Papal Guard

This post is long overdue, when I started this blog my intention was to post about once a week or so, but this weather we're having in the UK is brilliant- we've actually got a summer!! We can sit out at night on the patio chatting with a beer until late (drinking the beer not talking to it, chatting to the missus) and weekends are spent out and about while the weather lasts. We also had the Tour de France pass by the end of our road which we had to see.

 

Every Pope needs a guard, the Borgias probably more than all of the rest put together, I don't think they were very popular, apart from re runs on Sky!

I had a few character models left over from various packs so I put them all in this unit, the rank and file are TAG and Foundry figures.

I picked yellow and black as a base colour and added red the contrast, I think they turned out ok. I also put in three flags, for such a small unit it's a bit overkill but makes it stand out on the tabletop, just what you want your elites to do- present themselves to the enemy cannon!

 

 

 

When the Papal guard was founded it didn't have a uniform, just basis Swiss infantry, but as they're a very expensive unit I thought I'd make them look a bit special.

 

The Papal envoy is there just to keep an eye on boys.

 

I like this mounted general, from Perrys', but had nowhere to put him and as I have a bag load of command stands I thought I'd put him with the guard.

 

 

The last picture is a couple of mounted clergy, one on a donkey- pure class from Perry Miniatures.

 

 We've been looking at the American War of Independence lately, which inevitably meant buying and painting a unit- or two. The next post will show my efforts in a new period- watch this space.

Landsknechte pikemen

Every now and again, just like most gamers, I hit the proverbial 'painting wall' where I can't get going and spend more and more time away from the painting table. I used these little fellers as a way to overcome this and get my enthusiasm running again. I loved painting these and at some time in the not too distant future I can see me painting another block, or two.

 

 

 I've two pike blocks of 40 men each, based so I can split them down to 20's,  24's or 36's as the game dictates. Within the two blocks there's a mixture of manufacturers but mainly I have one block of Wargames Foundry figures and the other of Pro Gloria figures with a smattering of Peter Gilder figures. On the matter of mixing manufacturers figures I've always done this, an extra mm here and there adds variation.

A good friend of mine, John Reidy of the Independent Wargames Group  ( Robbies' Blog link- http://independentwargamesgroup.blogspot.co.uk/  ) always put a mounted commander in his pike blocks and I really liked the effect so, as any self respecting wargamer would do - I pinched the idea, hence the Gendarme with the standard in the front rank.

 

All the standards are printed on cloth from Petes' flags, link-   http://thegreatitalianwars.blogspot.com/

When I game with these I like to advance in echelon covered by a cloud of skirmishers, they don't manoeuvre very well so I use a straightforward 'advance to contact' policy. Sometimes they steamroller the opposition, other times they get caught in the flanks and bog off back home pretty sharpish but I love 'em an will keep employing 'em.

 

The Pro Gloria lads.

 

The Foundry boys.



 

Close up of the Gendarme standard bearer.

I hope you like the Landsknechtes, I don't as yet have any Swiss, no doubt this will change when I expand my French army- so much to do and enjoy!

Polish Winged Lancers

I've been waiting to photograph these polish winged lancers for a while but as I don't have proper lighting facilities I've been waiting for a sunny day, with it being Britain I've been waiting a while!! Today was somewhere near so I took these, not brilliant quality pictures, hope you like them.

 

I Got these at Warlord miniatures at Salute, first impression was they would be a pain to fit together and would fall apart at the first knock. As it happens I rather enjoyed building them and, as yet nothing has fallen off. Despite Windys' best attentions.

 

The flag is the paper one from the box, the pennons are from Curteys, miniatures.

 

 

 The usual view of your own troops- from behind as they charge forward.

 

Close up of the unit commander, resplendent with flowing white beard.

They look impressive on the table, better than in the photos, so I might get some more. Both Foundry and TAG do decent figures so I might find myself with three units.



 



 I've had these in the lead pile for a while, bought in a job lot from ebay. I'll need more troops than Winged lancers so I'll use these Old Glory figures as Wallachian allies, either skirmishing or as a formed unit. Armed with light lance and bows they should be quite useful.

 

I received my Pancerni from Redoubt miniatures this week, they looked great at Salute but on opening the package I was disappointed. Too many mould lines, misaligned mouldings and broken bits on 8 out of 12 figures. I've built three but can't get any enthusiasm up to paint them so I think they'll go to the back of the painting queue and I'll do something else. As we've started playing Muskets and Tomahawks it may be a British force- watch this space.

Partzan in the Park

Sunday came around and Windy, Fingers and me set off for our usual jaunt to Partizan, this year dubbed Partizan in the Park as the venue had been double booked and the show was to be held in a tent! I've never been a fan of tents so today would be interesting.
As usual the Newark Irregulars were highly organised and the lads were out directing traffic to park on the grass, fortunately it hadn't been raining and the grass was pretty solid. The tents were up and entry was pretty smooth, a smaller queue than previous years - were the punters staying away?

Small queue - that's a bonus.

 

Overview of the first tent.

