Airfix 1/12th Yeoman of the Guard

While waiting on some 3D printed "Gendarmes" and cannon, figured I'd paint up this old Airfix kit that was picked up off of ebay a few years ago. This kit was originally released in 1959, and molded in plastic with just a few parts, with the expected need to fill seam gaps. This particular kit is a re-release from the 70's. He was block painted - trying to stay within the lines of the embroidery, and then given the usual brush on stain of Minwax. I only hightlighted a few areas, like his face. He's big enough to use natural lighting for shading, etc.

He joins the other Airfix 1/12th kits in the collection.

Someday this Henry VIII kit will get painted too. I used to have the Charles I kit, but either misplaced it or threw it away by mistake.

Well, so much for now. Thanks again for stopping by, and hope you all are doing well.

Warlord Games Landsknecht Command, Handbuchse Light Gun, and Roll Call

Finished the last figures from the Army Starter set. The four officers and light gun and crew are metal. The drummer is a plastic figure. I may rebase them on rounds in the future.

I used references on the internet to set up the light gun and pose the crew. The guy in blue and red is holding up the stock (aiming?). The other guy has one foot on the support of the gun mount and lighting the fuse.

Landsknecht army arrayed below. Except for the three resin command figures in the Black Band, all of the figures are from the starter set, and two additional boxes of pikemen and a box of missile troops. 

I used some of the 40mm square bases that came with the kits with steel paper tops added for smaller skirmish units. There are small magnets glued under the GW-style square bases.

Artillery and cavalry (gendarmes) will need to be added for a proper game - but that will be sometime in the future. Until next time, thanks for stopping in and hope you all are doing well.

Last Of The Plastic Landsknechts - Warlord Games Army Starter Box

These are the last of the plastic figures from the Warlord Games army starter box. Still have the metal command, and light cannon and crew to work on. Made up some more Zweihänder guys and arquebusiers. Also, used some spare Perry Mercenary pike arms to flesh out a pike unit with Perry figures that will proxy as Swiss.

Painting these guys up was a nice distraction from some home owner issues we're going through. Basically, we just discovered we need to replace some of the subfloor of our master bathroom due to faulty contruction of our shower - our place is only 6 years old. Waiting on our insurance to see if they'll cover some of the costs. Anyway, back to these figures - the Perry pike arms went on without issues, and I painted the padded sleeves up with stripes to give them a later look. The one pike guy in blue and yellow is a Perry Merc figure, the rest of the bodies are from the Landsknecht box.

These arquebusiers will be added to the 30 or so already painted. Should be enough for several small (12-figure) units. They could be used to support the Swiss pikes too, I suppose.

These Zweihänder guys could be used with a few others already painted as a Forlorn Hope unit.

The six new figures in the front rank, with Perry Merc pikemen on 40mm squares behind them - for a 30-figure unit. A few of the Perry guys have Burgundian crosses, but don't mind using them.

Thanks again for stopping in and hope you all are doing well.

Siege of Ulsan - Imjin War Playtest

I was finally able to get a playtest in for the Siege of Ulsan game at today's gameday down in Olympia. There were 5 players - 3 for the attacking/besieging Ming, and 2 players for the Japanese - one inside the fortress and one bringing on relief forces opposite the Ming. The Osprey book below was the inspiration and reference material for the fortress (wajo).

As this was a only playtest, and on 6x5' table, I left off most of the Korean forces, as well as some of the Japanese troops. 

The rules were a modified version of Hail Caesar - which was used before for a Siege of Haenju game (Japanese besieging Koreans during the Imjin War). It worked well, but there are a few things that will be modified for the game being hosted at Enfilade next month. During today's game, it was found that the simplified break test results used were a bit too brutal - basically a lot of units (including supporting units) were being destroyed by failed tests. We also found a good way to have units use the scaling ladders once laid against the fortress walls. If a unit on the ladder is killed off by the defenders, nearby units with enough movement can use the same ladder. The ladder rules have one move needed to reach the wall, another to have it raised, and a final move to climb/mount it for combat. 

Below are pictures taken during the game, in no particular order. We played over 10 turns, as the rules played pretty fast. I did mod the activation a bit by allowing players to move one unit a single move on a failed activation.

Above: Ming foot reaching the walls, with heavy infantry bringing up ladders. We did a quick mod to the rules to have defenders not being able to shoot at enemy below them within 3" of the wall - too vertical of an angle for missile fire.

Above: A unit of Korean heavy infantry reaching the walls with their ladder raised.

Above: A view inside the fortress with Ming infantry having defeated a unit of Japanese arquebusiers and occupying a section of the wall. Samurai below them later moved up and destroyed the Ming. However, we called this a spritual victory for the Ming for getting inside the fortress.

Above: Another view of Ming using scaling ladders to enter the fortress. This game only used 3 ladders, but for there will be several more for the game at Enfilade.

Above: Japanese relief forces coming on. They were allowed to bring half of their forces onto the table at Turn 2, and the rest in subsequent turns.

Above: About Turn 2 or 3.

Above: Ming heavy cavalry advancing to meet the Japanese relief forces.

Above: Samurai and ashigaru sally forth out from out of the fortress to assist their relief forces.

Above: Kato Kiyomasa inside of the fortress.

Above: Ashiguru manning the battlements.

