Flag-Flying Parade

Having cleared the table from the long-running Lake Trasimene series of battles, thoughts turned to the next collection to see action on the table.  After some discussion and encouragement, the 28mm Great Italian Wars collection was picked as the next focus of gaming.  Of course, my decision may have been influenced just a little bit by the recent arrival of Rodolfo Verginella's, War Game Scenarios: The Italian Wars Battles 1494-1559.

Since the Punic Wars figures have been packed away and the table cleared, I thought, why not pull all of the figures from boxes and bring the whole collection out for a parade.  Why not, indeed?  A parade will give me a chance to see exactly what I have and what I may be tempted to add to the collection.

After arraying the armies out on the table, the project headcount shows,

• 6 guns
• 77 horse
• 525 foot

Figures are a mix of Wargames Foundry, Old Glory, The Assault Group, Artizan, Perry Miniatures, and Casting Room Miniatures.  Nice assortment, I think.

Without further ado, on to the parade...

Anything of note lacking in the collection?  The collection could use more mounted Men-at-Arms and several units of crossbow skirmishers. That is only a first cut.  There may be more to add.  Eight pike blocks ought to be sufficient, no?  I may place a small Foundry/Casting Room Miniatures order but it will be relatively small.  I want to maintain the, now, two-month progress on keeping The Lead Pile count in deficit goal for 2024.  This goal took a modest blow with the receipt of Newline Designs' shortened February sale.  I need to focus more on painting.

Results of Newlines' February sale. 

First game is slated for next week in a very small battle suitable for two players.  The players are both new to Basic Impetvs and one is new to remote gaming.

Should be fun.

Pike Block #8 for Italian Wars

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.

This block consists of a real hodgepodge of figures from many manufacturers.  Being the last full grouping of pikemen remaining in The Lead Pile, many different figures were called to the colors.  I count figures form Artizan, The Assault Group, Wargames Foundry, Old Glory, Casting Room Miniatures, and several handfuls from a Kickstarter Jake participated in a few years ago whose name I forget.  Jake gifted the unknown Kickstarter pikemen at Christmas 2018.  Some of the Artizan pikemen were another gift from gaming buddy, Scott.  About time I finally got them into the painting queue and out for a parade.     

Having finished off this block, unpainted inventory for this project is minimal.  Perhaps a gun or two remain and enough Gendarmes to field two more BMUs.  Not much after that.  Well, I do have four, unopened bags of Old Glory arquebusiers and crossbowmen remaining in waiting but I have sufficient numbers of those class of troops painted already.  Perhaps, I will sell, trade, or even paint these figures some day?

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.

Spanish Crossbowmen and Spinning

Following closely behind the Moorish crossbowmen, a stand of Spanish crossbowmen departs the painting desk to oppose them.  Crossbowmen are Black Tree Design and the spearmen are two leftovers from a pack of Casting Room Miniatures' Normans.  Fine figures all but the CRM figures are especially characterful. 

Next off the painting desk will likely be a small variety of 15mm WWII armor.  Some are newly built; others are newly rebased.

On the cycling front, just as the leg break has mended and light indoor training can begin, the State shuts down almost every business to reduce risk of spreading the virus.  For indoor cycling in a controlled environment, the gym was my preferred venue.  No more.  Until my foot and ankle are fit for cycling outdoors (no cycling outside until I can safely and painlessly unclip from the pedals), I turn to a gadget Nancy presented to me for my 60th birthday.

While I set it up a year ago in the garage, the torture device remained unused.  Well, I finally made the effort to reacquaint myself with the machine, attached the bike, and gave it a whirl.  You know what?  This fluid trainer works great!  The machine is super quiet, rock solid, and provides a great workout.

How do I overcome the potential monotony of indoor cycling?  Audio.  Typically, my listening tends toward the Great Courses when riding indoors.  This week, I turned to Dan Carlin's Supernova in the East.  I am up to episode two and Dan's storytelling is as riveting as ever.  Recommended!

With the arrival of Spring and temperatures warming, perhaps, I can venture outdoors next week?  That is, unless we are all ordered into lockdown.   

28mm Zweihanders by CRM

During the recent series of Italian Wars To the Strongest! games and after I put the collection out on parade, I noticed that another stand of zweihanders could be recruited for the collection.  In the process of fielding the last pike block, I did not have the necessary figures to add the block's complement of zweihanders.  One or two Old Glory leftover swordsmen were painted but not enough swordsmen to field a four-figure skirmish stand.  Or so I thought.

