Giovanni de Medici's Black Band Mounted Crossbows

These figures are kit-bashed from a box of Perry Light Cavarly 1450-1500 and parts from Wargames Atlantic Conquistadors and Warlord Games Landsknechts. The crossbow firing arms from Wargames Atlantic, and the heads a mixture from the three sets. The leader with the sword is a Wargames Atlantic figure that was given a bit of surgery at his groin area to have his legs sit closer together to fit the Perry horse better.

The flag is from Pete's Flags. The color of clothing was kept to a minimum, with a higher percentage of black to give the unit a more somber look. The horses are all in a uniform dark brown with red, blue, or green saddles and straps.

I also used some swords/scabbards from the Warlord Atlantic set - the ones with the curved guards for more of an Italian look.

This unit should be the last one for a playtest in a couple of weeks. Although I do want to add a few more command figures - particularly mounted guys in wearing big, flamboyant hats.

I should mention that I picked up a bunch of Foundry Trojan War figures yesterday at the Fort Steilacoom Fix Bayonets game day. These were figures from David Sullivan's (I Live With Cats blog) collection which Kevin Smyth (A Gamer's Tale blog) brought over for anyone who was interested in them. Of course, this period was my first venture into wargaming with Redoubt figures, so I jumped at the chance as no one else in the room seemed interested when it was announced by Kevin - or maybe I was just too quick. In any case, I intend to paint them up and use them with Tribal rules - as David had with his other Bronze and Stone Age figures, in his honor. Until next time, wishing you all the very best!

Fix Bayonets! Game Day At Fort Steilacoom

It was the 15th year of the Fix Bayonets! game day at historic Fort Steilacoom, held in Quarters #2 which belonged to the fort's commander back in the mid-1800's. I've attended most of these, except for one due to other commitments. It's a small venue, but the games and comraderie top-notch. I didn't host a game this year due to being preoccupied with our bathroom renovation - which was finally completed on Tuesday. Anyway, back to today's game, I played in an Modern Africa game using Osprey's Black Ops. I ran some "Drug-Crazed" locals against SAS trying to rescue civilian hostages. Another unit of natives were "Cannibals", but I left my buddy run thoses. It was a fun game with the native Africans winning after the SAS not being able to rescue the hostages. This was in the first period where some of my old ECW figures were used in a TYW game using Pike & Shotte. Kevin Smyth (A Gamer's Tale blogger) ran a Spanish American War game using Rebels and Patriots. Another game was an Early-WW2 tank game using a mishmash set of rules combining a bunch of TFL rules - I playtested this game a few months ago, and posted about it on this blog. Here are some pictures of the games from the first period. I left before the second, afternoon period.

Sttart of the Black Ops game.

The jungle terrain was very impressive for the Black Ops game. The figures are from TAG.

Kevin's Spanish American War game with his lovely figures.

The Early-WW2 tank game with French and German forces.

The tank game used 15mm models; all very nicely painted.

The TYW game with some units still carrying their old ECW colors. My buddy plans to change them all once he gets all of the new ones - he's mainly concentrating on the period with Gustavus Adolphus. In fact, his game today was based on the part of the Battle of Lutzen when Gustav Adolphus was killed.

Although I miss these figures, I'm happy they're in good hands and getting on the table a lot.

He did reflag some of the command bases, but most of the foot units still have their ECW flags.

Well so much for now, and plan to finish up the  Italian Wars mounted crossbow unit. I had planned to host a game next Friday, but will be visiting a family friend in the hospital after his heart surgery. Until next time, wishing you all the best!

Kit-Bashing Perry Light Cavalry 1450-1500 & Wargames Atlantic Parts

Kit-bashing Perry Light Cav 1450-1500 figs with some Wargames Atlantic Landsknecht and Conquistador parts. Plan to have these as a unit of mounted crossbows belonging to Giovanni de Medici's Black Band. They're included in the Battle of Bicocca scenario in the Pike & Shotte supplement.

Firing from the saddle is depicted in period illustrations - so it must've happened!

Just a quick update to show you all what I'm working on. Wishing you all the best!

3D Print Resin Italian Wars Artillery

Finally got the cannon and crew for an upcoming Italian Wars Pike & Shotte playtest. Just four pieces, but enough to try out the rules.