Above: A view of the battlefield from the side the Ming entered the table.

We called the game as a  close Japanese victory since the Ming weren't able to overcome the defenders inside. However, the Ming were able destroy several of the Japanese relief forces and ultimately halt their advance. Otherwise, it was a very good playtest and the few mods will be made and should be good for the convention next month. 

Wargames Atlantic Conquistadors

Two units of 24-figures each (from the two boxes). One unit of arquebusiers, and one unit of swordsmen - with a couple of halberdiers to guard the colors. Speaking of colors, the flags are from the Warlord Games Landsknecht Starter Army set.

Their "uniforms" are likely a bit too uniform to be historically accurate, but wanted to keep the color schemes simple. Borrowed the colors from Warhammer Estalia - red and yellow primarily. This not only eased the painting process, but give the units a cohesive (if not historical) look.

The figures themselves are quite robust and in sturdy plastic - very appropriate for gaming. They reminded me of Warlord Games ECW plastics - stylistically, and their poses as well.

As mentioned in the previous post, the sets come with options for crossbows, halberds, and short pikes, in addition to the swords and arquebuses. What little I know of Warhammer Estalian forces, these would be a very decent set to build an army, IMO.

Well, glad to have these done before heading out to host my Imjin War game tomorrow morning. I may also finish up the remaining figures from the Landsknecht start army set - maybe build them as a "Forlorn Hope" unit. Until next time, thanks for stopping by and hope you all are doing well.

Wargames Atlantic Conquistadors - WIP

Finished Minwax staining two boxes of these. One unit of swordsmen and one of arquebusiers. Kept the colors simple with mostly red and yellow - à la Estalia.

Below, block painted before staining. Quite a versatile kit, as it comes with enough arm options to build them as pikemen, crossbowmen, or halberdiers as well. 

On the gaming front, I am scheduled to host my Imjin War Siege of Ulsan game at a game day on Saturday. It'll be a scaled down version of the one I'm hosting at Enfilade next month. This will be the first playtest for the game, although the rules are similar to the one used for my Siege of Haengju game some years ago - which worked well enough.

Wargames Atlantic Renaissance Heavy Cavalry

These are painted up as Spanish (maybe a bit WHFB Estalian).

The set comes with a lot of head/helmet options, including closed burgonets which I didn't use as those are a bit later than what I intend these for - early-mid 16th C.

There are only four riders in full plate armor (greaves), as well as only four left arms in full plate. There are four "extra" rider bodies in half armor, and plenty of lance and sword arm options.

The horses have separate neck/heads, and there are enough for all 12 to have the armored neck and face, as well as 12 chest plates. Oddly, there are only enough rear barding straps for 8 of the 12 horses. Otherwise, it's still a good set with a lot of optional parts, as well as 8 war dogs.

Everything went together well, however, I would advise to glue on the saddles before adding the barding straps. I glued the straps on first and some were not allowing the saddles to fully seat onto the horse. I ended up carving the insides of the saddles to let them fit. If you glue the saddles on first, you can position the straps afterwards.

Below is a comparison shot, left to right - GW Empire Knight, Wargames Atlantic, and Perry WotR. The GW is much larger than the other two. Wargames Atlantic and Perry match up pretty well - the former might look slightly bulkier overall.

Next up are two boxes of Wargames Atlantic Conquistador foot. Until next time, thanks again for stopping by the blog, and wishing you well.

Warlord Games Landsknecht Command and Pike Blocks

Finished up the command figures for the Landsknecht pike units. Adding a drummer, flag bearer, leader, and either a two-handed swordsman or halberdier, was able to flesh out enough for six 30-man pike units. These should be enough for a core Landsknecht force - although one of the units is the Black Band that served the French. I drilled out the hands of the standard bearers and replaced the poles with plastic broom bristles. This way the flags can be held up higher as the way the ones molded into the hands were a bit low, and some of the larger flags didn't even fit on them.

There are a few more figures left from the Start Army box, including the metal command figures, but will next start on a box of Wargames Atlantic Conquistadors.

Glad to have these done, and happy with how they turned out. Also, nice to have them individually based so not only can the command figures be moved around, but also the rank and file guys too. Thanks for checking out the blog and wishing you all the best.

The Black Band - Warlord Games Landsknechts

Here's the band, together for one last gig, led by a leader wielding a Flammenschwert, drummer, and flag bearer that are 3D prints from ebay. The prints match up well with the Warlord Games figures; in fact, the drummer has a headswap from Warlord Games.

Even though I tried to give them an overall look with black clothing, it appears as much red was also used. White was also used, somewhat sparingly, to give them a bit of splash.

Next in the paint queue are the command figures for the rest of the pike units.

Warlord Games Landsknecht Pikemen

 Finished basing the 70 new pikemen.

There are about 50 or so more figures to go - the Black Band and command figures. Once the command figures are done, they'll be added to the pike blocks - which should end up with six 30-man units.

After spraying the figures with a flat finish, gave the faces and hands a flesh wash, and highlighted the plumes and metal areas. Since they're based as singles, I can always go back to touch the figures if needed in the future (but doubt that I will).

Four 30-man pike units so far. Of course, the renegade Black Band will not be part of Imperial army.

I may someday add Foundry or Warlord Games metal figures in advancing poses to the front ranks.

Thanks for checking out the blog, and wishing you all the best.