Saturday, 4 January 2020

Shiny Happy Tartars etc or taking Eric Knowles unpainted Ottomans forward...

Last year I was fortunate to acquire some of the late Eric Knowles Ottomans. I was delighted to get these due to their provenance and also for the chance to bring them to the wargames table. I began them between Christmas and New Year. I am currently working on the figures in the photo below here pictured with the box they came in and with what I assume are Eric’s painting instructions. I will follow these as a tribute to him. Sadly they are the only instructions I have found so far.
 Below are the Tartars I began with. They have telegraph pole lances which I like but are not everyone’s cup of tea. They are nearly completed. They will be varnished with more gloss varnish/p.v.a and based for George Gush’s Renaissance rules. Basing is simple and plain green in old school tradition. The tartars are colourful, shiny and look ready to ride rings around any opponent...





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11 comments:

  1. Mark, Man of TIN4 January 2020 at 11:08

    You are honouring Eric Knowles in the same way as these US quilters do by finishing some one else's big project - well done!
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/pGHxCgI6yx/ritas-quilt

    https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/10/25/rogers-park-woman-bought-hugely-detailed-but-unfinished-quilt-from-an-estate-sale-and-will-finish-it-to-honor-its-maker/

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    1. tradgardmastare7 January 2020 at 07:19

      Thanks for the encouraging perspective and interesting links.

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  2. Independentwargamesgroup4 January 2020 at 15:09

    Ive been lucky enough to obtain a lot of Eric's ECW figures. Now I know why I started with Mini Figs, they are charming sculpts.

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  3. Dave4 January 2020 at 20:06

    I remember having some of the old MiniFigs Ottoman Turks - one of their better ranges I think.

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    1. tradgardmastare7 January 2020 at 07:21

      They are a mix of S range and newer ones , speaking about all I have in Ottoman terms. I do like the S range best.

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  4. david in suffolk6 January 2020 at 21:46

    Good for you! I too acquired a few of Eric Knowles' figures through the good offices of David Crook, and I too plan to follow Eric's painting notes, it seems a nice tribute.

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  5. tradgardmastare7 January 2020 at 07:22

    What period are the figures you acquired David?

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  6. david in suffolk7 January 2020 at 21:36

    Hi Alan, I bought some Minifigs Seven Years War Austrians. I already had a 'Grant-size' regiment of Prussians acquired with pocket money in the 1970s, so now after 40+ years they will have some decent opposition. I thought of using Bob Cordery's 'Portable Napoleonic' rules, so a 'Grant' regiment becomes a huge army.. we shall see!

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    1. tradgardmastare8 January 2020 at 09:12

      Sounds a great project and should look great on the table. Keep us updated with progress of the ideas and painting.

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    2. david in suffolk16 February 2020 at 09:21

      Hi Alan, following further purchases from Eric's collection ( this time of painted figures ) I have tentatively essayed a blog.. The Ragged Soldier. Two posts so far..MS Foy has kindly linked to me on his blog list, if you'd like to take a look!

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