 

First thing I saw as entered was the ever smiling face of Steve Jones, now I've known Steve for years and been a fan of his games for even longer. I've been following his blog- http://paintingshed.blogspot.co.uk/ and was keen to see his latest American War of Independence display game- Weitzells' Mill, as ever it was top notch, figures and terrain of the highest order, so much so that we've collectively decided to build some armies ourselves, Fingers went straight to the Foundry stand and came back with a slack handfull of British Grenadiers.

 

Next to Steve's game was James Morris' and Scrivs with their Battle of Keren game, the terrain has got to be seen to be believed. The game was on display at Salute earlier in the year but was no less inspiring by seeing it twice. James had explained the concept behind the game and terrain to me last year and I had doubted he could pull it off but the pictures speak for themselves- well done Mr Morris sir, well done!! Scrivs, as well as sporting natty facial hair also had a Bren Gun on display- nice.

 

 

Wandering further into the tents we were all impressed by the variety and quality of the games on show. Partizan has always been noted for the quality of games but this year seemed exceptional and nearly all the games had sculpted terrain and display quality figures. Personally when I go to a show I want to be inspired to buy something new or at least go home and get the paint brush out, today I was and, as I write this, I've got three new units on the painting table.

Following pictures are games that stood out, sorry I didn't catch all of their names-

 

League of Augsberg

 

 Simon Millers Romans

 

                                     

 

 

A good day out and although I wasn't keen on the tents I wasn't as anti canvas as I thought I would be, speaking to some of the traders, gamers and organisers they seemed to prefer the tent to the hall, easy access and more light seemed to be the order of the day. One thing that was noticeable was as the day warmed up there's still some people around that haven't got to grips with personal hygiene, come on people you know who you are, do us all a favour and get a bath!!!

Partizan two is on later in the year and I'll be back, the four quid entrance fee is well worth it.

New stuff purchased- plastic tokens from warbases, steel paper from Coritani, 12 Pancerni from Redoubt Enterprises and some more hedges from The Last Valley- top terrain.

 

I've finished the polish winged lancers I got from Warlord games at Salute, I'll get some photo's up soon.





Milanese V Borgia Papal battle report

Well another Bank Holiday and as usual our lass is working, so another big game is on the cards, a rematch against Tom, Milanese V Borgia Papal at 6000pts a side- what's not to like!
So here we go again, something a bit different this time tho, I drew a map of my troops positions on a map beforehand and Tom set his army out without knowing where the enemy was, trying to second guess where your opponent will set up is fun and makes for a different type of game.
Tom set up a reinforced left flank with most of his cavalry looking to roll up my line from the end!

 

 this was my right flank, not a lot to stop the might of the Milanese nobility, some timid skirmishers and a couple of mercenary crossbow bands.

 

Detail of Toms' left flank, masses of heavy cavalry covered by light horse and backed up by mercenary pike block- talk about overkill!!

 

 

Toms' centre, mercenary pike supported by militia pike and heavy cavalry.

 

Toms' right flank, militia handguns behind earthworks. This will cause problems if I charge with knights- no bonuses for chargers, trust Tom to come up with a sneaky tactic- good on 'im.

 

Papal centre, Landsknechte pike blocks and Spanish foot troops,

 

Papal left, just the same as Tom, massed cavalry covered by light horse. Pity they weren't on the other flank.

 

Turn 1 and the Milanese flank attack begins-

 

On the opposite flank the Spanish rush forward to engage the skirmishers in the wood, taking casualties all the way.

 

The Milanese heavies plough into the crossbows- only one result here!

 

The centre comes to grips,  

 

Papal right flank and the breakthrough happens, militia handgunners are no match for seasoned Spanish pikemen, the militia route and cause havoc on their way off the table.

 

 

Spanish pikemen decimated by crossbow bolts eventually get to grips with their tormentors, Landsknechte pikemen at 'Push of Pike' behind.

 

Milanese cavalry reforming after crushing crossbows under hoof! note the lack of Papal troops after seeing the devastation and fleeing rather sharpish.

 

View from behind the Milanese centre,

 

Push of Pike

 

 

The Milanese centre breaks and Spanish pike hit the heavy cavalry at the halt.

 

Then they wished they hadn't as they are wiped out, the Milanese heavy cavalry pushing forward to threaten the Papal Knights. Milanese mercenary pike defeat, route, persue and wipeout one Landsknechte pike block.

 

Milanese heavy cavalry come under arquebus shot, six saves required on a 4 up- four threes and two twos- Tom shakes his head in disbelief and swears profusely at the dice, Windy would be proud of that roll.

 

The Milanese left hook in full swing, I've opened the door trying to tempt them off the table!

 

 

The left hook is too late, the Milanese centre is all but destroyed, three more bad leadership rolls and it's all over, the Duke of Milan throws in the towel and the dice out the window!

 

The final charge of Papal knights against a valiant but decimated mercenary pikeblock.

 

Spanish swordsmen hold the village.

 

Another great game over with tales of heroism and cowardice to tell on both sides.

It's Partizan next week at Newark, I hope I remember my camera as there's always a bunch of decent games on show.