Swiss pike, done!

 Well, my first post on this blog of the New Year.I have however been busy on my main blog, so its not like I've been too remiss in posting. Anyway here are some images of my latest completed pike unit. Using some of my Christmas present figures, I have been able to complete a Swiss pike unit. So only one more Swiss pike unit to complete, with another Bear mascot as an integral part of the unit.

 The arquebusiers for the pike block, are a mish mash of various manufacturers including Pro Gloria and Perry.It is a colourful unit if I say so myself, I deliberately didn't give the regiment a uniform look and I am happy with the way it went.

 I have all my cavalry squadrons in units of six figures. Unfortunately I was only able to locate 8 Vulcan Gendarmes [ well actually they were a gift from Jim Sweeney, thanks Jim. ] and have been on the lookout for figures that would be compatible with the Vulcan ones.

 I took a punt and bought some single Gamezone figures from E Bay, and here is the first one completed. They are a bugger to put together, but I do think they are compatible with the Vulcan ones. I fixed a Eureka Gendarme plume to the figure just to jazz him up, and it looks okay although the Standard did snap off during painting it. Again a very colourful unit. As I am a poor sleeper, I was attempting to work out just how many units I have completed for my Borgia, French and Imperialist armies. I do know that the latest Swiss unit makes 20 regiments of pike. Perhaps I have overdone my enthusiasm for the period.

All because of a Bear!

 When the Perry twins brought out their new Swiss renaissance command, which included a large bear, I jumped at the chance of buying one,[well actually I bought two] It was such a dramatic thing that wargamers need overcame wargamers common sense. I must admit that I have a lot of Swiss pike, so I didnt really need another bloc. But hey ho.

 Anyway, I started painting up the group, then realised that I was short of Perry figures to make up a large pike bloc! Luckily Christmas is nearly upon us, and my daughter has kindly stepped in to buy her old dad some extra Swiss. The photographs show how far I have got with the bloc. I must admit I have enjoyed painting these figures, and look forward to completing them after Christmas.

  I was scratching through Dave Thomas's spares boxes a while back, and found a couple of  Hinchliffe figures that I thought would make an extra Turkish command group. This is the finished piece, not brilliant, but I like it.

 Additionally I picked up some painted Hinchliffe mounted crossbowmen, at a very reasonable price from E Bay, so having had to paint only two extra figures, and then re base them, the troops are now ready to take the field in the new campaign season.

Battleground 2015

  Yesterday, I attended Battleground 2015 at the University Campus in Stockton on Tees. A fuller report is posted on my other site. But in between staging a Seven Years War game and pestering the traders I was able to meet and talk to quite a few people. Included was the great Tony Runkee, painter to the stars [ well me actually]

 Tony very kindly brought me a piece he had been working on, which I had to have.

 Unfortunately the photographs are very poor, and do not do the subject any justice. The base is a lovely early renaissance gun and mantlet, scratchbuilt by Tony.

Stand To ,Shildon 2015.

Today was Stand To at the Locomotion Railway Museum in Shildon. It was also the inaugural game for the full Ottoman Turkish Army.
  Its hard to classify Stand To as a Wargames Show in the true sense of the word, given that entrance is free [yes free] the majority of people who attend the museum, are usually there to see the trains, there is usually only a small number of traders and the venue is well lit and warm. [ The last bit is a bit of playful devilishness by me]  But actually I think the place is a very good venue because it is very well lit, the parking is good, and free, the cafe is also well run, although not the cheapest and the place does have stuff to see, ie very large trains.

The set up I chose was a battle between the forces of the Republic of Venice against the invading Ottoman Turks, during their war in Greece. The war ended with the Venetians losing a lot of their colonies. The rules used were Pike and Shotte, which fairly rattle along and take very little to pick up again after a long lay off.

I have to admit that John, Neil and Colin did most of the actual fighting whilst I attempted to give out handouts and explain history to young people who didnt have much idea about, well history. It wasn't that they weren't interested, because they were, its just that they don't have a grounding in a lot of  subjects such as history and geography. Still I think we did okay, and the public were genuinely interested in what we were doing.

The Turks are a difficult army to use, but also can be difficult to fight. John managed very well, me personally spent a lot of time being peppered with arrows by Akinji. The intention was for the game to be colourful, and hopefully interesting, without being taken too seriously by the players. I think we managed that.

 The centre comprising the Janissarys, finally got to move, but only when the battle was already over for the Turks.

I had to include the photograph below, as it showed the extent of Neil's dice throwing when his Spahis faced down a unit of Venetian mercenary gendarmes. No hits there. His unit duly fled after being bowled over. More bother for them 50 virgins.

 My command figure, which managed to 'blunder several times. So nothing new in that then. Anyway, I hope any person who attend the museum enjoyed what they saw, and hopefully the organisers can build on what they have started.

Some Light Cavalry.

One can never have enough light troops in the Renaissance period, Well that my justification for painting some more Stradiots. I found! these when I was looking for a suitable horse for a command figure. Anyway they will be a nice addition to the Venetian contingent that I seem to have created for my armies. I initially wanted to make these figures, 'dirty looking' but somehow they ended up as clean and sanitised as their compatriots. The figures are from the Perry range.

Some more re painted figures from the figures I bought from Rahul. These chaps are Mini Figs, with some Lamming horses thrown in. Before anyone says anything, I know they are Indian types, but as a unit of light Ottoman cavalry they look acceptable to me.They are a quaint figure which somehow appealed.