The King’s Spears

The King’s Spears were Henry VIII’s immediate military circle of relatives, pals, favourites and aristos on the make.  An elite unit then, well equipped and capable in the field. I'd consider them a match for the French Gendarmes but of course there's only one unit of them.

These ones are converted Roundway 15mm English Knights.  The Roundway figures are very nice but were not quite flashy enough for this bunch.  I added plumes for man and beast, skirts and roundels all in Henry’s colours.  I’m pleased with how they came out and cannot wait for the command figures, also from Roundway, to arrive to complete the unit.  I added Milliput sabots, perhaps 2mm deep, before basing to raise their height to that of Essex 15mm French Gendarmes.  You can see some patches of gold on the armour of these chaps-it's sunlight streaming in through the window as I took the pics.

Here’s the conversion process in reverse should you fancy having a go at something similar.

The last of the big woolly coats gang are also done, archers this time and as you can see they are commanded by one of the King’s Spears who has dismounted for the job.  

We can only assume they have been given an important task.

Note the added bucklers, these boys will fight it out if they have to.  That said there is some evidence that the French considered the shooting abilities of the English archers had much declined from their lethal days of yore.  That's something to think about.

1513 in 2018

Happy New Year to one and all.

Here are the new boys for 1513 in 2018.

Some Kern for Henry’s expedition. I will field these as Bidowers in Lion Rampant terms which is how Henry used them in France. If I add another unit, and I might, they could be combined into a unit of Fierce Foot in an Irish Retinue.  The figures are from QRF’s Tudor range and I rate them highly as 15mm Irish go.  They have been modified with new or replacement shields and in one case a spear.

Next, we have some work in progress using some Roundway15mm English Knights as the basis for Henry’s elite King’s Spears.  As you can see I had a go at plumes, not as tricky as I had thought.  You can see the before and mid-way below along with one ready for high lighting. I think they are coming along OK.  One unit only of these and as you might guess they are the English equivalent of the Gendarmes.

I’m also part way through my second unit of Royal Archers you can see some 15mm Co conversions here.  For some reason I felt a burning desire for some English archers in kettle helmet, God knows why, its what we do I suppose.  Anyhow here they are replete with added quivers and new coats. I added a couple of bucklers too. The rest of the unit, like the command figures, will be QRF.

Now to France with two units of Adventuriers comprised of Essex, 15mm Co and QRF figures.

A fair few of them are conversions.

Last, but certainly not least, here are some of my Stradiots in French Service.  These fellows are from Mirliton and I think they are pretty good. Maybe the best Stradiot figures available.

So, there we are, everything is coming along nicely and I’m just about ready to put a game on.  All of which leads me to share an idle thought, is there any mileage in importing the Mounted Infantry category and rules from *The Men Who Would Be Kings into Lion Rampant to represent mounted infantry archers?

* Or the Dragoon one from The Pike Man's Lament.  Mind you mustn't over tinker.

Two French Coustillers and an Archer 1513- Conversions

So far this is my most ambitious attempt at conversions.  Using Green Stuff, I’m going to turn three Essex 16^th Century Irish Cavalry men into two French Coustillers and an Ordinance Archer.

First, I need to add boots, these are thigh length and turned down below the knee. Easy enough, a strip of Green Stuff below each knee and smooth it down and level it off.

Second, he needs a hat to mostly cover the distinctive Irish helmet.  An even strip of Green Stuff around the brim of the helmet, gently flatten it and, using the edge of the sculpting tool indent at regular intervals.

Next, we need to cover most of the mail shirt so it will only show at the square yoke collar of the livery coat and below its sleeves.  The hem of the livery coat needs to extend to the knee.  Use the Green Stuff sparingly, gently pat it out to cover, this takes a bit of time and care.  I thought I'd also do an officer for my French Archers.  That meant adding quiver and cased bow and making him a mace.

Once done, using the edge of the sculpting tool square off the collar and level off the skirt and sleeves of the livery coat.

Now set aside and let it dry over-night.

I want to add a bit of pleating to the skirt and sleeves livery coat.  Roll out, between figure and thumb, a thin, needle like strip of Green Stuff and set aside.  Using the edge of the sculpting tool cut off a piece of appropriate length and place vertically on the skirt of the livery coat, gently smooth it out at the edges until your pleat is clearly visible.  Repeat as you see fit and then do the same with the sleeves.  

