Shameless Plug

Time for a bit of self-promotion!

My work on this project is winding down temporarily as I sort out plans for the Irish contingent, and I've started another, more general blog for my other projects, which pertain primarily to the American Civil War, to Middle-earth, and to some local history.  I'd be flattered if you took a look at it.  (If you want to follow it, I'm afraid that, as with this blog, you'll have to add the url manually to your list;  Google won't let me set up the Follow widget unless I use my real name on the blog, which I'm not very eager to do.)

Thanks!

A Year Later...

Well, it's been about a year and about 1,000 views since I started the blog, so as a fitting offering for this "anniversary post" I present the finished German contingent, along with a few shots of the whole army as it stands now.

Compared to what other painters can do in a year, it's not much, but I am very pleased all the same.

WIP

Just a WIP shot of some pikemen.  I tried to push my meager GS skills a bit further and copy some of the helmets and clothing from a few contemporary illustrations.  I have come to find the original Perry mercenary set a bit too generic for my purposes, and I hope these additions will 'Germanize' the look a bit.

Also, finished another crossbowman.  This was of course mainly an excuse to paint another pavise :)

This pavise is inspired by a Bohemian design featuring Venus.   

More to follow soon, I hope.

On Parade

I am pleased to report that the English portion of the army is "finished."

Obligatory Flag Shot

Billmen

Men-at-arms

Archers

Looking ahead, I might (read: will) add some scurrers and a few more skirmishers, but speaking broadly one third of the army is finished.  Now to polish off the Germans (only a few more to go) and then tackle the Irish, most of whom will have to wait until the Perrys release the plastic French set.

A Lincoln! A Lincoln!

At long last, I've finished the commander of the English Yorkists and lead instigator of the rebellion against Henry VII, John de la Pole, earl of Lincoln.  Most of these miniatures were sitting on my desk fully painted, but I just couldn't get myself to finish the flag until yesterday.

Here he is, receiving word of the Royalist advance from Lord Scrope of Masham.  With him are his banner-bearer and a retainer carrying his helm.

It's likely, though not certain, that Lincoln had designs on the throne himself and would have done away with the boy Simnel after a time.  How loyal he would have been to the alleged "rightful King" we'll never know, since he died on the field at Stoke.

You may notice that the heraldry on the surcoat does not quite match the heraldry on the flag.  I'm afraid this is a case of laziness on my part.  I'd already begun painting the banner when I noticed there are some small differences, and I couldn't get myself to start anew.  Sorry!

Bolts from the Blue

Managed to finish the crossbow bases.  These might be my favorite troops yet, probably because of the pavises.

And some close-ups on the pavises.

The image of St. George is taken from a South German/Austrian example.

On the left is a pavise of my own design, inspired by several shields and pavises with crown-of-thorns imagery.

And a few "skirmishers" finished:

More to follow soon, I hope.

May the Schwartz be with You

For the 20th post, I thought something special would be in order, so...

Here he is, Colonel Martin Schwartz.