Finally they are Based.

One of the biggest banes of my wargaming life is basing my figures.God knows how many hours I have spent basing and re basing units. Anyway, I have finally finished these two units,that have been painted for several weeks. Its not that I have been slacking,but other things took priority. Anyway my Swiss skirmishers are now completed, and my Vulcan Gendarmes are ready for war. Hopefully I should have completed the Papal Guard by the weekend, and very fine they look to.

Sheffield Triples and the battle of Cerignola 1503

Today was Triples Saturday.
John,Neil and I attended what used to be our big wargame trip and usually the first of the season.
That obviously changed several years ago. But I digress, as the review of the show will be on my sister blog.
 This is more a report of James Roach Battle of Cerignola, which was staged at Triples.
 What can one say, this was a beautiful game that I would have loved to fight. More importantly I would have been happy just picking up the figures and admiring them.
 James is an excellent painter, hence his professional status.His use of colour is first rate, whereas a lot of renaissance wargamers tend to spoil landsnect and gendarme figures with garish colour schemes, James knows what is just enough.

I tried to get some decent photographs, but I dont want to spoil James's thunder too much, as I know he will have taken a lot of decent photographs himself.

 So what I have done, is take some photographs of his wonderful gendarmes, especially as I wanted to see at first hand, how he paints them. The verdict is he paints them pretty damn good.
He also uses enamel! paints, and doesnt varnish the figures afterwards. The effect is stunning.

 I think the gendarme in the photograph below is my favourite, pink and yellow! what a great combination, that shouldnt work, but does. Anyway well done James Roach.

 

Vulcan Gendarmes Circa 1980.

In my previous army of Cesare Borgia I had a 12 figure unit of gendarmes. These were my pride and joy, and I have always regretted that I sold them with everything else. The figures were by a Scottish company called Vulcan Miniatures, and they came out in 1980.
 The big selling point for them was they had interchangeable parts, with separate bards and heads. The heads were the best part in my opinion, as they all had wonderful plumes.
 The company needless to say disappeared after producing the gendarmes and a few pike men. All were good figures.
 Anyway whilst at Salute, my old war gaming opponent Jim Sweeney very kindly gave me a small box containing some of these Vulcan Gendarmes.
 That is the best part of war gaming, there is always someone hoarding figures you want, and is prepared to make a gift of them.
 Anyway, I have painted up the eight I was given. I can only apologise that I haven't based them yet, but I felt I had to add them to my blog.

 They may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I have always liked these figures. The only problem now is to locate a further four to make up two squadrons of gendarmes. So if any wargamer who has a few more of these, I am willing to offer a fair price to complete the unit.

 Anyway thanks again Jim for the figures.