The guns and crewmen are 3D print resin, except for the two guys with the lighting sticks (again, not sure the proper nomenclature) that are Warlord Games figures. The sticks are actually drum sticks for musicians.

As mentioned in the previous post, several of the figures have Warlord Games Landsknecht heads.

Hoping to schedule the playtest in a week or so, however, there's a game day at Fort Steilacoom this coming Saturday which I had intitially intended to run a One-Hour Skirmish Wargames Napoleonic game, but haven't had time to get it ready. I may try to put someting together for this, as the rules are quite simple. Until next time, thanks for stopping by and wishing you all the best.

3D Printed Resin Landsknecht Artillery Crew - WIP

Finally got figures in the mail yesterday, having returned to Florida after initially arriving at Seattle a week and a half ago. My address was correct on the package, so not sure why it did a roundtrip back and forth. I replaced a few of the heads with Warlord Games ones - to give them a more "Landsknecht" look. I also carved off some of the details of the boots so I can paint them up in the traditional looking shoes.

A couple of Warlord Games figures added to have 3 crewmen for each of the 4 guns. The right arm is for a drummer, but will be painted as the fuse stick (or whatever its called). Below image is what the resin figures look like on the website.

Glad these figures finally arrived so I can paint them up and finish the artillery bases. Our bathroom is just about finished - just waiting for the shower glass to arrive and be installed next Tuesday. After that, it'll be time to finally host a game at the house. Thanks for visiting, and hope you all are doing well.

Verlinden 120mm General Bonaparte

Ended up finishing up this figure as my 3D print Landsknecht artillery crew is in USPS limbo. The USPS tracker shows they arrived at Seattle last Saturday, and were supposed to be delivered on Tuesday. As of today, it still shows them as "In Transit to Next Facility, Arriving Late" since last Tuesday with no new update. I'll give it another few days, and if it is still MIA, I'll see if the seller can either refund me or request a tracer on it. Maybe I'm not supposed to get these figures, as these were originally ordered from an Etsy seller in Poland almost 2 months ago, but after a long wait, the seller said he couldn't send it due to increase mailing fees. He refunded me, and I was able to find a seller in the US (Florida), which was quickely printed and mailed to me - but as stated above is now in the USPS universe.

Anyway, on to the this particular figure. A nice sculpt of Napoleon in his early career as a general during the Republic. The figure beside him is a Brigade Games 28mm figure with him in similar uniform during the Egyptian Campaign.

I think his jawline is a bit too broad and overall a bit too well-fed, as he is described during his younger years a looking gaunt and emaciated.

In any case, I'm still planning on hosting a Pike & Shotte Italian Wars game, with or without artillery crew, in the near future. Our bathroom rebuild/remodel is just about complete. Just waiting on new shower glass and some trim to touch up. The wife was finally able to use her bathroom sinks and bathtub for the first in about 5 months. Thanks for check the blog, and hope you all are doing well.

Verlinden 120mm Napoleonic Figures

Added the scabbard and sabretache straps to the Chasseur and Hussar. I made the round wooden bases at the post woodshop when I was stationed in Korea many years ago. I used scrap wood, so it was quite a bargain. :)

I used paper for the straps and glued the ends to the resin buckle attachments. The kits come with thin lead to use for the straps, but paper is easier to use.

The Hussar's sabretache is sculpted with the regiments design.

Here's the collection of 120mm Napoleonics to date. All are Verlinden figures except for the 4th Swiss officer with colors - can't recall who the maker was, but he fits in well with the others. A 28mm and 54mm figure for size/scale reference.

I still have the General Bonaparte figure to work on, but should be getting the Landsknecht artillery guys in the mail tomorrow, and might start on them instead. Thanks for stopping in, and wishing you all the best.

Verlinden 120mm Fusilier Chasseur Junior Officer

I suppose the term would be Subaltern - a second or first lieutenant. A fairly simple, but elegant uniform. The blue coat is darker in-person, as the lighting washed it out a bit.

Starting on the General Bonaparte figure next; the 3D print Landsknecht artillery crewmen should be here in a couple of days. Those should be enough for a trial Pike & Shotte game - hopefully, our bathroom will be completed in a week or so. Until next time, wishing you all the best!