Digging through The Lead Pile, I came upon a handful of zweihanders picked up in a figure exchange with Jake.  Not sure what I gave up in the figure swap but I received a handful of Casting Room Miniatures' (CRM) figures from the Renaissance range.  Three of these CRM figures made it onto the painting desk and joined one Old Glory figure (second from the right) on the stand.  The sculpting is good but the anatomy is suspect on certain figures but painting is straightfoward.  Overall, when painted and based, the figures make a pleasing sight.  The great swords are fabulous!  Look at the size of those things.

While not much on the gaming front of late, the painting desk has seen action.  A handful of units are finished and awaiting their turn at the photo booth.  A good mix of projects are crossing the workbench including Italians Wars (28mm), 1859 Franco-Austrian War (15mm), Ancients (28mm), and WSS (10mm).  The San Martino battle has been reset.  I am looking for some time to return to the table to give the scenario another try.

Despite cooler temperatures and a couple of days of rain, weather has been good on the Palouse and cycling enjoyable.  With the arrival of summer, the rapeseed is in bloom with its bright yellow flowers and wheat is tall enough to wave in the breeze.  Early summer is a fine time to be out on the bike.  A few photos from Friday's post-work, afternoon ride follow.  With the camera mounted on the handlebars, it is difficult to provide a more expansive view that is available at eye level but the near, ground-level perspective provides some of the color contrast.

Amber waves of grain

Rapeseed in bloom

Spanish Command for Reconquista

Unhappy to be the standard bearer?

Does the standard bearer seem unhappy to be carrying the banner for his knight?  The sullen facial expression of the standard bearer is very animated.  He certainly is not pleased to be bearing his burden. 

With the two units of Spanish foot crossing the painting desk of late, a few spare figures remained when the two dozen figures took their place in the ranks.  Having an extra mounted knight, I figured the Spanish could use another command stand.  

A Black Tree Design mounted knight and two Casting Room Miniatures' spearmen come together to create a command stand for the Spanish cause.  A good use of a few leftover figures. 

After this brief 28mm distraction, back to painting 15mm figures for the SYW and 1799 projects.  After having recently returned from two weeks in Bavaria and the Austrian Tirol, expect a travelogue or two on the horizon (some with military history content) along with more work from the painting desk.

Another Dozen Spanish Spearmen

As hinted at in an earlier post, a second dozen Casting Room Miniatures' Norman spearmen muster off from the painting desk.  Also mentioned in that same post, I love the quality of sculpting, poses and animation in these Normam footmen.  

For the Reconquista project, these Norman spearmen will be fielded as Spanish to oppose the Moors as the Christians attempt to wrest control of the peninsula from the Muslims. 

Spanish Spearmen for the Reconquista

I

Remember when these Normans were part of the Casting Room Miniatures' stable of figures?  I do.  I picked up a couple of dozen figures during a CRM sale.  When I returned to add more, the figures were gone.  Later, I found that the whole CRM Norman range had been moved under the Wargames Foundry label, proper.  Well, they deserve an upgrade to the Foundry arsenal.  Excellent sculpts!

Adding to the Reconquista project are twelve Normans to battle the Moors on the plains and mountains of Spain.  Time to gather the second dozen into the painting queue.  

Stormin' Normans

After having made my first purchase from Casting Room Miniatures in late fall to take advantage of their Christmas sale and liking what I saw, I placed a second order before year-end to reinforce that success.  In that initial order, was a three figure pack of Norman Knights Charging.  The photos on the website looked promising and my thought was these horsemen would fit in well with the Reconquista project.   

Well, when the three-pack of figures arrived I was quite impressed.  Terrific sculpting and the riders show great motion.  They certainly look set on riding down their victims.  Since three were not enough to field a complete stand, I quickly fired off a second order before the sale expired.  Added into the mounted figures were a few packs of dismounted spearmen.  Those look equally as nice. 

After painting and basing these figures, what is my impression?  To my eye, the figures are brilliant and are of no lesser quality than the mainline Wargames Foundry figures.  I love 'em and would enjoy adding another stand or two into the collection.

Mounted Crossbowmen II

The second trio of Casting Room Miniatures' mounted crossbowmen trot off the painting desk.  As mentioned in an earlier post, this was my first tranche of Casting Room Miniatures' figures.  My impression of the sculpting is mixed depending upon the range and figure but I find these horsemen quite acceptable.  With a Christmas sale in effect until DEC 20, a second order is on its way to my casa.  In my Christmas order will be found a variety of Normans for the Reconquista project.  They look good in the photos.  

While the anatomical sculpting on the men is odd in places, their mounts are well executed.  These horses fit well with the horses from Foundry's Early 16th Century Renaissance range.  With the project growing by 40 horse and 60 foot figures in 2016, the collection is seeking its first test of battle on the game table. 

