FedEx and USPS Painting Interruptions

As I am off on Fridays, I was fortunate to be at home when the door bell rang not once, but twice this morning - first from FedEx and not long afterwards from the USPS. The first package was a padded hood, and the other Hourglass Gauntlets. Both were picked up off of ebay a couple of weeks ago. I was about to start on the three remaining Black Tree Design HYW foot knights, but had to try out both armor items.

Here is the padded aventail sitting under the mail which fits perfectly once I did some modifications to it. I still need to sew the front upper portion onto the chin opening of the mail. The padded coif was cut off and then the caped portion was reversed as the mail hangs lower at the front, and the padded hood was shorter at the front. Anyway, the image below shows how it now fits.

Here's the coif cut away from the cape portion. Straps were also cut off as they weren't needed. The padded coif can now be used with a Sugarloaf helm I also have.

And here are the hourglass gauntlets. There are also made in India and retailed from a supplier in Georgia. I tried them on and the fingers and thumb are well articulated for movement. The leather gloves are attached to the gauntlets. They feel great and make a nice metal thud when punched together.

They are made similar to the ones the Black Prince had, with the inside of the cuff open. I was able to press down on them to make the width a little smaller.

I don't know where I'm going with all of this, but so far all of these reproduction pieces have exceeded my expectations of quality and fit - not to mention the relatively inexpensive costs. Who knows, the Feds may start imposing some higher import taxes someday, so better get them now.

1:43rd Scale Porsche 906

Another diecast ebay purchase - couldn't resist the low "buy it now" (sucker) price and shipping. So, this 906 series is the second of the so-called plastic Porsches of the late1960's. It was the first to use a tubular frame, versus the boxed steel frame of its predecessor, the 904.

Posed next to one of those 28mm fashion models. Speed sells.

In its first race at Daytona in 1966, it won its class against the Ferrari Dino 206.

Again, next to an obligatory 28mm fashion model.

 Below it's placed chronologically next to its brethren. All "street legal" racers.

l-r: 500 Spyder, 904, 906, 917

It came boxed in a nice display case too.

There's only one more racing Porsche I'd like to get, the 956/962; preferably in Rothmans colors.

Sir Roger de Clifford - Battle of Poitiers

Here is another Black Tree Design HYW knight in late-14th C. armor. He's painted up as Sir Roger de Clifford who had long and successful careers in both politics and the military. He saw extensive service in France and Scotland.

Here he is bearing the standard of the Black Prince. There is no evidence that Sir Clifford actually carried these colors at Poitiers or elsewhere, but I liked the combination of his arms and the prince's standard.

The standard was downloaded from the excellent Danish Figure Games Association website.

This is the last of the late-HYW figures from Black Tree Design. There are three more figures from their early-HYW range to be painted.

Oops - I see that I forgot to paint the leather strap and vervelles that hold the aventail to the bascinet.

Solido 1/43rd Scale Porsche 917

Another ebay score arrived today. I was pleasantly surprised that no one else bid on it - low price and free shipping. Maybe the images put people off as it was in the original packaging and appeared to sit in a garage for decades. Anyway, the car itself is in great shape, but the decals have dried up and even flaked off the sheet. The wheels roll, but may need some oiling, as the axles have rusted a bit.

This is the famed and potent 917 powered by a flat-12 cylinder engine. Its top speed at Le Mans in the early 70's was 224 mph - pretty impressive even now. Actually that's deadly fast. This is the same type of car used in the movie Le Mans starring Steve McQueen.

The rear engine lid lifts up, exposing the engine. A Space Marine from McQueen's Marauders next to it for scale. He may have to jump start it with his light saber, as the engine hasn't been run for decades. Hopefully the decals will still be usable too.

Here it is next to some of its predecessors - a 500 Spyder and 904.

With a few 28mm figures for scale comparision

Gentlemen, and Space Marines, start your engines.

Sir Miles Stapleton

Here is another Black Tree Design HYW foot knight - this time painted up as Sir Miles Stapleton of Bedale. He was a founding member of the Order of the Garter. He was present at the Seige of Tournai in 1340, following the Battle of Sluys. He fought in the War of Breton Succession and was gravely wounded at the Battle of Auray in 1364.

Sir Miles' armor is of the interesting type with studs on his brigandine as well as his cuisses. His lower leg armor being splinted and studded. His arms are argent, a lion rampant sable.

Sir Miles died in December 1364 succumbing to wounds suffered at the Battle of Auray.

