look super, Jon. In all honesty, 8 pike blocks i almost certainly enough, except... when you start having ones designed to be French (these fellows seem that way), Spanish, Italian, Swiss, and Imperialist. They certainly are a huge undertaking!
ReplyDeleteHmm, I wonder how many I have - it's the one era in my collection not really fully inventoried! I have figures for ? 4 more Gendarme units (Eureka), a pike block, and some dopplesoldner primed, but no progress has been made there. Now if Simon were to start more play testing of the Renaissance era for TTS, that might spark my to take brush to lead on them sooner rather than later!
Thanks, Peter! I think eight is enough too but one always wants more especially the guys above suggesting that eight is not enough. I may break down and seriously consider adding more but I have more pressing units to paint. I am heavy on the French and Landsknechts so, perhaps, I should add some of the others.
DeleteI really look forward to bringing this collection for more TtS! games. We enjoyed the few games we played with these "test" rules. I would also enjoy giving Baroque another go with these figures. If Simon has a call for Renaissance playtesters, let me know. I am ready to help!
There's something pure about a unit like this. You've been collecting bits and bobs for the project for years, and this is sort of the final distillation. Must feel good to get the last of them finished :)
ReplyDeleteHi Markus! Yes, this unit is an amalgamation of remnants from many different figures. A real good clean out that is a bit cathartic. Many of your colleagues above think this is no time to rest on laurels.
DeleteWell done pike blocks like this make a great impression on the table! Very nicely done Jonathan :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteA very fine showing! Must have been fun to paint all of these chaps in those different colours. Hard to do that when the troops all wear the same coloured uniform - well for me at least.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Very fun, for sure, but I don't want to repeat this effort soon. For me, a "uniform" uniform is much quicker to paint in production line fashion.
Deletelovely mate, great job on the variety of colours
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI love all These Details and character you have put into the unit. Pikes are always impressive. Very nice Job.
ReplyDeleteThanks much, Andre'! BIG pike blocks are impressive.
Delete