Until that time of battle, a fifth stand of mounted Gendarmes is ready to depart the painting desk and a 40+ pike block awaits in the queue.  Looking at the pile of 40+ blackened pikemen almost overwhelms my desire to begin.

Mounted Crossbowmen - Great Italian Wars

Work continues on pushing out BMUs for the Great Italian War.  Today's work shows the completion of one stand of three mounted crossbowmen for the project.  With four large pike blocks ready for service, the recent Casting Room Miniatures' order was used to augment the project with a few odds and ends.  All that remains to hit the painting desk from that CRM order is a second triplet of mounted crossbowmen. 

While the anatomy seemed awkward on a few of CRM's command figures shown in earlier posts, I like these mounted crossbowmen a lot.  Crossbowman anatomy looks good to me and the horses are first rate.  The horsemen are not sculpted in the angular style of, say, Artizan, but more in a rounded, Renaissance-like style.  Rounded features remind me of Renaissance paintings.  

Also in the order were mounted knights for the Reconquista and Trojan War chariots.  The knights are sculpted in a charging pose and look fantastic.  I only ordered one pack of those so another order will be needed to complete a unit.  As for the Trojan War chariots, one day I will tackle this project in earnest.  Not for now, though.

Great Italian Wars Command

Another pack included in my recent Casting Room Miniatures' order is this general and two attendants.  On Casting Room Miniatures' website, he is listed as Francesco Bussone da Carmagnola.  Francesco is from a period earlier than the Great Italian Wars that I am building but he should fit in well with the collection.  And, I could always use more command stands. 

Sculpting is of a rounded style that I mentioned in an earlier, Casting Room Miniatures' post (see: Mounted Arquebusiers).  Some bits of anatomy appear a little "off" to my eye especially with respect to arms but still, solid figures nonetheless.  The style reminds me of Bob Murch's Pulp Fiction sculpting style and I do enjoy those!    

A few more packs from Casting Room Miniatures' Renaissance range are in the painting queue with a trio of mounted crossbowmen to muster off the table soon.

State of the Painting Desk

Lancashire Games' 15mm French

Having returned this week from a two week holiday in Italy, I sat down at the painting desk midweek.  With paint to the face and greatcoat applied to the French line shown above before I departed, I picked up where I left off.  At the first painting session, I discovered my eyes must be reconditioned to see the detail on the little buggers clearly.  Painting almost daily must exercise my eyes for this close work and condition them for the task at hand.  With more than two weeks between painting sessions, my eyes required a bit of retraining.  Oh, the hazards of aging.

With a coating of Minwax stain, the 15mm French line infantry for the 1859 project are in the final stages of completion.  The high gloss of the Minwax makes it difficult to distinguish detail in the photo.  That will be resolved once they get a spray of Dullcote.  Needing only sufficient curing time for the stain, these 36 figures will soon receive an application of Dullcote and then move on to basing.

Next up are a dozen Old Glory French hussars for the 1859 project shown in the foreground and three figures from Casting Room Miniatures for a Great Italian Wars' command stand in the back. As seen from the photo above, only the horse base coat has been deposited.

Figures are lining up in the painting queue as I prepare for the fourth quarter painting push to field sufficient figures before the year-end painting tally.  With a 2016 personal painting goal of 900 figures, I should make that objective handily.

Of course, a battery of travelogue photos from the latest Italian trip will be forthcoming as I work my way through the hundreds of photos.  Venice from the 2009 trip gets a revisit as does Rome from my 2014 trip.  Included in the 2016 review will be visits to the fortress cities of Verona, Peschiera del Garda, and Mantova.  With three of the four fortresses in the Italian Quadrilateral covered in this trip only Legnano remains to visit to complete the foursome.

Finally, a BatRep describing the night assault by Trimble and Lawton to finish off the Action at Brawner's Farm is in progress.        

Mounted Arquebusiers

Casting Room Miniatures (an arm of Wargames Foundry) recently offered a 20% discount.  Having never given them much notice, the offered discount, favorable exchange rate, and free shipping were too much to resist.  Frequently on the look out for Reconquista, Great Italian Wars, and Trojan War era figures, I found all available at Casting Room.

Figures do not maintain the same crispness of sculpting as other Foundry figures.  Some, as in the arquebusiers shown here, have arms seemingly too rounded at the joints.  Anatomy appears a little "off" on some figures as well especially in facial features.  Could be simply my personal preferences in sculpting style coming to the fore.

Despite these few caveats, the trio of mounted arquebusier look very good to me.  The horses, themselves, match up very well with both Foundry's Renaissance horses and Perry's Stradiots.  Besides the mounted arquebusiers shown here (and a second trio to be fielded later), mounted Norman knights and Trojan chariots were added into the order to reach the ever important free shipping minimum order value.