Owain Glyndwr - The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Finally painted one of the Black Tree Design HYW foot knights picked up from a sale a long while back. He's wearing late 14th/early 15th C. style armor. Mostly plate with only vestiges of mail remaining. His arms are those of the last Welsh Prince of Wales - Owain Glyndwr.

He's a bit of a mythical character who appeared on the scene as quite an important figure during the reign of Richard II of England. He served in Richard's army in Scotland, but later led a rebellion against Richard's successor, Henry IV. Henry Hotspur joined him at the ill-fated Battle of Shrewsbury.

Soon after this, Glyndwr's popularity waned and he seems to have disappeared from history, and is believed to have died around 1416.

In Henry IV, Shakespeare says of him being "not in the roll of common men and a worthy gentleman, exceedingly well read, and profited in strange concealments; valiant as a lion, and wondrous affable; and as bountiful as mines of India."

Labor Day Labor - Hounskull Basinet and Camail Work

Stopped by Joann's this morning and picked up some brass wire and leather lace. The wire was braided using an electric drill and then routed through the vervelles. It wasn't too difficult, but a little slow as the wire had to be pushed and pulled through each successive hole. The ends were wrapped around the last vervelles on each side of the helmet. The leather lace was used to tighten up the mail at the chin. It now sits very nicely as seen on period artwork and effigies.

The only thing I plan to add is a padded liner under the camail. This should keep the mail from getting bunched up, and also keep whatever is worn underneath clean as the mail can get things a bit grimy.

I'd like to fashion something to keep the visor up. Hmm, is guess there may be something to the theory that the hand salute originated from lifting the visor - or possibly the power sign.

The brass fittings and wire really enhance the look of the helmet.

The visor now seats fully closed after slightly pushing the bottom edges of the bascinet in.

"Hello, is there anybody in there?"

Battle of Ichi-no-Tani using Lion Rampant

Here's the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani using Lion Rampant. I slightly modified the rules a bit by making all units 6-figures, and also upping the Armour save to 2 from 1 for the Bidower classed Chugen/Ashigaru. Mounted and foot Samurai were classed as Serjeants and armed with bows; the foot Samurai were upgraded to Expert. Warrior Monks were also classed as Serjeants and given the Fleet Footed special rule.  In the actual historical battle, the Taira forces were decimated, yet a remnant managed to make it out to sea. Another deviation from history had Minamoto Yoshitsune, the hero of the actual battle, killed off in this game.

Pre-game set up showing the nomimal placement of troops. The Victory Conditions for the Taira were either getting at least 50% of their troops off table using the watercraft beached along the shore - or killing at least 50% of the attacking Minamoto forces. The Minamoto's Victory Condition was simple - kill off at least 50% of the Taira.

Minamoto Yoshitsune and his loyal companion, Benkei lead the Minamoto cavalry. Their descent from the sheer cliffs behind the Taira camp is still remembered as a legendary feat.

Fleet footed warrior monks allied with the Minamoto break through into the Taira stronghold from thick forests. The surprised lower classed Chugen will soon be decimated, even with their increased Armour save of 2.

On the opposite side of the Taira camp, Minamoto Yoshitsune counter attacks Taira foot samurai - their red banner bearing the clan's butterfly crest. This engagement was more evenly matched with equal amounts of casualties. Both units passed their Courage tests and had the attacking Taira retreating to lick their wounds.

Minamoto foot samurai having attacked and successfully breaking a portion of the Taira barricade are ready to move in.

Another unit of Minamoto cavalry counter attacks Taira foot samurai in the center of the Taira stronghold. Again, another evenly matched fight, with the Taira retreating back as a result.

Now it is the Minamoto cavalry's turn to attack the Taira, who are now backed up against the wall of their fortress. The Taira foot samurai held their own and made the Minamoto attackers retreat after this round of combat. Note the Taira chugen bowmen along the walls. This unit was allowed to fire half their shooting dice on either side from the main gate. They also had a special rule to dismount from the wall and form into a unit on their next turn.

Sohei warrior monks having turned the Taira right flank within the stronghold move towards the main gate. The chugen bowmen have jumped over their walled enclosure and will form up as a unit in their next turn - hoping to reach the boats.

Minamoto and Taira foot samurai in combat. Both sides again fairly evenly matched. The attacking Taira retreating towards the shoreline after the combat would be fortuitous for them. By now, over 50% of the Taira had been killed. However, we decided to continue playing on until until all were killed or if any could make it to their watercraft and out to sea.

