Venetian Archers.

 Christmas was a busy time for me with my grandchildren descending on us, so wargaming naturally took a back seat. In between all my duties I managed to paint up a couple of figures including these Venetian archers.They had been sat in a box for well over a year and I nearly didnt bother painting them up. But the Perry twins do make some exceedingly good figures, so what the hell.

 I think its sometimes forgotten that the renaissance period is not just about pike and arqubusier units and did also include more exotic types such as these. Now if I can just crack off another unit of heavy cavalry before the New Year.

French Landsknects.

 I think its fair to say that the last thing I need are more pike blocks, and certainly no more landsknects. However in my defence three things conspired against me which caused me to paint up another block. Firstly I saw Steel Fist miniatures had produced some dismounted gendarmes and men at arms. I had to have these figures and bugger the expense. Secondly Warlord finally released their plastic landsknects or should I say they released the ex Pro Gloria ones. Thirdly Pete Smith of Pete's Flags produded a new set of French Landsknect standards. So it was a given that I had to join these things together to paint up another block.

 The Steel Fist figures are beautiful if a little fiddly to glue together and drill, but they look great once they are painted.

 The plastic landsknects may be only in one pose as regards the common soldier but they are very nice with some characterful heads to mess about with. Of course the flags Pete created are lovely, as is everything he releases.So an unneeded pike block, but it was enjoyable to paint them so no complaints there.