Job done, set aside and let it dry over-night. Then apply an undercoat, paint the base colours and when dry, wash with undiluted Nut Brown ink.

I’ve chosen to put one of the converted Coustillers on a Caliver horse and here he is painted alongside the Archer who sits an Essex horse.

Another view.  Leave overnight and then highlight.

I'm glad I took the plunge on attempting converting figures as it has opened up all sorts of gaming possibilities for me. Its good to learn something new too.  

All good.  Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

French Gendarmes 1513

I wanted a couple of units of Gendarmes for my 1513 French after much cyber poking about I went for Essex.  Some Essex figures leave me cold but not their Gendarmes which I consider are all you could ask.  They are dear nowadays but for these particular figures I didn’t mind at all.  

Anyhow I bought two packs so I have eight figures.  That could be just one unit of six figures for Lion Rampant but there are other options.  A 'Lance' of Gendarmes consisted of supporting Archers and Coustillers as well as the top boys. So, I could field four Gendarmes with an Archer and a Coustiller as a unit. Or even a one third of each line up which would provide three units.  That would be a fun if not neccesarily battle winning line up.  I'd need some Stradiots to balance that out- the Mirliton ones appeal most to me.

I decided to try a more ambitious paint job with damask barding which required a bit of fore thought before dipping the brush.  I have also located some French banners which I think lift things too.  

I’ve gone for two main colours red and blue with the white cross of St Dennis as a unifying theme along with Valois colours red white and yellow.

Here are the first two in red and a Banner man for the archers.  The latter is a Black Hat figure conversion on a Minifigs horse.

Here are two Gendarmes in blue.  

Last but not least here are some Border Horse looking suitably grim and light fingered.  I think they would benefit from the addition of either a St George's or a St Andrew's cross painted on their Jacks-but, I want to use them for both English and Scots retinues so plain they remain.  

I will get around to producing a distinctive Heid Man for both sides. The lad with the crossbow is from the 15mm Co, one pose only sadly. 

The figures are mostly QRF with Milliput shields added.

The Pale of Calais

I was thinking about the composition of garrison of the Pale of Calais and this is what I came up with.  Of course additional types could be sent or hired when needs must.

QRF demi lancers as sold.  Rather nice figures I think.

An after and before of a Minifigs Drummer and  a Bill Man. As you can see they got the Royal Livery big woolly coat.

Ditto of a QRF Bill Man. Let's see the whole unit.

Now some QRF archers as sold.

I recently picked up some Roundway English for a great price who will shortly join the garrison.  

I've a real sense of the cusp of a new era with these lads, rightly so I suppose.

From Start to Finish- Conversions

My first French unit for 1513.  The conversion was done with Green Stuff and you can pretty much follow the process in these two pics.

Before, the basic unaltered figure is on the right.  My two variants to the left.

After.

Here’s my first French Adventurier standing next to the original from the 15mm Co.

I am enjoying this.

Something Tangible-Conversions

This is my first unit for 1513.  Those with an eye for heraldry will notice that it is Algernon Percy with his men.  As you can see they are a well- equipped bunch with lots of armour.  The Percy flags are from an uncredited source on the internet, possibly from an old book on heraldry.  I think they are splendid, the colours are just right for Algernon’s livery.  Note how well the crescents stand out-a favourite Percy device.

Most of the company are conversions wearing Tudor Livery colours but I wanted the Percy influence to shine through and I think it does.

Almost all of the conversions were accomplished with Milliput.  The upside is you can file edges to a crisp finish or file in the creases and folds you want.  The down side is that it’s slow progress. With some of them I finished the work off with Green Stuff a very different medium indeed.  You cannot file it so get the amount right first time.  Since I'd used Milliput I thought I'd say a bit about the process despite my recent embrace of Green Stuff. 

I did it like this should you be minded to have a go .

Tear off two same-ish size amounts of both colours.

Roll them into two separate balls and set aside.

Tear off a similar amount from each ball and roll them together – thoroughly!