The remnants of the Taira - the chugen bow unit and half of a samurai unit - successfully reach their boats and subsequently make it out to sea out of bow range of the Minamoto.

Remaining Minamoto forces rally outside the now deserted Taira stronghold. Their leaders Yoshitsune and Benkei having been killed within the compound make it a bitter sweet victory.

A nice use of the rules with a semi-historical conclusion. Although the Taira lost the game due to over half of their forces being killed off - the Minamoto lost their leader which would likely have dire effects in a campaign setting. I must add that the Taira had two or three failed activation rolls in a row which really hindered their deployment and tactics. As far as comparing the use of Lion Rampant and WAB for this scenario - I would say both work, but I recall the WAB game having a bit more flavor. That is, one of the games had the Minamoto commandeering a Taira boat and setting fire to the Taira flagship.

Bascinet with Camail/Aventail Added

Well, no sooner after the last post, I decided to press on with the camail project. It is done except for running a wire or leather thong through the vervelle holes along the leather strap.

With my wife's sound advice, I ended up cutting a "V" out of the strap right after the third vervelle. It ended up pretty nice and stays on the helmet very well.

Here's my impression of the Cherbourg helmet.

The camail has to go around the bottom edges of the visor to allow the visor to seat down fully. I may try to route leather thongs at the opening of the mail to see if it can be tightened up below the chin. Addendum: I got the visor to seat properly - all I did was squeeze the bottom front edge of the bascinet in.

The leather strap fits snugly along along the base of the bascinet. Not bad as I bought the camail separately from the helmet and wasn't sure if it would fit properly. A padded liner should probably be worn under the camail.

Not a bad way to spend the morning on a day off - still in my PJ's too :)

Bascinet - Camail/Aventail - WIP

Got up this morning - Friday is my day off  from work - and started work on attaching the camail to the helmet. Up to now it has been fairly easy - starting at the rear and working outwards to the front, alternating between each side to ensure the leather strap doesn't distort one way or the other. Since the hole punch my wife had is smaller than the vervelles, I used a drill to enlarge the holes in the strap. From the tutorial I found on the web, a 1/2" socket was used to seat the strap over the vervelle. Paper clips are used to temporarily hold the strap on the helmet. I'll see if Joann's or Home Depot has some wire or leather thong to run through the eyelets of the vervelles once all of them are completed.

Only three vervelles on each side of the front of the helmet remain to be attached. As they arch upwards fairly sharply, and the leather strap doesn't follow the shape, the strap will have to be v-notched and bent upward. As I don't want to mess it up, I've taken a break to assess the next move. For detailed work like this, I always consult my wife, who makes a great adviser and critic.

 On the gaming front, the Ichi-no-Tani game is still scheduled, and plan to have an AAR posted.

Late Week Arrival - Camail/Aventail

Succumbing to the sirens of ebay, I picked up a camail/aventail which I hope to attach to the bascinet recently acquired. It's another inexpensive (with free shipping) item made in India - the sticker on the packaging said so. The first thing I noticed was it's weight - which coupled with the helmet will be quite a load on the head and shoulders.

It's not a custom fitted piece, so I will have to figure out how to get it attached. A leather strip is stitched to the end of the mail area to be attached to the helmet. I showed it to my wife, who is a skilled seamstress; she said it was hand stitched - pretty impressive as the leather is fairly thick.

My wife recommended I start attaching the camail from the center rear - punching holes in the leather to match the vervelles at the base of the helmet. She cautioned me to "not screw it up" or words to that effect. Here's how I hope to have it attached - from a nice step-by-step tutorial of a similar camail.

Need to pick up some wire from the hardware store.

Midweek Diversion - Another 1:43rd Porsche - 904

Couldn't resist another ebay purchase - it was sold from an estate and the seller wasn't even sure what kind of car it was. No one else bid on it and it arrived from Oregon in three days - all for less than $20.00 USD including shipping. It came with the original case too. It's in 1:43rd scale which is about the closest you can get with diecast cars to go with 28mm figures. This is another favorite of mine - the famed Porsche 904 which debuted in 1963.

The mid-engined four cylinder was the first of the so-called plastic Porsches with a fiberglass composite body.

Here it is, appropriately, with a couple of Fallshirmjaeger. Something I'm sure they would've driven off-duty had it existed back in the 30's and 40's. It was famed for it's durability and performance, and looks pretty cool to boot.

And next to the earlier acquired 550 Spyder.

Apologies for the non-gaming digression, but the next post should be the Ichi-no-Tani game this weekend.