Back to Spain!

In anticipation of a return to the Reconquista and Spain, I pulled the 28mm collection from its boxes and laid out a parade.

Today's trooping features the Muslim armies gathering for battle.  Not all will take to the field but a goodly number of them will.  The collection has figures from a number of manufacturers including Black Tree Design, Artizan, Perry, Gripping Beast, and maybe one or two more.  The bulk of the figures are definitely BTD picked up ages ago.

The army will go from the parade ground straight into battle in a contest later today on the field of Huesca.

Today's battle sees me matching wits against an opponent fresh off a victory on the plains of Sumeria.  With a string of four defeats at the hands of four different players, which wily opponent will I face on the field?

28mm Reconquista - Spanish

While I await arrival of a Reconquista resupply from BTD containing handfuls of cavalry, I pushed two more units out from the painting desk.  I may be waiting awhile for the BTD delivery since BTD typically gets inundated with orders during their 50% discount offerings.  No matter; I have other items to paint.

First up is a command stand composed two of mounted figures left over from two, unrelated packs.  The Berber light cavalry figure is from Gripping Beast while the other is from Artizan Designs.  This command stand will be fielded as an attached leader in Impetvs games.

The second unit is a 12 figure stand of Crusader Spanish heavy infantry in mail from the El Cid range.  Great sculpts with much character.  As a bonus, Crusader figures fit well with my hordes of Black Tree Design Moors.  

28mm Reconquista - Berber Light Cavalry

A friend once said to me that figures you receive as a gift ought to be painted first.  In the case of these Berber cavalry from Gripping Beast, his mantra applied.  These figures were part of a Christmas gift exchange and were placed in the painting queue ahead of other planned painting.

This trio of Gripping Beast light cavalry are smaller than the larger Black Tree Design cavalry but are comparable in size and heft to both Artizan and Perry cavalry.  Of course, they look fine on the table along with the BTD cavalry but I probably would not mix them within the same unit.

Since Gripping Beast cavalry are packaged in fours and I have one extra Artizan mounted command figure leftover, I will use the surplus Berber mounted figure in a two figure command stand.  Although Impetvs requires no separate command figures, I like putting them out on the table anyway.  That way, the units with attached leaders are easily identifiable on the battlefield.  

Taking advantage of the year-end sale at BTD, many more cavalry reinforcements are inbound.  After the latest order from BTD arrives, I may find that all of the figures needed for this project are in The Lead Pile.

28mm Reconquista Muslim Group Photos

When churning out individual units on a regular basis, it can be easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees.  With the first Impetvs game later this morning, I pulled all of the stands from their boxes and set them out on the gaming table.

The group photos illustrate what has been accomplished on this project since mid-July. With skirmishers out front, light cavalry on the wings, and heavier cavalry in reserve, the lines of troops are about four linear feet in length and several stands in depth.

    

28mm Reconquista - Skirmisher Infantry

Three skirmish stands of javelin-wielding foot expand the skirmish capability of the growing Moorish force.  These twelve figures comprised a gift of bare lead from Kevin at our recent Port Republic game.  All figures are Gripping Beast Moors.  The selection of figures from Kevin contained an assortment of shields, head dresses, and poses.  Very nice figures that fit in well with the BTD hordes and a welcome reinforcement.

The Silflor order from Scenic Express arrived and I am in the process of retrofitting all stands with tufts of autumn grass.  This is the first I have used this product and while a I would have preferred a little larger and more densely constructed tufts, I like the results.

On the workbench, now, is one nine-figure stand of missile ('T') archers.

28mm Reconquista - Black Guard

After the diversion of hosting the Port Republic game this past weekend, work resumes on the Reconquista Project.  My compatriot, Jake, has been churning out Impetvs units with abandon.  Some of his latest works can be seen at his blog (see Jinettes).  Scrolling through Jake's list of completed units, I see I have some work to finish in order to remain close in the arms race. 

Today's unit is a Black Guard infantry stand from Gripping Beast.

This was my first order to Gripping Beast and I am delighted with the quality of the figures.  In the Impetvs lists, up to two such units may be fielded in an army.  I think I'll order one more unit's worth of these, striking figures.  Hopefully, their Spanish foes will be intimidated by their presence.