Kinky Boots and Studded Leather

 

...a headline that promises much but delivers, little. ;-) 

I've been sculpting more riding boots on some coustillier-types to accompany my dismounted knights of recent posts. I'm getting a little faster on the sculpting, and a little better, too. This is just as well because I'll likely need quite a few, later on, when I tackle the Burgundian mounted archers. I've also discovered that liquid greenstuff is quite good for building up the legs of the boot.

Ultimately I covet this unit of Charles the Bold's. I think it would be great fun to model, and might be pretty good on the gaming table; dismounted knights with 2HCCW, extra longbows, extra stakes, veteran. Want 'em! Not cheap, points-wise, though.

In other news... For King and Parliament is storming through the Yarkshire Gamer World Cup of Wargames Rules. There is still time to vote; hopefully it'll make it through to Round Three and looks likely to be matched against "O" Group in the semi-finals.

Late knights IV - Kinky Boots!

Last night I finished a third base (centre) from spare minis and repaints from the "reserves". I sculpted riding boots on a couple of minis in brigandines, they add a pleasing variety (one is in the second rank and thus largely out of sight). It wasn't quick doing the boots, perhaps 20 minutes a mini, but it'll probably get easier with time. I painted the coustilliers' armour to be less "bright." In the fullness of time, I'll probably add more coustillier types, and form a second unit out of the then-surplus knights (blended with even more coustilliers). I'll also mix in some knights in blackened plate, for variety, and perhaps a surcoat or two. I'm really pleased with them, it must be years since I (mostly) painted an entire unit.

Makes me wonder how the coustilliers might be armed when dismounted; perhaps light lances as when mounted, or swords? Or even the odd bow or crossbow?

Also makes me curious how they will do on the battlefield. I can't recall ever having used a dismounted knights before, in TtS. IIRC they cost 16 points (veteran later knights) which is a whole lot of points for an infantry unit, even one with a great save and choppers... 

I'm pleased to report that plucky underdog For King and Parliament is doing well in the Yarkshire World Cup- looks like it'll go through to the next round. 

Late Knight Redux

I decided to go with the minimalist option of 6 knights per base, and they are ready for grouting. I might highlight the faces, I think I over-inked them, somewhat. This leaves me with a bunch of spare minis, so tonight I'll make up a third "command" stand, so I have the option for fielding the unit on either the 15cm or the 20cm grid. BTW, they are on FK&P13b bases- but I've sold out of those AGAIN! Just can't keep that base in stock. I'll restock at Colours in September.  :-)

Over on Ken's Yarkshire Gamers World Cup of Historical Wargames Rules tournament on Facebook, TtS! For King and Parliament is fighting tooth and nail against Hail Caesar - at the moment it has a slender (but narrowing) lead so any more votes would be greatly appreciated! It's really interesting to watch the voting, Sharpe Practice looks really strong. Alas, plucky outsider "By Fire and Sword" has been knocked out by Battlegroup.

Late Knight Progress

The Britcon later knights are mostly finished, just a little snagging and basing to do. I'm agonising a little about the basing. Firstly, my mounted units are 18 strong so a dismounted unit of foot should have 18 or fewer minis, less than I'd usually put in unit- I'll probably go with 3 bases, just 6 to a base. Secondly, I suspect that at least half the minis should be less well armoured coustillier types, probably forming a second rank. I need to see if I have anything suitable in the "reserves", or I might just leave the task for the next unit. I'd welcome thoughts on this.

This week TtS! For King and Parliament is up against Hail Caesar on Ken's Yarkshire Gamers World Cup of Historical Wargames Rules tournament on Facebook. Will our niche set, printed mostly in black and white in a hard-on-the-eye period font, and packed with c.17th woodcuts, prevail against the glossy leviathan, like David did against Goliath? You decide!

Last week, To the Strongest! saw off Saga in round one and will be pitted against Black Powder in a few days time.

This week I shall mostly be finishing lists for the next iteration of the TtS! Medieval Army list eBook in Early September. It looks like there will be five new lists: Daylamite Dynasties, Bagratid Armenian, Rshtuni Armenian, Tulunid and Iqshidid Egyptian and Georgian. As you can see, I'm trying to polish off the outstanding lists, which mostly fall in the Western Asia chapter.

Late Knights

The Britcon tournament is coming up like a train, and I realised that I urgently need a unit of dismounted knights for my army. Luckily, I found 20-odd prepped minis and am doing a rush paint and base job on them. Knights in full plate are relatively easy to paint, essentially inking over a steel primer, then faces, leatherwork and the wooden bits of the weapons, ink again and highlight the metal. I'm going to leave these as fairly generic later knights, later I'll build a few command stands, and I'll also do some specifically Burgundian knights.