This ball is now a working medium.  Let it stand for 10 minutes-it makes it easier to work.

Now look at what you want to do and tear off the amount needed to do the job. I found little sausage shapes worked well.  Press it onto the figure and with soft controlled motions shape it as required.  Clay or wax modelling tools are great for this.  Once you are happy set it aside.  I found it handy to work on about 6 figures at once.

Do not try and do the whole figure in one go as you’ll dislodge your earlier work. Let it dry overnight and begin again the next day.

Should you want to add belts or straps roll out a thin sausage of Milliput and place it on the figure.  Then gently pat it to flatten against the figure.  If you want a buckle or horse brasses roll a small ball, press in place, flatten and using a point indent it.

Once you have finished and let everything dry throughout you can gently file edges and add folds etc.

That's it. You’ll need to undercoat the dry Milliput before painting your converted figure.

The Conversions Milliput-Lessons learnt so far

I’ve now reached the filing stage where you can correct mistakes and enhance folds or whatever.  Number one lesson, don’t file too hard.  If you do the whole lot falls off.  File gently then-with slight controlled movements.

I’m still on the Milliput as the Green stuff has yet to arrive.  But, I managed a Belt buckle, which suprised me, and put a belt on.

Lesson number two, everything you initially do won’t pass muster.  Bin it, it’s rubbish and start again, easy enough just lift it off the figure with a point. I didn't mind this, I felt I'd learned something. 

I say this because of the acceleration of the learning curve-this really isn’t rocket science. You do visibly improve before your very eyes. 

Mind you, it does demand a fair degree of patience, we are talking days not hours. If that’s not you forget it.

Lesson three, it’s not over until the paint is on.

Lesson four, the Camera is both an unforgiving and a fair critic.

Here's a pic of the nearly finished article alongside the QRF original.  All I've done is to add a Milliput skirt and new belt. 

My sole aim is to show what is possible for the average gamer - no claims to artistic virtuosity here.  That said, I am pleased and for me it passes muster.  Next up-the Green Stuff and French Archers, the cavalry ones.

I wanted to convert these Minifigs one pose mounted archers into something suitable for 1513.  Here is the before and after shot.

Once the Green Stuff was properly blended it took about 10 minutes to add full sleeves, lengthened coat skirt and a cap.  A faster, smoother medium then, and in-expensive if you buy on line and avoid brands.  

So Green Stuff it is for future work and I'd say if I can do this so can you.

Conversions

There are skilled, clever folk who when stuck for a suitable figure laugh at unfulfilled want, wave off despair and instead reach for the Green Stuff or Milliput.  After a suitable interval the figure they wanted is in front of them. 

They walk among us and I’ve always been impressed.  Some of them have blogs, very inspiring blogs.  Your correspondent has just spent a number of hours gawking at a particularly fine example of the genre.  You can see it here and it’s full of top tips and lovely work.  There are also some Anglo-French 1513 stats for Lion Rampant which greatly appealed to me.

https://stuartsworkbench.blogspot.co.uk/

Ideas were conjured out of the ether, like teatime at Dr John Dee’s.  

They look very nice! I do Tudor stuff. I wonder if I could do something in 15mm like that?

I did a bit of research.  Apparently, those in the know favour Green Stuff above Milliput- but the latter is better for filling.  I own some Milliput and ordered some Green Stuff.  I also own some figures suitable for Henry Tudor’s Royal Army but they don’t have the big woolly coats that led to “White Coats” becoming a popular term for English soldiers.

The big woolly coats were quite stiff so none of the pleat on pleat stuff that might be over challenging. In design they are simple square yoked, elbow length full sleeves and a full knee length skirt.  This is encouraging.  I wanted Tudor toys with big woolly coats and it was beginning to look possible.

So, I had a go.  Everything said about the medium being difficult is true.  Patience is key.  Also, you have to do a bit at a time and leave it overnight.  On the plus side you quickly get better at it.  I should add, I found it strangely compelling almost addictive.  Who knew?

Tomorrow is day three of this experiment.  I’m hoping to be able to show you the finished article next week in the form of a base or two of big woolly coated Bill men.  Meantime I'm eyeing up some old and unlovely Essex Irish cavalry and thinking Stradiots or Coustilliers?